Wolfram Meier-Augenstein

Wolfram Meier-Augenstein
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Robert Gordon University | RGU · School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences

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About

132
Publications
69,075
Reads
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4,017
Citations
Additional affiliations
June 2011 - present
Robert Gordon University
Position
  • Professor
June 1992 - August 1992
University of California, San Diego
Position
  • Visiting Scientist
October 1994 - December 2002
University of Dundee
Position
  • Research Fellow / Hon Lecturer
Education
September 1987 - December 1989
Heidelberg University
Field of study
  • Bio-organic and Analytical Chemistry

Publications

Publications (132)
Article
Full-text available
In this paper we summarise the available human radiocarbon dates and stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope data for the Mesolithic of Northern Spain. This reinforces a strong division between inland and coastal locations, with the two separated by a distance of as little as ca. 10 km. There is considerable time depth to this division, wh...
Article
Fragmented and badly damaged commingled human remains present a tough challenge for their identification pursuits in forensic anthropology. Thousands of unknown human remains along with items of contextual identity, reportedly belonging to 282 Indian sepoys killed in 1857, were exhumed mon-scientifically from a disused ancient well at Ajnala (Amrit...
Chapter
This chapter provides some background and applications of stable isotope analysis in the context of humanitarian forensic science to illustrate the contribution that isotopic profiling can make to an investigation of an unidentified decedent. It also describes a few of the isotopic tools and data resources currently available to forensic investigat...
Article
Coastal regions, and in particular islands where precipitation from clouds formed out at sea occurs for the first time, are prime candidates for regions where 2H and 18O composition of precipitation will deviate significantly from the global mean geographic and physiographic trends of vapour-transport patterns. The results reported here are the out...
Article
Stable isotope signatures or profiles of physical evidence such as illicit drugs, explosives or human tissue provide information on source, origin, even sample history not obtainable by traditionally applied analytical techniques of forensic chemistry. The discriminatory power, calculated as random match probability, of multivariate stable isotope...
Article
Stable isotope ecology and forensic isotope ecology are not only linked by name. More often than not, knowledge and insights gained through the former serve as a springboard for application focused work of the latter. This review aims to offer a glimpse into the fascinating world of both though with more emphasis on forensic isotope ecology. To thi...
Article
Many scientific publications about stable isotope ratios suffer from flawed practices regarding calibration and normalisation of raw δ values in conjunction with prescribed δ values of reference materials. Violations of the identical treatment principle with regards to samples and standards (i.e. reference materials) and lack of adherence to SI-man...
Book
Full-text available
This edition of the internationally acclaimed guide to forensic stable isotope analysis uses real-world examples to bridge discussions of the basic science, instrumentation and analytical techniques underlying forensic isotope profiling and its various technical applications. Case studies describe an array of applications, many of which were develo...
Article
Full-text available
Excessive nitrate (NO3⁻) concentration in groundwater raises health and environmental issues that must be addressed by all European Union (EU) member states under the Nitrates Directive and the Water Framework Directive. The identification of NO3⁻ sources is critical to efficiently control or reverse NO3⁻ contamination that affects many aquifers. I...
Article
Full-text available
An international project developed, quality-tested, and determined isotope-δ values of 19 new organic reference materials (RMs) for hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen stable isotope-ratio measurements, in addition to analyzing pre-existing RMs NBS 22 (oil), IAEA-CH-7 (polyethylene foil), and IAEA-600 (caffeine). These new RMs enable users to normalize...
Article
An article published recently in Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry (RCM) prompted us to draw attention to the subject of IUPAC guidelines and recommended terms of stable isotope abundance measurements and reporting results thereof. Conditions or prerequisites for stable isotope analysis as laid down in official IUPAC publications have to be...
Article
Full-text available
β-Cyclodextrin was derivatized with 1-bromoalkanes of different chain lengths. The yield as well as the purity of the resulting cyclodextrin derivatives were improved by using solvent mixtures instead of pure solvents. The heptakis(2,6-di-O-alkyl)- and heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-alkyl)-β-cyclodextrins were studied by means of NMR spectroscopy employing o...
Article
Full-text available
Cotton is the most commonly used natural plant product for the manufacture of yarns and textiles. Consumer perception regarding differences in textile quality in relation to geographic provenance of cotton as well as stringent product labelling requirements demand for the supply chain to furnish proof of geographic provenance beyond merely paper-ba...
