Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of determining the age of a body fluid stain in a sample. This method involves providing the sample containing a body fluid stain; providing a statistical model for determination of the age of the body fluid stain in the sample; subjecting the sample or an area of the sample containing the stain to a spectroscopic analysis to produce a spectroscopic signature for the sample; and applying the spectroscopic signature for the sample to the statistical model to ascertain the age of the body fluid stain in the sample. A method of establishing a statistical model for determination of the age of a body fluid stain in a sample is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of determining the age of a body fluid stain in a sample. This method involves providing the sample containing a body fluid stain; providing a statistical model for determination of the age of the body fluid stain in the sample; subjecting the sample or an area of the sample containing the stain to a spectroscopic analysis to produce a spectroscopic signature for the sample; and applying the spectroscopic signature for the sample to the statistical model to ascertain the age of the body fluid stain in the sample. A method of establishing a statistical model for determination of the age of a body fluid stain in a sample is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of identifying gender and/or race of a subject using a body fluid stain from the subject. This method involves providing a sample containing a body fluid stain from the subject; providing a statistical model for determination of gender and/or race of a subject; subjecting the sample or an area of the sample containing the stain to a spectroscopic analysis to produce a spectroscopic signature for the sample; and applying the spectroscopic signature for the sample to the statistical model to ascertain gender and/or race of the subject. A method of establishing a statistical model for determination of gender and/or race of a subject using a body fluid stain from the subject is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of detecting inorganic gunshot residue (GSR) particles. The method includes providing a sample comprising gunshot residue, subjecting the sample to spectroscopic analysis to produce a spectroscopic signature for the sample, and identifying inorganic gunshot residue particles based on the spectroscopic signature for the sample. Also disclosed is a method of detecting gunshot residue particles. The method includes providing a sample comprising gunshot residue, subjecting the sample to spectroscopic analysis to produce a spectroscopic signature for the sample, where the spectroscopic signature spans a range of wavenumbers, creating one or more spectroscopic maps from the spectroscopic signature for the sample, where each different spectroscopic map is for a different wavenumber, and identifying gunshot residue particles based on the one or more spectroscopic maps for the sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting Alzheimer's disease in a subject. This method involves providing a sample from the subject, subjecting the sample to a spectroscopic analysis to produce a spectroscopic signature for the sample, determining whether the spectroscopic signature for the sample corresponds to an Alzheimer's disease spectroscopic signature, and identifying a subject as having Alzheimer's disease where the spectroscopic signature for the sample from that subject corresponds to the spectroscopic signature for Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of identifying ammunition type and/or weapon type used to fire the ammunition from gunshot residue. This method involves providing a sample including a gunshot residue, subjecting the sample to spectroscopic analysis to produce a spectroscopic signature for the sample, and identifying the spectroscopic signature to ascertain the type of ammunition and/or the type of weapon used to fire the ammunition. A method of establishing reference spectroscopic signatures for ammunition type and/or weapon type used to fire the ammunition is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of detecting inorganic gunshot residue (GSR) particles. The method includes providing a sample comprising gunshot residue, subjecting the sample to spectroscopic analysis to produce a spectroscopic signature for the sample, and identifying inorganic gunshot residue particles based on the spectroscopic signature for the sample. Also disclosed is a method of detecting gunshot residue particles. The method includes providing a sample comprising gunshot residue, subjecting the sample to spectroscopic analysis to produce a spectroscopic signature for the sample, where the spectroscopic signature spans a range of wavenumbers, creating one or more spectroscopic maps from the spectroscopic signature for the sample, where each different spectroscopic map is for a different wavenumber, and identifying gunshot residue particles based on the one or more spectroscopic maps for the sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting Alzheimer's disease in a subject. This method involves providing a sample from the subject, subjecting the sample to a spectroscopic analysis to produce a spectroscopic signature for the sample, determining whether the spectroscopic signature for the sample corresponds to an Alzheimer's disease spectroscopic signature, and identifying a subject as having Alzheimer's disease where the spectroscopic signature for the sample from that subject corresponds to the spectroscopic signature for Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of identifying ammunition type and/or weapon type used to fire the ammunition from gunshot residue. This method involves providing a sample including a gunshot residue, subjecting the sample to spectroscopic analysis to produce a spectroscopic signature for the sample, and identifying the spectroscopic signature to ascertain the type of ammunition and/or the type of weapon used to fire the ammunition. A method of establishing reference spectroscopic signatures for ammunition type and/or weapon type used to fire the ammunition is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of identifying types of body fluids in a sample. This method involves providing a sample potentially containing one or more types of body fluids. The sample is subjected to Raman spectroscopy to produce a Raman spectroscopic signature for the sample. The Raman spectroscopy signature is identified to ascertain the types of body fluids in the sample. A method of establishing a reference Raman spectroscopic signature for specific types of body fluids is also disclosed as is a library of such reference signatures is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is related to glucose sensors that are capable of detecting the concentration or level of glucose in a solution or fluid having either low or high ionic strength. The glucose sensors of the present invention comprise a polymerized crystalline colloidal array (PCCA) and a molecular recognition component capable of responding to glucose. The molecular recognition component may be a boronic acid, such as a phenylboronic acid, glucose oxidase, a combination of phenylboronic acid and poly(ethylene)glycol or crown ether, or another component capable of detecting glucose in various fluids and solutions. The glucose sensors of the present invention may be useful in the development of noninvasive or minimally invasive in vivo glucose sensors for patients having diabetes mellitus.

Abstract: The present invention is related to photonic crystal devices that comprise novel mesoscopic periodic materials which comprise polymerized crystalline colloidal arrays (CCA) and at least one photosensitive component. Preferably, the photosensitive component is a photochromic molecule and more preferably the component is an azobenzene derivative. Methods for making these devices are also disclosed. The devices of the present invention are useful in many applications including, for example, optical switches, display devices and memory storage devices. The devices of the present invention permit the possibility to write with ultraviolet light and erase with visible light. In addition, the present invention is related to a functionalized polymerized crystalline colloidal array which preferably comprises reactive epoxide groups. The present invention is further directed to a photosensitive polymerized crystalline colloidal array.

Abstract: The present invention is related to glucose sensors that are capable of detecting the concentration or level of glucose in a solution or fluid having either low or high ionic strength. The glucose sensors of the present invention comprise a polymerized crystalline colloidal array (PCCA) and a molecular recognition component capable of responding to glucose. The molecular recognition component may be a boronic acid, such as a phenylboronic acid, glucose oxidase, a combination of phenylboronic acid and poly(ethylene)glycol or crown ether, or another component capable of detecting glucose in various fluids and solutions. The glucose sensors of the present invention may be useful in the development of noninvasive or minimally invasive in vivo glucose sensors for patients having diabetes mellitus.

Abstract: The present invention is related to photonic crystal devices that comprise novel mesoscopic periodic materials which comprise polymerized crystalline colloidal arrays (CCA) and at least one photosensitive component. Preferably, the photosensitive component is a photochromic molecule and more preferably the component is an azobenzene derivative. Methods for making these devices are also disclosed. The devices of the present invention are useful in many applications including, for example, optical switches, display devices and memory storage devices. The devices of the present invention permit the possibility to write with ultraviolet light and erase with visible light. In addition, the present invention is related to a functionalized polymerized crystalline colloidal array which preferably comprises reactive epoxide groups. The present invention is further directed to a photosensitive polymerized crystalline colloidal array.