Message from the Editor:

The Journal of the American Society of Trace Evidence Examiners (JASTEE) is always on the lookout for high quality contributions. If you have been sitting on a great idea for a paper, or if you presented at one of the past regional forensic association meetings or trace evidence symposia but have never written up your paper for publication, now is the time to act. Everyone benefits when these papers are published and shared with the broader community through a peer reviewed format. We have big plans for JASTEE, but we cannot do it alone, so get writing, and contact Heidi Prough if you have any questions at ProughH@michigan.gov.

Submission questions? See JASTEE's Guide for Authors and the JASTEE Article Template.

Article Title Authors Keywords Year Month Issue

The Differences Between Refractive Index Measurements of the External Surface and Bulk Area of Container Glass

Joseph Insana, Patrick Buzzini

forensic science, trace evidence, glass evidence, container glass, sampling, refractive index measurement, glass refractive index measurement (GRIM), phase contrast microscopy (PCM), filing of glass (FoG) methodforensic science, trace evidence, glass evidence, container glass, sampling, refractive index measurement, glass refractive index measurement (GRIM), phase contrast microscopy (PCM), filing of glass (FoG) method

2017

March

7-1

Evaluation of Duct Tape Physical Characteristics: Part I - Within-Roll Variability

Kiersten LaPorte, Robyn Weimer

forensic science, trace evidence, duct tape, within-roll variability, physical characteristics

2017

March

7-1

Variability of Refractive Index and Thickness of Tempered Glass throughout an Automotive Window

Michael Trimpe, Josi Sammarco

Glass, Refractive index, Thickness, Tempered, Automotive window, Variation

2017

March

7-1

Differential Sampling of Contact Surfaces of Footwear to Separate Fractions of Loosely, Moderately and Tightly Held Particles

David A. Stoney, Paul L. Stoney

Differential Sampling, Footwear, Contact Surfaces, Particles

2017

March

7-1

Case Study: Expectations and Interpretations of an Alternate Known Fiber Sample

Michael J. Bertocchi

Fiber Comparison, Alternate Known Sample, Microspectrophotometry (MSP)

2024

February

13-1

In-house Validation of Classification of Glass Type by Assessment of XRF Elemental Ratios

Kris Gates, Carly Sizelove, Anne Young

Glass, Classification, X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF), Sheet, Container

2024

February

13-1

A Low-Cost Fiber Optic Visible Microspectrometer for the Small Forensic Science Laboratory

Thomas A. Kubic, Mircea A. Comanescu, Tiffany J. Millett

microspectrophotometer, forensics, forensic science, criminalistics, fibers, glass, polarized light, microscopy, color, metamerism

2024

February

13-1

Plumbum Microraptus: Definitive Microscopic Indicators of a Bullet Hole in a Synthetic Fabric

Christopher S. Palenik, Skip Palenik, Peter Diaczuk

Ammunition, Backscattered Electron Imaging, Bullets, Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, Fabrics, Fibers, Firearms, Forensic Science, Fourier Transform Infrared Microspectroscopy, Lead, Primer Gunshot Residue, Polarized Light Microscopy, Secondary Electron Imaging, Scanning Electron Microscopy

2015

January

6-1

Forensic Fiber Examination Guidelines: Infrared Analysis of Textile Fibers

SWGMAT

None

2015

January

6-1

Guideline for Assessing Physical Characteristics in Forensic Tape Examinations

SWGMAT

None

2014

January

5-1

Synthetic Wig Fibers: Analysis & Differentiation from Human Hairs

Holly Long, Sarah Walbridge-Jones, Kacie Lundgren

Wigs, Wig Fibers, Hairs, MSP, FTIR, Cross-sections, Scale Casts, PLM, Microscopy

2014

January

5-1

Standard Guide for Using Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography and Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry in Forensic Tape Examinations

SWGMAT

None

2014

January

5-1

Flexible Sealants – An Analysis

Steven Stone

Flexible Sealants, IR, SEM, Py-GC-MS, PLM

2015

January

6-1

A Method for Isolating Very Small Particles from Plastic Explosive Samples

Andrew M. Bowen

Composition C4, Dust, Explosives, Forensic Investigation, Plastic Explosives, Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM), Provenance, Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), Small Particles, X-ray Diffraction (XRD)

2013

January

4-1

Measurement and Variation of UV Absorbers within Multi-Year Samples of Automotive Clear Coat Paint

Steven Stone, Margaret Barber, Ronald Wojciechowski, Paul Martin

None

2013

January

4-1

Forensic Fiber Examination Guidelines: Fabric and Cordage

SWGMAT

None

2015

January

6-1

Duct Tape Sourcing Examinations: Developing Investigative Leads using Multiple Resources

Diana M. Wright, Andria H. Mehltretter

Duct Tapes, Sourcing, FTIR, SEM/EDS, XRD, Py-GC/MS, Reference Collections

2013

January

4-1

Intra-Roll and Intra-Jumbo Roll Variation of Duct Tapes

Andria H. Mehltretter, Diana M. Wright, Joshua R. Dettman, Michael A. Smith

Duct Tape, Variation, Stereomicroscopy, Scrim Count, Width, Thickness, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Statistical Analysis, Jumbo Roll

2015

January

6-1

Standard Guide for Using Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography and Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry in Forensic Paint Examinations

SWGMAT

None

2014

January

5-1

Differentiation between Lip Cosmetics Using Raman Spectroscopy

P. Gardner, M.F. Bertino, Robyn Weimer

Cosmetics, Lip Gloss, Lip Balm, Raman

2015

January

6-1

Comparison of Nylon, Polyester, and Olefin Fibers using FTIR and Melting Point Analysis

Anne E. Kisler-Rao

Fiber, Nylon, Polyester, Olefin, FTIR, Melting Point

2015

January

6-1