Chapter
Full-text available
Introduction The coast off the southeastern tip of Ireland has been, over the years, the site of many 'finds' involving human remains in various stages of decomposition and disarticulation. There are a number of reasons for this, including the direction of the current and the convergence of two seas, the Irish Sea and the Celtic Sea, via the St. Ge...
Chapter
Are two cocaine “bricks” seized as part of two independent police operations part of the same drug running operation or are they part of two different drug-dealing organizations operating in the same city? Are the hundreds of ecstasy tablets seized during the search of a suspected drug dealer’s house linked to the handful of ecstasy tablets found o...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Anecdotal evidence as well as observations made in our own stable isotope laboratory suggest for samples with either a high halogen content (such as marine samples) or a high carbon and oxygen content (such as carbohydrates) to result in flash combustion temperatures exceeding temperature or burn time or both of flash combustion under typical condi...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Viagra® manufactured by Pfizer was the first prescription drug for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED), a condition that is estimated to affect 1 in 10 men at some stage in their lives (1). Viagra® contains the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) sildenafil, as the citrate salt. Sildenafil, along with Tadalafil and Vardenafil belong to a...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil is a premium single seed vegetable oil that is uniquely linked to the geographic region of Styria where it is grown and produced. In 1996, the strong regional ties of this typical Styrian speciality were recognised by the EU-Commission who declared "Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil P.G.I." as a Protected Geographical Indication (ar...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Scotland's freshwater lochs and reservoirs provide a vital resource for sustaining biodiversity, agriculture, food production as well as for human consumption. Regular monitoring of freshwaters by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) fulfils legislative requirements with regards to water quality but new scientific methods involving sta...
Article
Measurement of the relative abundance of (2)H (expressed in δ (2)H values) in tissues of plants, wildlife and people has evolved into a powerful forensic tool. The approach is based on the strong linkage between spatial patterns of δ (2)H values in precipitation at local and continental scales, and the tissues of plants and animals produced on thes...
Article
Full-text available
A number of methods of clandestine manufacture of methylamphetamine involve the extraction and subsequent reaction of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride with other essential chemicals. The precursor can be easily extracted from over-the-counter medication widely available in the UK and elsewhere. Essential chemicals such as iodine and red phosphorous ar...
Article
Full-text available
Carbon and nitrogen isotope abundance values (δ13C and δ15N, respectively) were measured for the first time in the soft tissue, axial skeleton, and spicules of 4 Mediterranean gorgonians, 3 asymbiotic (Leptogorgia sarmentosa, Paramuricea clavata, and Eunicella verrucosa) and 1 symbiotic with autotrophic dinoflagellates (Eunicella singularis). The i...
Article
Several recent deaths in the U.K. have been attributed to "legal high" drugs and in particular to (±)-4-methylmethcathinone ((±)-mephedrone). Recent literature has begun to focus on the chemical analysis of mephedrone and related substituted cathinones and methcathinones; however, no studies involving the application of stable isotope analysis to t...
Article
Neat Scottish whiskies and the local source water used for and during whisky production have been analysed for their 2H and 18O isotopic composition by High Temperature Conversion–Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (TC/EA–IRMS). With coefficients of determination R2 for δ2H and δ18O of 0.71 and 0.88, respectively, measured δ2H and δ18O values for wate...
Article
Full-text available
Recent studies on highly mobile carnivores revealed cryptic population genetic structures correlated to transitions in habitat types and prey species composition. This led to the hypothesis that natal-habitat-biased dispersal may be responsible for generating population genetic structure. However, direct evidence for the concordant ecological and g...
Data
Full-text available
Sample information and δ15N and δ13C isotope profiles (‰) for wolf prey species analyzed in this study. (PDF)
Data
Full-text available
IsoSource dietary mixing polygon for Eastern European grey wolves. The wolf δ13C and δ15N values are plotted with potential prey. Trophic enrichment values of 1.3‰ for δ13C and 4.6‰ for δ15N (from Fox-Dobbs et al. 2007) were added to the mean δ13C and δ15N values of potential prey. Stable isotope profiles are presented as mean and standard deviatio...
Data
Distributions of posterior estimates of proportional contributions of prey sources in diet of Eastern European wolves inferred from the stable isotope data using MixSIR for: four subpopulations delimited based on mtDNA variability (MIT 1-MIT 4), two subpopulations delimited based on microsatellite variability (NUC 1, NUC 2), and the entire populati...
