Temporal variation of oxygen isotope ratios (δ18O) in drinking water: implications for specifying location of origin with human scalp hair

Previous work suggests that δ(18)O values of human hair can be used to constrain the region-of-origin of unknown individuals, but robust assessments of uncertainties in this method are lacking. Here we assess one source of uncertainty - temporal variation in the δ(18)O value of drinking water - using a monthly tap water survey of δ(18)O to develop geospatial models (i.e., maps) of the intra-annual variation (seasonality) in tap water δ(18)O for the contiguous USA. Temporal variation in tap water δ(18)O was correlated with water-supply type, and was related to geographic patterns of precipitation δ(18)O seasonality and water residence time. The maps were applied in a Bayesian framework to identify the geographic origin of an unidentified woman found in Utah, based on measured δ(18)O of scalp hair. The results are robust in specifying parts of the western USA as the most likely region-of-origin. Incorporation of tap water δ(18)O seasonality in the analysis reduces the precision of geographic assignments, but other sources of uncertainty (e.g., spatial interpolation uncertainty) have an equal or larger effect.     

中国控辩协商制度研究--刑事诉讼特别程序之探讨

逐步扩大简易程序和其他速决程序的适用范围,是近年来世界各国刑事诉讼法的发展趋势之一.随着我国当事人主义诉讼模式的初步确立,对抗性审判的程度得到了进一步增强,但刑事案件数量持续上升与司法资源有限之间的矛盾却日益突出,在此情形下,借鉴美国辩诉交易制度及西方其他国家的刑事诉讼特别程序,创设具有中国特色的控辩协商制度这种非审判式案件处理方式,就成为我们可供考虑的选择.     

USGS42 and USGS43: human-hair stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopic reference materials and analytical methods for forensic science and implications for published measurement results

Because there are no internationally distributed stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopic reference materials of human hair, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has prepared two such materials, USGS42 and USGS43. These reference materials span values commonly encountered in human hair stable isotope analysis and are isotopically homogeneous at sample sizes larger than 0.2 mg. USGS42 and USGS43 human-hair isotopic reference materials are intended for calibration of δ(2)H and δ(18)O measurements of unknown human hair by quantifying (1) drift with time, (2) mass-dependent isotopic fractionation, and (3) isotope-ratio-scale contraction. While they are intended for measurements of the stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen, they also are suitable for measurements of the stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur in human and mammalian hair. Preliminary isotopic compositions of the non-exchangeable fractions of these materials are USGS42(Tibetan hair)δ(2)H(VSMOW-SLAP) = -78.5 ± 2.3‰ (n = 62) and δ(18)O(VSMOW-SLAP) = +8.56 ± 0.10‰ (n = 18) USGS42(Indian hair)δ(2)H(VSMOW-SLAP) = -50.3 ± 2.8‰ (n = 64) and δ(18)O(VSMOW-SLAP) = +14.11 ± 0.10‰ (n = 18). Using recommended analytical protocols presented herein for δ(2)H(VSMOW-SLAP) and δ(18)O(VSMOW-SLAP) measurements, the least squares fit regression of 11 human hair reference materials is δ(2)H(VSMOW-SLAP) = 6.085δ(2)O(VSMOW-SLAP) - 136.0‰ with an R-square value of 0.95. The δ(2)H difference between the calibrated results of human hair in this investigation and a commonly accepted human-hair relationship is a remarkable 34‰. It is critical that readers pay attention to the δ(2)H(VSMOW-SLAP) and δ(18)O(VSMOW-SLAP) of isotopic reference materials in publications, and they need to adjust the δ(2)H(VSMOW-SLAP) and δ(18)O(VSMOW-SLAP) measurement results of human hair in previous publications, as needed, to ensure all results on are on the same scales.     

