Thesis (Ph.D.)--George Mason University, 2007. / Adviser: Susan J. Tolchin. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A. in history)--Washington State University, May 2010. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on July 6, 2010). "Department of History." Includes bibliographical references (p. 122-129).

Many plant species around the world are known to contain various psychoactive compounds. Due to their effects when consumed, many of these plants are used as a part of religious and ritualistic practices in many different cultures. As with any psychoactive compounds, these plants have the potential to be used in a recreational manner. In the United States, plant based drugs of abuse, such as marijuana, have become commonly abused substances. Although marijuana is currently regulated by the federal government, many of the plant materials containing potential drugs of abuse are not, and can be purchased legally from various online sources. The goals of this research were to develop methods for the analysis of a wide variety of plant based drugs of abuse by Direct Analysis in Real Time-Mass Spectrometry (DART-MS) and to apply the methods in an effort to differentiate between multiple strains of a single seed species. DART is an ambient ionization technique that allows for rapid analysis of samples while eliminating the need for sample preparation considerations for many applications. Analytes of interest can be detected within the complex plant matrix of ground up seeds, with no need for further extraction or isolation of the analytes. For this study, fourteen different seed samples, including twelve different species, reported to have psychoactive effects on the user were obtained and analyzed. Physical examination was performed, in which average measurements were obtained to describe the length, width, thickness, and mass of each seed species, followed by analytical analysis by DART-MS. The seeds were prepared for analysis by DART-MS by grinding to expose the middle of the seed containing the analytes of interest, and embedding the powder onto QuickStrip(TM) cards (IonSense, Inc.). To optimize the method for analysis, three different DART carrier gas temperatures (250°C, 300°C, and 350°C) were investigated for each seed sample by considering the signal to noise ratio, ion abundance, and presence of the analyte of interest at each source temperature using a single quadrupole mass spectrometer. The analytes detected were then subjected to MS(n) fragmentation in a quadrupole ion trap to confirm the identity of the analytes being detected. Fragmentation patterns were then compared to fragmentation patterns reported in the literature through methods such as chemical ionization, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization, and electrospray ionization. Thirteen of the fourteen seed samples were known to contain compounds with psychoactive properties. One of the species contained no known hallucinogenic compounds, however it was reported to have psychoactive effects when ingested or smoked. Protocols were developed for each sample and the identification of the analytes of interest was successful in twelve of the fourteen samples. DART-MS is a powerful technique for the detection and identification of a variety of plant based drugs of abuse, including tetrahydrocannabinol, lysergic acid amide, and numerous others. The ability to rapidly analyze a large number of samples makes DART-MS a technique with great potential in forensic laboratory settings, such as forensic drug analysis, where case backlog is often an area of concern. The majority of the samples explored in this study are not considered common substances of abuse. However, as their abuse is becoming more common, the high throughput nature of the analytical methods and techniques discussed will become increasingly important.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio University, March, 2010. / Title from PDF t.p. Release of full electronic text on OhioLINK has been delayed until April 1, 2012. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at El Paso, 2008. / Title from title screen. Vita. CD-ROM. Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.

In-utero ethanol exposure may result in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Studies have suggested that women who drink ethanol are more likely to consume illicit drugs. Detection of such exposures has been done via meconium and hair testing and can serve to direct needed prevention methods and appropriate management and intervention for the neonate and the mother. This study examined maternal diabetes as a possible confounder for in-utero ethanol exposure testing and determined the trends in drug use associated with heavy in-utero ethanol exposure in a high-risk obstetric Canadian population. It was determined that maternal diabetes does not produce false-positive results in testing for in-utero ethanol exposure. Furthermore, heavy in-utero ethanol exposure was detected in 15.5% of samples and was associated with an increased exposure to amphetamines (OR=3.30) and opiates (OR=2.01), but a decreased exposure to cannabinoids (OR=0.61) when compared to neonates with no heavy in-utero ethanol exposure.

In-utero ethanol exposure may result in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Studies have suggested that women who drink ethanol are more likely to consume illicit drugs. Detection of such exposures has been done via meconium and hair testing and can serve to direct needed prevention methods and appropriate management and intervention for the neonate and the mother. This study examined maternal diabetes as a possible confounder for in-utero ethanol exposure testing and determined the trends in drug use associated with heavy in-utero ethanol exposure in a high-risk obstetric Canadian population. It was determined that maternal diabetes does not produce false-positive results in testing for in-utero ethanol exposure. Furthermore, heavy in-utero ethanol exposure was detected in 15.5% of samples and was associated with an increased exposure to amphetamines (OR=3.30) and opiates (OR=2.01), but a decreased exposure to cannabinoids (OR=0.61) when compared to neonates with no heavy in-utero ethanol exposure.

La electroforesis capilar presenta menos sensibilidad en términos de concentración, comparado con la cromatografía de líquidos debido principalmente al pequeño volumen de inyección de la muestra y a la pequeña longitud del camino óptico para la detección, el cual coincide con el diámetro interno del capilar. El objetivo de la presente Tesis es el estudio y desarrollo de diferentes estrategias para disminuir los límites de detección de la electroforesis capilar, concretamente técnicas de preconcentración electroforéticas y cromatográficas. Se presentan técnica basadas en isotacoforesis y SPE acoplado en línea a electroforesis capilar para la determinación de drogas de abuso y de anti-inflamatorios no esteroidales. El desarrollo fundamental de estas estrategias va, en muchos casos, relacionado con el desarrollo de las aplicaciones, por lo cual el trabajo con muestras reales es fundamental, concretamente se ha trabajado con muestras biológicas (plasma y orina) y con muestras de agua medioambientales (agua de rio y de grifo). / Capillary electrophoresis is a highly promising analytical separation technique with a wide range of applications in biological and environmental fields. However, Capillary electrophoresis suffers from a lack of sensitivity when compared with chromatographic techniques because, in general, it is not possible to inject high sample volumes and also due to the short optical path-length for on-capillary detection. The objective of this Doctoral Thesis is the development of analytical methods to increase sensitivity in capillary electrophoresis for the determination of pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse in environmental and biological samples. To do that, several preconcentration techniques either stacking (based on isotachophoresis principles) or chromatographic (based on in-line SPE) have been studied. The compounds selected for the different studies in this Doctoral Thesis belong to the pharmaceutical compound group (in particularly in non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and to the drugs of abuse group.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2009. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 47-51). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Victoria University of Wellington, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.