Data
Full-text available
Sample information and δ15N and δ13C isotope profiles (‰) for 110 Eastern European wolves analyzed in this study. (PDF)
Data
Full-text available
Diet composition of wolves inferred from the stable isotope data using MixSIR. For: (A) four subpopulations delimited based on mtDNA variability (MIT 1- MIT 4), (B) two subpopulations delimited based on microsatellite variability (NUC 1, NUC 2), and (C) all individuals pulled together. The result for the subpopulation MIT 4 is based on one individu...
Data
Full-text available
Effects of ecological factors and geographical distance on genetic differentiation of Eastern European wolves. The tests were performed in the same way as those presented in Table for, but additional explanatory variables were considered. For details see Table 4 legend and Methods section with the description of the tests. (PDF)
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Scotland's freshwater lochs and reservoirs provide a vital resource for sustaining biodiversity, agriculture, food production as well as for human consumption. Regular monitoring of freshwater quality by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) fulfils the legislative requirements but new scientific methods involving stable isotope analy...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
This work exposes the variation in light element stable isotopic abundance values of 13C, 2H and 15N) derived from the analysis of methylamphetamine synthesized via 2 different synthetic routes popular with clandestine laboraties, the Hypophosphorous and the Moscow route. We repeatedly prepared the final product using known clandestine synthetic m...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Substances touted as "legal highs" and known by names such as "ivory wave" or "NRG-1" mimic the effects of illegal drugs such as amphetamine, cocaine and ecstasy. Sold as "bath salts", plant food or incense these so-called "designer drugs" can be dangerous but despite this health danger many have not yet been made illegal and are difficult to detec...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
In July 2010, a woman was jailed for nine years in the UK after the prosecution successfully argued that attempting to import a cutting agent was proof of involvement in a conspiracy to supply Cocaine. That landmark ruling provided law enforcement agencies with much greater scope to tackle those involved in this aspect of the drug trade, specifical...
Chapter
Variation in the relative abundance of stable isotopes can be used to examine and to differentiate drugs, both pharmaceutical and illicit, and related materials. Analytical protocols are based either on the determination of isotope composition of the bulk sample, of specific compounds within the sample, or on a combination of both. For the comparis...
Chapter
While bone and teeth provide a long-term stable isotope record of a person's life history measured in years (see Stabel Isotope Analysis: Bone and Teeth), stable isotope profiles of hair and nail can yield information on a person's recent life circumstance up to 15 months into a person's past. Since hair and nail samples can be collected noninvasiv...
Chapter
Exploiting subtle variations or differences in stable isotope abundance of e.g., drugs, fibres, or human tissue is an emerging and innovative tool for forensic chemical analysis. This article provides an introduction into stable isotope analysis, stable isotope terminology, and how isotope ratio measurements are quality controlled, while at the sam...
Chapter
In most of the different body deposition scenarios but for cremation, bone and teeth are typically the human remains that remain intact the longest after death has occurred. In the absence of any distinguishing features or other evidence that could help with positive victim identification, stable isotope profiles or signatures can provide useful in...
Article
Full-text available
(15)N and (18)O isotope abundance analyses in nitrate (NO(3)(-)) (expressed as δ(15)N-NO(3)(-) and δ(18)O-NO(3)(-) values respectively) have often been used in research to help identify NO(3)(-) sources in rural groundwater. However, questions have been raised over the limitations as overlaps in δ values may occur between N source types early in th...
Article
Stable isotope analysis of organic materials for their hydrogen ((2)H), carbon ((13)C), nitrogen ((15)N) or oxygen ((18)O) isotopic composition using continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry (CF-IRMS) is an increasingly used tool in forensic chemical analysis. (2)H isotopic analysis can present a huge challenge, especially when dealing with...
Article
Full-text available
In this study, we precisely synthesised 61 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine hydrochloride (MDMA.HCl) samples. The synthetic route, reaction conditions, and batch of starting material used were carefully controlled in order to facilitate the assessment of the sample linkage abilities of: (1) GCMS organic impurity profiling using different sets of t...
Article
The analysis of un-dyed spun cotton fibres can be challenging within a forensic science context where discrimination of one fibre from another is of importance. Conventional microscopic and chemical analysis of these fibres is generally unsuccessful because of their similar morphology. In this work we have explored the potential of isotope ratio ma...
Article
Full-text available
Determining the isotopic composition of nitrate (NO(3)(-)) in water can prove useful to identify NO(3)(-) sources and to understand its dynamics in aquatic systems. Among the procedures available, the 'ion-exchange resin method' involves extracting NO(3)(-) from freshwater and converting it into solid silver nitrate (AgNO(3)), which is then analyse...