Gm(11) grouping of dried bloodstains

An absorption inhibition method for the detection of gamma marker Gm(11) in dried bloodstains is described. Particular reference is made to the association of Gm(11) with Gm(-1, -2). When a dried bloodstain fails to inhibit anti-Gm(1) and anti-Gm(2), this may represent a true Gm(-1, -2) result or there may be insufficient material to inhibit either antibody. The detection of Gm(11) in a bloodstain extract provides an objective means of confirming the apparent absence of Gm(1) and Gm(2) as representing a true Gm(-1, -2) result. This antigen compares very well with other blood group systems with regard to the amount of bloodstain required for analysis and its stability. No evidence is available for preferential loss of Gm(1) and Gm(2) relative to Gm(11) in dried bloodstains.     

男子性功能障碍的婚姻家庭因素(附45例分析)

<正> 男子性功能障碍可以影响婚姻和家庭稳固,严重者可能酿成民事纠纷以至离婚。究其缘由,有些是因男子生殖器官的器质性病变所致,但为数较少;而多数是功能性异常,其中缘于婚姻和家庭方面的种种不良因素是主要的诱因之一。本文总结了45例临床资料,进行分析和讨论。     

Hair analysis for delta(9)-THC,delta(9)-THC-COOH,CBN and CBD,by GC/MS-EI. Comparison with GC/MS-NCI for delta(9)-THC-COOH

A sensitive analytical method was developed for quantitative analysis of delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta(9)-THC), 11-nor-delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol-carboxylic acid (delta(9)-THC-COOH), cannabinol (CBN) and cannabidiol (CBD) in human hair. The identification of delta(9)-THC-COOH in hair would document Cannabis use more effectively than the detection of parent drug (delta(9)-THC) which might have come from environmental exposure. Ketamine was added to hair samples as internal standard for CBN and CBD. Ketoprofen was added to hair samples as internal standard for the other compounds. Samples were hydrolyzed with beta-glucuronidase/arylsulfatase for 2h at 40 degrees C. After cooling, samples were extracted with a liquid-liquid extraction procedure (with chloroform/isopropyl alcohol, after alkalinization, and n-hexane/ethyl acetate, after acidification), which was developed in our laboratory. The extracts were analysed before and after derivatization with pentafluoropropionic anhydride (PFPA) and pentafluoropropanol (PFPOH) using a Hewlett Packard gas chromatographer/mass spectrometer detector, in electron impact mode (GC/MS-EI). Derivatized delta(9)-THC-COOH was also analysed using a Hewlett Packard gas chromatographer/mass spectrometer detector, in negative ion chemical ionization mode (GC/MS-NCI) using methane as the reagent gas. Responses were linear ranging from 0.10 to 5.00 ng/mg hair for delta(9)-THC and CBN, 0.10-10.00 ng/mg hair for CBD, 0.01-5.00 ng/mg for delta(9)-THC-COOH (r(2)>0.99). The intra-assay precisions ranged from <0.01 to 12.40%. Extraction recoveries ranged from 80.9 to 104.0% for delta(9)-THC, 85.9-100.0% for delta(9)-THC-COOH, 76.7-95.8% for CBN and 71.0-94.0% for CBD. The analytical method was applied to 87 human hair samples, obtained from individuals who testified in court of having committed drug related crimes. Quantification of delta(9)-THC-COOH using GC/MS-NCI was found to be more convenient than GC/MS-EI. The latter may give rise to false negatives due to the detection limit.     

