Bayesian integration of isotope ratio for geographic sourcing of castor beans

Update Item Information
Publication Type pre-print
School or College College of Science
Department Biology
Creator Ehleringer, James R.
Other Author Webb-Robertson, Bobbie-Jo; Kreuzer, Helen; Hart, Garret; West, Jason; Gill, Gary; Duckworth, Douglas
Title Bayesian integration of isotope ratio for geographic sourcing of castor beans
Date 2012-01-01
Description Recent years have seen an increase in the forensic interest associated with the poison ricin, which is extracted from the seeds of the Ricinus communis plant. Both light element (C, N, O, and H) and strontium (Sr) isotope ratios have previously been used to associate organic material with geographic regions of origin. We present a Bayesian integration methodology that can more accurately predict the region of origin for a castor bean than individual models developed independently for light element stable isotopes or Sr isotope ratios. Our results demonstrate a clear improvement in the ability to correctly classify regions based on the integrated model with a class accuracy of 60.9 ± 2.1% versus 55.9 ± 2.1% and 40.2 ± 1.8% for the light element and strontium (Sr) isotope ratios, respectively. In addition, we show graphically the strengths and weaknesses of each dataset in respect to class prediction and how the integration of these datasets strengthens the overall model.
Type Text
Publisher Hindawi Publishing Corporation
First Page 1
Last Page 8
Dissertation Institution University of Utah
Language eng
Bibliographic Citation Webb-Robertson, B.-J., Kreuzer, H., Hart, G., Ehleringer, J., West, J., Gill, G., & Duckworth, D. (2012). Bayesian integration of isotope ratio for geographic sourcing of castor beans. Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, 2012, 1-8, no. 450967.
Rights Management (c) James R. Ehleringer ; doi:10.1155/2012/450967.
Format Medium application/pdf
Format Extent 839,020 bytes
Identifier uspace,17705
ARK ark:/87278/s6tt58qv
Setname ir_uspace
ID 708075
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6tt58qv