Determining time since deposition of latent fingerprints on forensic adhesive tape using ultrafast DESI-MS and machine learning
Abstract Fingerprints provide indisputable forensic evidence for establishing identity. Latent fingerprints, often visualized with black magnetic powder and recovered with adhesive tape, can be matched to police databases for identification. However, determining the time since deposition (TSD) is cr...
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| Format: | Article |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02639-y |
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| author | Nora Rajs Yinon Harush-Brosh Ron Raisch Ravit Yakobi Arancibia Amani Zoabi Guy Nevet Golan Moshe Shpitzen Sarena Wiesner Michal Levin-Elad Tommy Kaplan Katherine Margulis |
| author_facet | Nora Rajs Yinon Harush-Brosh Ron Raisch Ravit Yakobi Arancibia Amani Zoabi Guy Nevet Golan Moshe Shpitzen Sarena Wiesner Michal Levin-Elad Tommy Kaplan Katherine Margulis |
| author_sort | Nora Rajs |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Fingerprints provide indisputable forensic evidence for establishing identity. Latent fingerprints, often visualized with black magnetic powder and recovered with adhesive tape, can be matched to police databases for identification. However, determining the time since deposition (TSD) is crucial to temporally tie the fingerprints to the crime. Despite extensive efforts, no reliable method exists for determining TSD. This study presents a workflow for directly dating fingerprints using ultrafast 2-dimensional desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS). The fingerprints are analyzed directly from a forensic tape after development with magnetic powder. This method aims to enable dating of fingerprints collected from virtually any non-porous surface. The study involved 744 fingerprints from 330 volunteers, aged up to 15 days under various conditions. Data analysis using the XGBoost and SMOTE algorithms achieved a correlation of 0.54 (p-value < 1e−5) between TSD prediction and true TSD, achieving 83.3% accuracy in distinguishing between 0-4 days and 10–15 days old prints. Key imaging parameters, such as DESI-MS scan rate, mass range, scan area, spatial resolution, and imaging mode, were optimized to enhance age determination precision and support rapid processing within forensic workflows. This research, conducted in collaboration between police forensic units and an academic institution, integrates seamlessly into practical forensic applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e5ed4f09389f49f6b39925dea5de24e5 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-e5ed4f09389f49f6b39925dea5de24e52025-08-20T03:22:02ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-02639-yDetermining time since deposition of latent fingerprints on forensic adhesive tape using ultrafast DESI-MS and machine learningNora Rajs0Yinon Harush-Brosh1Ron Raisch2Ravit Yakobi Arancibia3Amani Zoabi4Guy Nevet Golan5Moshe Shpitzen6Sarena Wiesner7Michal Levin-Elad8Tommy Kaplan9Katherine Margulis10Latent Fingerprint Laboratory, Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Israel PoliceR&D department, Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Israel PoliceR&D department, Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Israel PoliceThe Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of JerusalemThe Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of JerusalemR&D department, Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Israel PoliceR&D department, Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Israel PoliceLatent Fingerprint Laboratory, Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Israel PoliceDivision of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Department of National Forensic Investigations, National H.Q. JerusalemSchool of Computer Science and Engineering, The Hebrew University of JerusalemThe Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of JerusalemAbstract Fingerprints provide indisputable forensic evidence for establishing identity. Latent fingerprints, often visualized with black magnetic powder and recovered with adhesive tape, can be matched to police databases for identification. However, determining the time since deposition (TSD) is crucial to temporally tie the fingerprints to the crime. Despite extensive efforts, no reliable method exists for determining TSD. This study presents a workflow for directly dating fingerprints using ultrafast 2-dimensional desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS). The fingerprints are analyzed directly from a forensic tape after development with magnetic powder. This method aims to enable dating of fingerprints collected from virtually any non-porous surface. The study involved 744 fingerprints from 330 volunteers, aged up to 15 days under various conditions. Data analysis using the XGBoost and SMOTE algorithms achieved a correlation of 0.54 (p-value < 1e−5) between TSD prediction and true TSD, achieving 83.3% accuracy in distinguishing between 0-4 days and 10–15 days old prints. Key imaging parameters, such as DESI-MS scan rate, mass range, scan area, spatial resolution, and imaging mode, were optimized to enhance age determination precision and support rapid processing within forensic workflows. This research, conducted in collaboration between police forensic units and an academic institution, integrates seamlessly into practical forensic applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02639-y |
| spellingShingle | Nora Rajs Yinon Harush-Brosh Ron Raisch Ravit Yakobi Arancibia Amani Zoabi Guy Nevet Golan Moshe Shpitzen Sarena Wiesner Michal Levin-Elad Tommy Kaplan Katherine Margulis Determining time since deposition of latent fingerprints on forensic adhesive tape using ultrafast DESI-MS and machine learning Scientific Reports |
| title | Determining time since deposition of latent fingerprints on forensic adhesive tape using ultrafast DESI-MS and machine learning |
| title_full | Determining time since deposition of latent fingerprints on forensic adhesive tape using ultrafast DESI-MS and machine learning |
| title_fullStr | Determining time since deposition of latent fingerprints on forensic adhesive tape using ultrafast DESI-MS and machine learning |
| title_full_unstemmed | Determining time since deposition of latent fingerprints on forensic adhesive tape using ultrafast DESI-MS and machine learning |
| title_short | Determining time since deposition of latent fingerprints on forensic adhesive tape using ultrafast DESI-MS and machine learning |
| title_sort | determining time since deposition of latent fingerprints on forensic adhesive tape using ultrafast desi ms and machine learning |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02639-y |
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