“法”义新论

"法"在字源和词源上有三个系统,即灋、佱、。许慎在《说文》中仅以战国篆文为据,未能考察商至战国前期文字发展的理路,对"灋"的词源解释有误。廌与作为神兽的獬豸有差异,并无掌法神兽之义。灋字在西周时代作为"废"的本字使用,与后世的"法"义并无关联。宗周文化系统中有一个表规范、法则意义的"佱"字;南方文化中有一个表达规范、法则、效法甚至法律的"",因此在先秦时代有宗周的"佱"和南方的""两个与后世"法"有渊源关系的概念系统。这两个系统在春秋中叶至战国时代发生碰撞、融合,最终以""吸纳并取代"佱",并写作"灋"为终结。具有"刑罚"、"审判"之义的"法",通过"灋"的字源和词源无法解释,而当与宗周文化系统之外的南方文化中的系统有关。     

Disentangling the Disability Quagmire in Psychological Injury and Law

This paper aims to critically analyze the evolution of six models of conceptualization, determination, and prediction of occupational disability relevant in the medico-legal context of psychological injury. The six models are the (a) biomedical, (b) forensic, (c) psychosocial, (d) ecological, (e) economic, and (f) biopsychosocial. We will discuss the key commonalities and differences among the models, including disciplinary tradition, research paradigm, recognition of person–environment interaction, key tenets, and implications for practice and research in psychological injury. The paper will highlight and discuss psychosocial issues, often underemphasized in forensic psychological practice, including: (a) balanced assessment of primary, secondary, and tertiary gains and losses, (b) self-perception, (c) disability identity, (d) beliefs and expectations, (e) coping, (f) adaptation and positive growth, (g) social stigma and social reactions to disability, including disability harassment, and (h) recognition of system-based environmental influences and demands. We will provide a special focus on the current state of the science and practice of prediction of disability, of particular interest to researchers and clinicians involved in clinical and occupational prognostication in psychological injuries. Finally, we will draw conclusions and recommendations for future research and best practices in the psychological injury area using a cross-diagnostic, dynamic, functionally based, and integrated biopsychosocial and forensic model of disability.     

Determination of dopamine and dopamine-derived (R)-/(S)-salsolinol and norsalsolinol in various human brain areas using solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Using a solid-phase extraction procedure and a gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC/MS) method the levels of dopamine and the levels of dopamine-derived salsolinol (SAL) and norsalsolinol (NorSAL) were determined in human brain areas involved in the etiology of alcoholism, parkinsonism and other diseases. The possibility that biosynthesis of salsolinol occurs through a stereospecific enzymatic reaction was considered. Using a two-step derivatization with N-methyl-N-trimethylsilyltrifluoracetamide (MSTFA) and the chiral reagent (R)-(-)-2-phenylbutyryl chloride, baseline separated peaks of (R)- and (S)-SAL were obtained. Both enantiomers were found in human brain samples with no correlations between levels of salsolinol and dopamine. These findings do not support the hypothesis that only an enantio-selective synthesis of (R)-SAL by a putative salsolinol synthase is responsible for the in vivo formation. In our opinion, non-enzymatic formation of salsolinol via the Pictet-Spengler reaction reveals both salsolinol enantiomers and an additional enzymatic synthesis of only (R)-SAL explains the enantiomer ratio (R)-/(S)-SAL of approximately 2.     

The association between body mass index and pulmonary thromboembolism in an autopsy population

Abstract: To evaluate the association between obesity and pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) in a forensic context, 160 autopsy cases of fatal PTE were compared with age‐ and gender‐matched controls. The mean age of cases was 66 years (range 26–98 years; M/F 74:86). The mean body mass index (BMI) of cases with PTE was 30.88 (range 14.95–79.51), which was significantly higher than in the controls (mean BMI = 25.33; range 12.49–61.84) (p < 0.0001). Comparing the group with PTE with controls showed that five (3.1%) compared to 20 (12.5%) were underweight, 39 (24.4%) compared to 67 (41.88%) were of normal weight, 49 (30.63%) compared to 43 (26.88%) were overweight, 43 (26.88%) compared to 24 (15%) were obese, and 24 (15.0%) compared to six (3.75%) were morbidly obese. In each category of above‐normal BMIs, there were significantly greater numbers in the groups with PTE: overweight (p < 0.01), obese (p < 0.001), and morbidly obese (p < 0.0001).     

A fatality caused by accidental production of hydrogen sulfide.