Article
Stable isotope analysis of biogenic tissues such as tooth enamel and bone mineral has become a well-recognised and increasingly important method for determining the provenance of human remains, and it has been used successfully in bio-archaeological studies as well as forensic investigations. In particular, (18)O and (2)H stable isotope signatures...
Article
Stable oxygen isotope compositions ( δ ¹⁸ O values) of two commercial and one synthesized silver orthophosphate reagents have been determined on the VSMOW scale. The analyses were carried out in three different laboratories: lab (1) applying off‐line oxygen extraction in the form of CO 2 which was analyzed on a dual inlet and triple collector isoto...
Article
Hair is a keratinous tissue that incorporates hydrogen from material that an animal consumes but it is metabolically inert following synthesis. The stable hydrogen isotope composition of hair has been used in ecological studies to track migrations of mammals as well as for forensic and archaeological purposes to determine the provenance of human re...
Article
Full-text available
To investigate the potential sources of fatty alcohols arriving at a WWTP and entering the receiving waters, a study was conducted at Treborth North Wales using compound specific stable isotope mass spectrometry (¹³C and ²H). Samples were collected from soils, marine sediments, detergents used in the catchment and in the WWTP. Total fatty alcohol c...
Article
Full-text available
Many field experiments have indicated that litter decomposition in semi-arid areas may be partly or fully controlled by photodegradation. We devised a study to test our hypothesis that light exposure makes plant litter more degradable. Dry, senescent, aboveground plant litter from Miscanthus x giganteus was exposed to light including ultraviolet (U...
Article
This paper presents a pilot study designed to test the use of oxygen isotopes for investigating aspects of early herding practices in the Neolithic of western Asia, using the site of Çatalhöyük in central Anatolia as a case study. Time-sequenced δ18O values in dental enamel of archaeological sheep are assessed for post-depositional diagenetic effec...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Stable isotope analysis of biogenic tissues such as tooth enamel and bone mineral has become a well recognized and increasingly important method for determining provenance of human remains, and has been used successfully in bioarchaeological studies as well as forensic investigations (Lee-Thorp, 2008; Meier-Augenstein and Fraser, 2008). Particularl...
Article
Variations in natural abundance of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stable isotopes are widely used as tools for many aspects of scientific research. By examining variations in the ratios of heavy to light stable isotopes, information can be obtained as to what physical, chemical and biological processes may be occurring. The spatial heterogeneity of so...
Article
Full-text available
Stable isotopes of water have been previously used in catchment studies to separate rain-event water from pre-event groundwater. However, there are a lack of studies at the smaller scale looking at the separation of event water from pre-event water. This is particularly relevant for heavy clay soil systems through which the movement of water is unc...
Chapter
This book provides the first comprehensive, overview and guide to forensic isotope analysis, an exciting new application of stable isotope analytical techniques. Topics are introduced using examples and real-life case studies such as food quality control where isotope analysis has already had a major impact, in terms of consumer protection, These e...
Book
Full-text available
This book provides the first comprehensive, overview and guide to forensic isotope analysis, an exciting new application of stable isotope analytical techniques. Topics are introduced using examples and real-life case studies such as food quality control where isotope analysis has already had a major impact, in terms of consumer protection, These e...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
REFERENCES: [1] Schwarcz HP, Walker PL. Characterization of a murder victim using stable isotopic analyses. Am J Phys Anthropol 2006;129:160. [2] Meier-Augenstein W, Fraser I. Forensic isotope analysis leads to identification of a mutilated murder victim. Science & Justice 2008;48:153-9. [3] Sponheimer M, Lee-Thorp JA. Oxygen isotopes in enamel car...
Chapter
The tracking of sewage wastes in the environment has usually focused on liquid discharges and the bacteria associated with these effluents. This is correct in many circumstances, because pathogens might be associated with these materials. However, there is also the production and disposal of the solid-phase waters associated with sewage processing....
Article
Full-text available
Owing to increasing levels of geographic mobility be it in the form of leisure travel or be it in the form of relocation to improve one’s chances for employment and a presumed better life, agencies tasked with establishing a person’s identity face an equally increasing difficult situation. While incidents involving a single person such as seriously...
Article
Observations made during the (13)C isotope analysis of gaseous CO(2) in the simultaneous presence of argon in the ion source of the isotope ratio mass spectrometer prompted us to investigate what influence the simultaneous presence of nitrogen would have on both accuracy and precision of bulk (2)H isotope analysis of nitrogen-rich organic compounds...
