The political economy of sugarcane flexing: initial insights from Brazil,Southern Africa and Cambodia

In the context of rising resource demand, agricultural crops such as sugarcane are being promoted for their multiple uses in different commodity markets and as alternatives to fossil fuel equivalents (i.e. as a source of biofuel, bioelectricity and bioplastic). These commodities are also produced on an increasingly flexible basis, as sugarcane mills respond to price signals and switch between different crop uses. This paper offers a preliminary exploration into the politics of this latest development in the capitalist industrialization of agriculture. It does so by focusing primarily on flexing in Brazil and highlighting the role of the state in both creating markets for non-food products that sugarcane mills can now switch between and managing the tensions that arise from this. These tensions have concerned consumer prices for fuel, control of distribution infrastructure and conditions of land conversion, each prompting political interventions by the state. The paper then suggests how this same process is taking place, albeit shaped by different contexts, in Southern Africa and Cambodia. It concludes with some key questions for further research: is flexing eroding the distinction between crop regimes? How do primary processors decide what their product mix will be? And on what basis do state actors support flexing between agricultural products and investments in so-called bio-refineries?     

血液中乙醇检测结果的法医学分析

目的对交通事故中血液中乙醇检测结果进行法医学分析。方法从检测方法、血液采集方法、采集时间、血液保存、尸体腐败、饮酒量与血液中乙醇质量浓度关系等方面进行血液中乙醇检测结果的法医学分析。结果检测方法、血液采集方法、采集时间、血液保存、尸体腐败等因素直接影响血液中乙醇检测结果。结论为保证交通执法的公正性，对血液中乙醇检测结果应当作法医学分析。     

Effects of Homeopathic Mother Tinctures on Breath Alcohol Testing

In some countries, it is illegal to drive with any detectable amount of alcohol in blood; in others, the legal limit is 0.5 g/L or lower. Recently, some defendants charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and have claimed that positive breath alcohol test results were due to the ingestion of homeopathic mother tinctures. These preparations are obtained by maceration, digestion, infusion, or decoction of herbal material in hydroalcoholic solvent. A series of tests were conducted to evaluate the alcoholic content of three homeopathic mother tinctures and their ability to produce inaccurate breath alcohol results. Nine of 30 subjects gave positive results (0.11–0.82 g/L) when tests were taken within 1 min after drinking mother tincture. All tests taken at least 15 min after the mother tincture consumption and resulted in alcohol-free readings. An observation period of 15–20 min prior to breath alcohol testing eliminates the possibility of false-positive results.     

急性乙醇中毒鼠心肌电镜细胞化学观察

以胞嘧啶单核苷酸酶（CMP）作为溶酶体的细胞代学标志酶，观察急性乙醇中毒鼠心肌细胞溶酶体和线粒体被溶酶体降解的形态变化；结果显示；多数线粒体肿胀，部分外膜溶解、破损，嵴断裂、溶解、消失，被溶酶体包围、侵入，形成空泡；肌原纤维也有不同程度损伤。作者推断：急性乙醇中毒时，线粒体的病理性损伤是造成心肌和传导系功能障碍的重要原因。     

人体内乙醇含量检测的影响因素分析

人体内乙醇含量检测不仅是法医鉴定工作中常规检测项目,也是交通肇事案件最终的仲裁依据,其检测结果直接影响着受检人员的责任判罚。本文根据乙醇的毒理特征及在人体内的代谢过程,就不同检材、送检时效性、尸体腐败、血液检品中不同成分和保存方式、以及检测结果的不确定度等对乙醇含量检测结果的影响进行分析,以利于对受检者是否饮酒及其程度做出科学、公正的判定。     