A 55-year-old male Caucasian truck driver was dead at the scene after breathing hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) produced by an accidental transfer of sodium hydrogen sulfide (NaHS) from a tanker truck to a tank containing 4% sulfuric acid (H(2)SO(4)) and iron(II) sulfate (FeSO(4)). Autopsy of the decedent's body revealed pulmonary edema and passive congestion in lungs, spleen, kidneys, and adrenal glands. Postmortem biological samples were analyzed for carbon monoxide, cyanide, ethanol, and drugs. Since a potential exposure to H(2)S was involved, blood was also analyzed for sulfide (S(2-)). The analysis entailed isolating S(2-) from blood as H(2)S using 0.5M H(3)PO(4), trapping the gas in 0.1M NaOH, and determining the electromotive force using a sulfide ion specific electrode. Acetaminophen at a concentration of 14.3 microg/ml was found in blood, and metoprolol was detected in the blood, liver, and kidney samples. The blood S(2-) level was determined to be 1.68 microg/ml. It is concluded that the cause of death was H(2)S poisoning associated with a hazardous material accident in an industrial situation.     

《集韵》的原始性错误

<集韵>存在的错误甚夥,除了校勘学所谓的讹、夺、衍、倒以外,还有编者造成的错误,或者说原始性错误.包括张冠李戴、假词、断句错误、原文和注文牵混、引用错误等.辨析<集韵>之误对于<集韵>的校勘、利用、研究及语文性辞书编纂都有重要意义.     

大鼠死后脑组织的傅里叶变换红外光谱变化

目的应用傅里叶变换红外（Fourier transform infrared．FTIR）光谱技术分析大鼠死后脑组织随死亡时间推移的化学变化过程,为死亡时间推断的研究提供新的途径与数据。方法大鼠断颈处死后置于（30±2）℃环境下,在不同时间点提取大鼠脑皮质．运用FTIR光谱仪检测不同化学基团的变化。结果随着死亡时间的推移,大鼠脑组织FTIR光谱的主要吸收峰峰位没有明显变化．而其峰强有明显差异：（1）与核酸有关的谱带的相对峰强呈明显下降趋势;（2）酰胺Ⅰ、Ⅱ的峰强比（I1647/I1541）呈下降趋势;（3）1456和1398cm^-1谱带的峰强各自呈下降和上升趋势;（4）2852、2871、2923和2958cm^-1谱带的峰强相对于1647cm^-1而言．呈上升趋势。结论脑组织可以作为FTIR光谱技术分析死亡时间的适用检材。     

Critical Thoughts on Article 59(2) of the ICC Statute

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has already issued itsfirst arrest warrants. Hence, the question of the custodialstate arresting a person in response to a request issued bythe Court and his or her appearance before competent judicialauthorities (per Article 59(2) ICCSt.), becomes compelling.Several pertinent questions arise in relation to the applicationof this provision. The article addresses, in particular, issuessuch as: (i) the rationale for Article 59; (ii) the implicationsof paragraph 2; (iii) the consequences of non compliance withthis provision; (iv) the impact of human rights decisions onits application and (v) the question of self-referrals in relationto paragraph 2.     

Meeting our friend, the genome.

(1) Encounter with the genome. (2) Difficulties in the path. (3) Legal and ethical implications. (4) Patenting genes. (5) The genome and evolution. (6) An adjunct to medicine or a new world? (7) Forbidden territory or the next step for humanity? (8) Informed decisions.     

