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Stable Isotopes provide clues to mystery skeleton
Human remains found in a shed in Hedgerley Woods in Berkshire in 2007 could not be identified despite forensic tests and international appeals. Hair and nail samples from the corpse were sent to Dr. Wolfram Meier-Augenstein, senior lecturer at Dundee University and principal scientist at Mylnefield Isotope Signatures.
Stable isotope analysis of the samples revealed that the man had arrived in the UK one month or less prior to death and that his diet was consistent with somebody who came from Iceland, northern Scandinavia, Hungary, Poland, Romania or parts of the Ukraine. This led the coroner to find that the man was probably an illegal immigrant, although his exact identity remains unknown
For local press coverage see:
www.bucksfreepress.co.uk
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New Book from Dr. Wolfram Meier-Augenstein - Stable Isotope Forensics: An Introduction to the Forensic Application of Stable Isotope Analysis
“Stable Isotope Forensics: An Introduction to the Forensic Application of Stable Isotope Analysis” by Dr Meier-Augenstein provides a comprehensive overview and guide to forensic isotope analysis. Underlying principles of isotope analysis are illustrated by practical real-life examples of their application in forensic case work.
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
ISBN 978-0-470-51705-5
To be published March 2010
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Mylnefield Isotope Signatures participates in international benchmarking exercise.
During 2009, under the direction of Wolfram Meier-Augenstein, Mylnefield Isotope Signatures (MIS) participated in two international inter-laboratory exercises (ILE) to assess the quality of its stable isotope analyses. One ILE, with 14 participating laboratories was organised by the University of Indiana. The other was organised by the Forensic Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry network (FIRMS) with 29 laboratories taking part.
Analysing different compounds such as acetanilide, ammonium nitrate, cellulose, and urea for 2H, 13C, 15N, and 18O isotope abundance, MIS’s results achieved z-scores ranging from 1.43 to 0.08, placing its results consistently within the 95% confidence interval of the Huber estimate of the mean (H15), which is taken to be the consensus mean for each analyte. The z-score is defined by (lab mean – H15) / H15 standard deviation.
The results for the FIRMS exercise are shown below. Mylnefield Isotope Signatures is laboratory 24 on each chart.
The results from both Inter-Laboratory Exercises reinforce Mylnefield Isotope Signature’s reputation for delivering high quality research and analytical services.
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Vales Sovereign wins Award for Best New Variety
The Vales Soverign potato variety bred by MRS for Greenvale AP recently won the "Tesco Best New Variety in Produce" award.
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