急性乙醇中毒和外伤在蛛网膜下腔出血致死机制中的作用

目的研究人脑在急性乙醇中毒状态下tPA、MMP-2、MMP-9及AEG-1表达水平与乙醇浓度的关系,分析乙醇与外伤在蛛网膜下腔出血死亡机制中的作用。方法选取15例实际案例,提取脑组织进行组织病理学检查、心血进行乙醇浓度检测,用免疫组织化学法观察人脑干、大脑、小脑tPA、MMP-2、MMP-9及AEG-1表达水平。结果急性乙醇中毒外伤组和急性乙醇中毒组的脑组织肿胀。除小脑tPA外,tPA、MMP-2、MMP-9及AEG-1表达水平在饮酒者较未饮酒者在脑干、大脑、小脑均有升高(P0.05),MMP-2、MMP-9和AEG-1表达水平与心血乙醇浓度存在正相关(P0.05,r0.6)。结论急性乙醇中毒状态下人脑tPA、MMP-2、MMP-9、AEG-1表达较未饮酒者均显著增强,MMP-2、MMP-9及AEG-1表达水平与乙醇浓度存在相关性,乙醇对脑细胞有毒性作用。     

Ethyl Glucuronide Concentration in Hair of Detainees: A Preliminary Study

Through the measurement of ethyl glucuronide in hair (hETG), it is possible to assess chronic alcohol abuse over time. In this paper, we present a study on hETG in Italian prison inmates. Analyses were performed by LC-MS according to a previously published method. Results were evaluated using the cut-offs established by the Society of Hair Testing. Positives samples (ETG > 30 pg/mg) accounted for 6% of all subjects, with concentrations ranging from 42 pg/mg up to 270 pg/mg, abstinent subjects (ETG < 7 pg/mg) accounted for 88%, and moderate alcohol consumption (7 < ETG < 30 pg/mg) for 6% of the subjects. No females displayed ETG values above 30 pg/mg. Among positive samples, only two subjects did not declare heavy alcohol consumption and were found strongly positive at 210 and 270 pg/mg. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first study on ETG hair concentration on prison inmates.     

Petechial Hemorrhages and Ethanol in Deaths from Intoxication

Petechiae in conjunctivae and in the palpebrae/skin of the eyelids are of particular interest for the forensic pathologist, because of their association with pressure on the neck. They have been described in the eyelids of intoxicated persons both in case reports and in text books of forensic pathology. We studied 590 deaths caused by intoxication, and 75 had petechiae either in the conjunctivae, the eyelids, or in both locations. We examined the influence of drugs and ethanol on the location of the petechial hemorrhages in these deaths. Deaths with ethanol in blood and in urine/vitreous humor more often had petechiae in both locations than those without. This association was statistically significant, independent of body position and livor mortis. No association between the location of petechiae, medicinal drugs, or narcotics was found. These results suggest that ethanol may contribute to the development of petechial hemorrhages in deaths from intoxication.     

甲基苯丙胺和乙醇在染毒大鼠体内联用的实验研究

目的研究甲基苯丙胺（MA）和乙醇联合应用在急性、亚急性染毒大鼠体内的情况。方法以MA1.0 mg/kg剂量对慢性自由饮酒大鼠多次腹腔注射,分别建立急性、亚急性染毒大鼠模型;处死后即时检测血中乙醇浓度、体液和组织样品中MA的浓度。结果多次注入MA药后,亚急性中毒大鼠体内的MA浓度高于急性中毒大鼠;急性和亚急性联合中毒大鼠体内MA浓度均高于急性和亚急性单一药物组。结论无论是否联用乙醇,14d内增加注射次数会在大鼠体内产生不同程度的MA残留;与乙醇联用可加速MA在大鼠体内的吸收,其药物浓度的升高程度随生物样品不同存在差异。     

A Review of Alcohol‐Impaired Driving: The Role of Blood Alcohol Concentration and Complexity of the Driving Task

The operation of a motor vehicle requires the integrity of sensory, motor, and intellectual faculties. Impairment of these faculties following the consumption of alcohol has been studied extensively through laboratory, closed‐course and on‐road driving, and epidemiological studies. The scientific literature was reviewed critically, with a focus on low‐to‐moderate blood alcohol concentrations (BAC ≤ 0.100%), to identify the most reliable determinants of alcohol‐impaired driving. Variables such as age, gender, driving skill, and tolerance were shown to have limited impact on impairment. It was concluded the most relevant variables are BAC and complexity of the driving task. The scientific literature provides a high degree of confidence to support the conclusion that a BAC of 0.050% impairs faculties required in the operation of a motor vehicle. Whether impairment is apparent depends upon the complexity of the driving task, which applies to both study design and actual driving.