Urinary excretion profiles of 11-nor-9-carboxy-Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol: a Delta9-THC-COOH to creatinine ratio study #2

Subjects with a history of chronic marijuana use were screened for cannabinoids in urine specimens with the EMIT((R)) II Plus cannabinoids assay with a cut-off value of 50 ng/ml. All presumptively positive specimens were submitted for confirmatory analysis for the major urinary cannabinoid metabolite (Delta(9)-THC-COOH) by GC-MS with a cut-off value of 15 ng/ml. Creatinine was analyzed in each specimen as an index of dilution. Huestis and Cone [J. Anal. Toxicol. 22 (1998) 445] reported that serial monitoring of Delta(9)-THC-COOH to creatinine ratios in paired urine specimens collected at least 24h apart could differentiate new drug use from residual Delta(9)-THC-COOH excretion. The best accuracy (85.4%) for predicting new marijuana use was a Delta(9)-THC-COOH/creatinine ratio > or =0.5 (dividing the Delta(9)-THC-COOH to creatinine ratio of specimen 2 by the specimen 1 ratio). In a previous study in this laboratory [J. Anal. Toxicol. 23 (1999) 531], urine specimens were collected from chronic marijuana users at least 24h apart and dilute urine specimens (creatinine values <2.2 micromol/l) were excluded from the data analysis. The objective of the present study was to determine whether creatinine corrected urine specimens positive for cannabinoids could differentiate new marijuana use from the excretion of residual Delta(9)-THC-COOH in chronic users of marijuana based on the Huestis 0.5 ratio. Urine specimens (N=946) were collected from 37 individuals with at least 48h between collections. All urine specimens were included in the data review irrespective of creatinine concentration. The mean urinary Delta(9)-THC-COOH concentration was 302.4 ng/ml, mean Delta(9)-THC-COOH/creatinine ratio (ng/ml Delta(9)-THC-COOH/(mmol/l) creatinine) was 29.3 and the Huestis ratio calculation indicated new drug use in 83% of all sequentially paired urine specimens. The data were sub-divided into three groups (A-C) based on the mean Delta(9)-THC-COOH/creatinine values. Interindividual Delta(9)-THC-COOH/creatinine mean values ranged from 2.2 to 13.8 in group A (264 specimens, N=15 subjects) where 80.7% of paired specimens indicated new drug use. In group B, mean Delta(9)-THC-COOH/creatinine values ranged from 15.3 to 37.8 in 444 specimens (N=14 subjects) and 83.3% of paired specimens indicated new drug use. In group C, individual mean Delta(9)-THC-COOH/creatinine values were >40.1 (41.3-132.5) in 238 urine specimens (N=8 subjects) and 85.3% of paired urine specimens indicated new marijuana use. Correcting Delta(9)-THC-COOH excretion for urinary dilution and comparing Delta(9)-THC-COOH/creatinine concentration ratios of sequentially paired specimens (collected at least 48h apart) provided an objective indicator of new marijuana use in this population.     

The scope of punishment: an economic theory

The harm caused by many acts is not certain but probabilistic. Current public enforcement of the law combines harm-based sanctions (usually in criminal law) with act-based sanctions (very common in administrative law and regulation). We propose an economic theory of the choice between harm-based and act-based sanctions in public enforcement. The efficiency of act-based versus harm-based sanctions is analyzed and a typology of the determinants is drawn up. Our model suggests that harm-based sanctions are more efficient when (1) acquiring information about the act is important, (2) engaging in harm avoidance activities is advisable, (3) judgment-proofness is not a very significant problem, (4) punishment is especially costly, (5) changes in law are expensive or difficult to negotiate and (6) on average, potential criminals are better informed than the government about losses for society. Legal policy implications are discussed.     

Hair analysis for opiates,cocaine and metabolites. Evaluation of a method by interlaboratory comparison