Article
Arson is a significant problem around the world, and is a crime which results in a low number of convictions. The scene of an arson can be varied, commercial, residential or national park, and recently cases have been identified which were initiated by a lit match. Matches can be recovered from a scene, usually in a burnt condition. The benefit of...
Article
Architectural paints are commonly found as trace evidence at scenes of crime. Currently the most widely used technique for the analysis of architectural paints is Fourier Transformed Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR). There are, however, limitations to the forensic analysis of white paints, and the ability to discriminate between samples. Isotope ratio...
Article
The extremely cold and arid Antarctic dry valleys are one of the most environmentally harsh terrestrial ecosystems supporting organisms in which the biogeochemical transformations of carbon are exclusively driven by microorganisms. The natural abundance of (13)C and (15)N in source organic materials and soils have been examined to obtain evidence f...
Article
Forensic science already uses a variety of methods often in combination to determine a deceased person's identity if neither personal effects nor next of kin (or close friends) can positively identify the victim. While disciplines such as forensic anthropology are able to work from a blank canvass as it were and can provide information on age, gend...
Chapter
Full-text available
Geographical information systems (GIS), recognised as instrumental in the documentation, mapping and analysis of spatial crime data, can provide a framework for the integration and analysis of spatial data whether remotely generated on a regional scale, ground surveyed or sampled on a local scale at a crime scene. In this paper a missing person hom...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
3,4-Methylenedioxymethylamphetamine, or MDMA, is typically found as the active ingredient of the popular street drug “Ecstasy”, and is one of the most widely abused substances throughout Europe. To tackle the problem of Ecstasy traffic, law enforcement agencies need intelligence to identify the distribution networks which could lead them to the dru...
Article
The relationship between diet, geographic location and isotopic composition of human tissue has been successfully exploited in archaeological and palaeodietary studies, i.e. on ancient man, but cases in which this approach has been applied to present-day people e.g. to aid identification of mutilated or deteriorated bodies are far and few between....
Article
In criminal proceedings involving illegally manufactured substances, evidence demonstrating the manufacture is required for successful prosecution. In many circumstances the presence of manufacturing equipment and 'recipes' are clear indicators. However establishing chemical links between starting materials and products would be beneficial addition...
Article
Drug profiling, or the ability to link batches of illicit drugs to a common source or synthetic route, has long been a goal of law enforcement agencies. Research in the past decade has explored drug profiling with isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). This type of research can be limited by the use of substances seized by police, of which the pro...
Article
When submitting samples for analysis, maintaining sample integrity is essential. Appropriate packaging must be used to prevent damage, contamination or loss of sample. This is particularly important for stable isotope analysis by isotope ratio mass spectrometry as this technique is capable of detecting subtle differences in isotopic composition wit...
Article
This article examines the feasibility of source identification of seized street drug samples by exploiting differences in isotopic composition at natural abundance level by gc/ms as compared to isotope ratio mass spectrometry. This is a letter to the Editor.
Article
Full-text available
Four recently discovered frozen child mummies from two of the highest peaks in the south central Andes now yield tantalizing evidence of the preparatory stages leading to Inca ritual killing as represented by the unique capacocha rite. Our interdisciplinary study examined hair from the mummies to obtain detailed genetic and diachronic isotopic info...
Article
Continuous-flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry (CF-IRMS) was used to compare (2)H isotopic composition at natural abundance level of human scalp hair and fingernail samples collected from subjects worldwide with interpolated delta(2)H precipitation values at corresponding locations. The results showed a strong correlation between delta(2)H values...
Article
In this case, an individual was suspected of attempting to burn materials potentially relating to a murder case. A number of spent and unspent matches were seized at the scene by police for forensic examination. Coincidentally, a police raid at the suspect's house revealed a number of matchboxes, all of the same brand, containing matches that had a...
Article
Stable isotope ratios of organic compounds are valuable tools for determining the geographical origin, identity, authenticity or history of samples from a vast range of sources such as sediments, plants and animals, including humans. Hydrogen isotope ratios (delta(2)H values) of methoxyl groups in lignin from wood of trees grown in different geogra...
Article
Recent natural catastrophes with large-scale loss of life have demonstrated the need for a new technique to provide information for disaster victim identification when DNA methods fail to yield the identification of an individual, or in other situations where authorities need to determine the recent geographical life history of people. The latter m...