Methamphetamine impurity profiling using a 0.32 mm i.d. nonpolar capillary column

Classification of seized methamphetamine by impurity profiling can provide very useful information in criminal investigations of drug traffic routes, sources of supply and relationships between seizures. The aim of this study is to improve and develop an analytical method for detecting impurities such as starting materials and by-products in illegally prepared methamphetamine.HCl samples. A 50mg sample of methamphetamine.HCl was dissolved in 1 ml of buffer solution (four parts 0.1M phosphate buffer pH 7.0 and one part 10% Na2CO3). Impurities were extracted with 0.5 ml of ethyl acetate containing four internal standards (ISs) (n-decane, n-pentadecane, n-nonadecane and n-hexacosane) and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) using a flame ionization detector (FID) on a DB-5 capillary column (0.32 mmi.d. x 30 m, film thickness 1.0 microm). The use of a middle-bore column offered better separation of the impurity peaks. The correction of the retention times of impurity peaks with four ISs made peak identification very accurate for subsequent data processing. Twenty-four characteristic peaks were selected for comparison and similarity and/or dissimilarity between samples, and the data were evaluated by the Euclidean distance of the relative peak areas after logarithmic transformation. The results indicate that the present method would be useful for methamphetamine impurity profiling.     

The influence of putrefactive changes on the determination of Paraquat in autopsy materials

This paper describes how the putrefactive changes in a cadaver will influence the determination of Paraquat in autopsy material. The carcasses of rats that had been given large doses of Paraquat and subsequently killed by cervical dislocation, were left at room temperature for up to seven days. Samples of stomach, caecum and liver were removed for the colorimetric determination of Paraquat with sodium dithionite following extraction on a Dowex 50W-4 column.Paraquat recovered from the stomach and caecum showed a decrease with time after death with the rate of decrease being greater in the caecum samples. However, the concentration of Paraquat in the liver increased for three days and then began to decrease gradually.The possible causes of these variations in Paraquat recovery are discussed. The findings appear to demonstrate the value of Paraquat determination even in samples from material that is in a state of advanced putrefaction.     

Coordination of Legal Systems by the Recognition of Foreign Judgments — Rethinking Reciprocity in Sino-Japanese Relationships

In the era of globalization, commercial transactions readily gain international dimensions and are increasingly delocalized. With a view to establishing effective dispute resolution mechanisms, it is desirable that judgments rendered in one state be recognized and enforced in other states. This is especially important in East Asia, as cross-border business activities are rapidly expanding along with its economic growth. This paper aims to examine the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters in East Asia with a focus on Sino–Japanese relationships, where the establishment of a reciprocal relationship has posed a considerable challenge. It is worth considering how we can gradually pave the way towards the mutual recognition and enforcement of judgments to achieve coordination among legal systems.     

Citizen's psychological knowledge,legal knowledge,and attitudes toward participation in the new Japanese legal system,saiban-in seido

A new procedure, saiban-in seido, was introduced in the Japanese criminal court in 2009.1 1. This article was written before the Saiban-in seido started. A mixed tribunal of three professional judges and six lay people selected from a list of voters deliberate the verdict in serious criminal cases such as murder, rape, and arson. This study researched lay people's attitudes toward the new system, their psychological knowledge (e.g. the reliability of eyewitness testimony) and legal knowledge (e.g. ‘presumed innocent’), and the relationship between attitude and knowledge. Study 1 examined the responses of 294 citizens to a questionnaire; 90 responses were examined in Study 2 (both samples consisted of two age groups, i.e. (1) 20s and (2) 40s and 50s, and two education levels, i.e. (1) college or below and (2) university or more. In both studies, respondents showed concerns about their lack of ability and knowledge to become a lay judge. Although legal knowledge was related to attitude – i.e. the more legal knowledge, the less negativity – no relationship was found between psychological knowledge and attitude. Relevant support for citizens to become lay judges was discussed.     

Air operations on the N.W.F., 1930

Dr Yuko Kawanishi is a sociologist specializing in social psychology and mental health. She has written academic articles and columns in newspapers on cross‐cultural mental health, family, education and various social issues in Japan. She is currently an Associate Professor at the International Student Center of Tokyo Gakugei University.     

OBAMA AND AFGHANISTAN America's Drug-Corrupted War

“Obama and Afghanistan” is excerpted from Peter Dale Scott, American War Machine: Deep Politics, the CIA Global Drug Connection, and the Road to Afghanistan (chapter 10), published in 2010 by Rowman&;Littlefield (Lanham, Md.).     

International Jurisdiction of Japanese Courts in a Comparative Perspective

Netherlands International Law Review - This article examines the 2011 reform of the Japanese Code of Civil Procedure (CCP), which introduced new provisions on international adjudicatory...     

Immunohistochemical detection of CCR2 and CX3CR1 in sepsis-induced lung injury

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory disease with high mortality. In the present study, we immunohistochemically examined CCR2 and CX3CR1 expression in sepsis-induced lung injury, and discussed its availability for the postmortem diagnosis of sepsis. Lung samples were obtained from different lung lobes of nine sepsis and eight control cases with postmortem intervals between 12 and 48 h. Immunohistochemically, mononuclear cells recruited into the lungs expressed CCR2 and CX3CR1 in both sepsis and non-septic groups. In double-color immunofluorescence analysis, CCR2- or CX3CR1-positive cells could be identified as CD68-positive macrophages. Moreover, most of CD68-positive macrophages expressed both CCR2 and CX3CR1. Morphometrically, the average of CCR2- and CX3CR1-positive macrophages was significantly increased in sepsis group, compared with control group (sepsis vs. control: 41.6 ± 1.3% vs. 8.0 ± 0.4% in CCR2; 36.2 ± 1.3% vs. 9.2 ± 0.4% in CX3CR1). These observations implied that CCR2- or CX3CR1-positive macrophages were recruited into the lungs under several pathological conditions. In particular, their recruitment might be more evident in sepsis. Moreover, from the forensic aspects, immunohistochemical detection of CCR2 and CX3CR1 expression in the lungs can be considered as valuable diagnostic tools for the postmortem diagnosis of sepsis.     

Determination of salvinorin A and salvinorin B in Salvia divinorum-related products circulated in Japan

Two major salvinorins, salvinorin A (SalA) and salvinorin B (SalB), in three Salvia divinorum dried leaf products and nine of its “concentrated extract” products circulated in Japan were determined. These ingredients were extracted twice with acetonitrile and decolored with graphite carbon powder. SalA and SalB were confirmed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry in product ion scan mode, and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection (for SalA) and by mass spectrometry in single ion monitoring mode (for SalB). The SalA/SalB contents (μg/mg) were in the range of 3.2–5.0/0.10–0.17 in the dried leaf products and 4.1–38.9/0.26–2.42 in the “concentrated extract” products. These findings would be useful for analysis of S. divinorum-related products circulated in the drug market.     

Subsoil Law Reform in Russia under the Putin Administration

This article examines the political economy of subsoil law reform under the Putin administration. Despite repeated promises of imminent reform, the overhaul of the main legal basis governing some of the most important sectors of the Russian economy was subjected to repeated delays during the eight years of Putin's presidency. This article shows that the interaction of three major influences—the Kremlin's shifting policy priorities in its relations with subsoil management; the activities of the relevant state bureaucratic institutions; and the interests of the state-controlled mineral extracting companies—added to the complexity and delay.