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of a technique for the simultaneous testing of opiates, cocaine and metabolites in hair by interlaboratory comparison. Sixteen forensic and clinical laboratories with different degrees of experience in hair analysis participated voluntarily in the study (no selection criteria were applied). The suggested analytical procedure, the one routinely used in our laboratory, consisted of incubation in HCl 0.1N (45 degrees C, overnight), solid phase extraction (with Bond Elut Certify) cartridges), derivatisation (trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives) and GC-MS analysis. Three different mixtures of finely cut (1 mm or less) hair were prepared using drug-users' and drug-free hair: one 'negative' sample (<0.1 ng/mg for morphine, 6-acetylmorphine (6AM), cocaine and benzoylecgonine (BE)), one 'low concentration' sample (between 0.5 and 2 ng/mg) and one 'high concentration' sample (>3 ng/mg). Accuracy and precision (CV% lower than 5.1, 9.9, 5.2, 3.8, 7.3 and 8.3% for morphine, 6AM, codeine, cocaine, BE, and methylecgonine (ME), respectively; range 0.5-5 ng/mg) of the method and homogeneity of the mixtures were evaluated in our laboratory by intraday (CV% lower than 12% for all analytes) and interday analyses (CV% lower than 17% for all analytes except 6AM, 25%). Participants in the study were grouped into: (1) laboratories (n = 6) obtaining the best qualitative and quantitative values, corresponding to those with long experience in hair analysis; (2) laboratories (n = 5) with no reported false positive and/or false negatives; (3) laboratories (n = 5) with one or more reported false positives/false negatives. The results obtained by the labs of the first group were used as reference values. The scatter of data was similar to those obtained in other published studies.     

Poisoning deaths in Central China (Hubei): A 10-year retrospective study of forensic autopsy cases

A retrospective study of autopsy cases was conducted at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College (DFM-TMC), in Hubei, China to describe the characteristics of poisoning deaths from 1999 to 2008. A total of 212 poisoning deaths were investigated by DFM-TMC during the 10-year period. The poisoning deaths ranged from 17 cases in 1999 to 27 cases in 2008. Of the 212 cases, 82 deaths (38.7%) were from pesticides, 36 deaths (17.0%) from carbon monoxide, 34 deaths (16.0%) from drugs, 22 deaths (10.4%) from alcohol, 17 deaths (8.0%) from other chemicals, 15 deaths (7.1%) from poisonous plants and animals, and six deaths (2.8%) from heavy metals. Of the 82 pesticide poisoning deaths, 43 (52.4%) cases were caused by rodenticides, mainly tetramine (N = 39). The majority of poisoning deaths were accidents (63.7%), followed by suicides (25.9%) and homicides (3.8%). The manner of death could not be determined in 14 cases (6.6%).     

The incidence of drugs in drivers killed in Australian road traffic crashes

The incidence of alcohol and drugs in fatally injured drivers were determined in three Australian states; Victoria (VIC), New South Wales (NSW) and Western Australia (WA) for the period of 1990-1999. A total of 3398 driver fatalities were investigated which included 2609 car drivers, 650 motorcyclists and 139 truck drivers. Alcohol at or over 0.05 g/100ml (%) was present in 29.1% of all drivers. The highest prevalence was in car drivers (30.3%) and the lowest in truckers (8.6%). WA had the highest rate of alcohol presence of the three states (35.8%). Almost 10% of the cases involved both alcohol and drugs. Drugs (other than alcohol) were present in 26.7% of cases and psychotropic drugs in 23.5%. These drugs comprised cannabis (13.5%), opioids (4.9%), stimulants (4.1%), benzodiazepines (4.1%) and other psychotropic drugs (2.7%). 8.5% of all drivers tested positive for Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and the balance of cannabis positive drivers were positive to only the 11-nor-Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (carboxy-THC) metabolite. The range of THC blood concentrations in drivers was 0.1-228 ng/ml, with a median of 9 ng/ml. Opioids consisted mainly of morphine (n=84), codeine (n=89) and methadone (n=33), while stimulants consisted mainly of methamphetamine (n=51), MDMA (n=6), cocaine (n=5), and the ephedrines (n=61). The prevalence of drugs increased over the decade, particularly cannabis and opioids, while alcohol decreased. Cannabis had a larger prevalence in motorcyclists (22.2%), whereas stimulants had a much larger presence in truckers (23%).