A More Efficient Method for Synthetic Textile Fiber Analysis Using Polarized Light Microscopy

The efficiency of conventional polarized light microscopy (PLM) methods for analyzing synthetic fiber evidence analyses is improved. Historically, using PLM for fiber identification relied on measuring refractive index. This prior PLM technology is reliable, but it is not efficient. Most fibers are optically anisotropic, having two principal refractive index values, N_(High) and N_(Low). When the fiber is mounted in intermediate refractive index medium, efficiency is improved by observing the change in contrast while the polarized light’s vector is rotated relative to the fiber’s axis. Minimum contrast occurs when the refractive indices of the mounting medium and fiber are equal. This angle of equality is determined by orienting the fiber’s highest refractive index parallel to the polarized light’s electric field vector, rotating the fiber or polarizing element, observing minimum contrast and measuring the angle of equality. This method is rapid, reduces remounting fibers in different mounting media and provides a quantitative measure for fiber comparisons.     

DNA extraction and STR profiling from histological slides

Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue blocks are commonly used in the field of pathology and forensic pathology as a source of histological slides. For postmortem kinship analysis or identification, DNA can be extracted from blocks with specialized kits. However, when an STR profile should be generated from single microscope slides, the removal of the coverslip and the limited sample size poses unique challenges. We aimed to test the effectivity of agitated xylene incubation to dissolve the mounting material to facilitate the coverslip removal. DNA extraction tests were performed on 5- to 7-year-old histological slides. Xylol was used to dissolve the mounting medium to facilitate cover slide removal, one set of samples was shaken during incubation, and the other set was left still. It was found that shaking the sample while bathed in xylol decreased the incubation time from three days to two days. Agitation not just reduced the processing time but increased the quality of acquired STR profiles: on average 30% more alleles were detected from the shaken samples compared to the still bathed ones.     

The use of interference filters in refractive index measurements

Interference filters were investigated as alternatives to sodium vapour lamps to establish their suitability for making refractive index measurements using a hot stage microscope. It was found that variations in the characteristics of filters and in their method of mounting could give rise to systematic errors unless adequate precautions were taken.     

Warsaw Declaration on HIV/AIDS and injection drug use adopted

Explosive epidemics of HIV among injection drug users are occurring in both developing and developed countries. Globally, it is estimated that 10 percent of HIV infections are attributable to injection drug use, but this proportion is increasing, and is much higher in many countries. Effective interventions exist to prevent the spread of HIV among injection drug users, but in most countries they are being adopted too slowly, or not at all. On 14 November 2003, the Warsaw Declaration: A Framework for Effective Action on HIV/ADS and Injection Drug Use, was adopted at the 2nd International Policy Dialogue on HIV/AIDS. Its purpose is to provide a framework for--finally--"mounting an effective response that will slow and eventually stop the HIV/AIDS epidemic among injecting drug users worldwide."     

Who's afraid of forensic psychiatry?

Forensic psychiatry has come under mounting criticism from the press and other medical professionals, largely for its participation in the insanity defense. The author argues that the expertise available from the specialty is of increasing importance to psychiatry as a whole, as more and more legal issues become relevant to the practice of general psychiatry, and should be actively encouraged and legitimized rather than ostracized. All psychiatrists should be exposed to forensic principles and practices during their training, and the ability of forensic psychiatrists to serve as transducers between the clinical and the legal/judicial should be increasingly used to present the clinical viewpoint effectively in courts and legislatures.     

Stalking,homicide, and catathymic process: a case study

Despite the proliferation of research on various aspects of stalking, there has been relatively little study of stalkers who commit homicide. In this article, a man who stalked and killed a casual acquaintance is reported. He developed an idea to kill her that, at first, seemed ego-alien and unreal but eventually became fixed and was accompanied by a mounting inner pressure to act. The concept of catathymic process--a change in thinking whereby the offender comes to believe that he can resolve his inner conflict by committing an act of extreme violence against someone to whom he feels emotionally bonded--is of particular help in understanding this case, as well as similar cases of stalking that culminate in homicide.     

PROSTITUTION,IV DRUG USE,AND SEXFOR-CRACK EXCHANGES AMONG SERIOUS DELINQUENTS: RISKS FOR HIV INFECTION*

There is mounting evidence that HIV infection among adolescents is increasing, particularly among minorities and inner-city youths involved in certain high-risk activities, such as multiple sex partners and intravenous drug use. Interviews conducted “on the street” with 611 seriously delinquent male and female adolescents (ages 12–17) included questions about their involvement in prostitution, intravenous drug use, and sex-for-crack exchanges. Findings included high percentages of youths engaged in these HIV-risk activities and a consistent association between all of them and greater illicit drug use. This would suggest that these risk behaviors may be surprisingly prevalent among some inner-city adolescent groups. Special AIDS prevention/intervention targeting these groups is warranted and urgently needed. Drug treatment should be a central focus of such programs.     

Comparison of three collection methods for the sodium rhodizonate detection of gunshot residues on hands

The aim of this study was to compare three gunshot residue (GSR) collection methods used in conjunction with chemographic detection applied by different regional Swiss police services. The specimens were collected from the hands of a shooter with either filter paper (Filter method) or adhesive foil. The adhesive foil was then either applied against photographic paper during visualisation (AF Photo method) or coated with a layer of polyvinyl alcohol (AF PVAL method). The experiments involved two conditions of the examined hands, i.e. dry and humidified. The residues were revealed using the sodium rhodizonate test (SRT). Preliminary tests assessing the possibility of conducting a confirmatory Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled to Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) analysis after the chemographic test were performed on a number of specimens by cutting positive spots and mounting them on stubs. Obtained results were compared in terms of effectiveness - number of positive spots, time requirements, quality of subsequent SEM-EDX analysis, ease of use and cost.The Filter method generally yielded a high-quality detection with both dry and humidified hands, as well as a simple, quick and efficient confirmation by SEM/EDX. The AF Photo performed well on dry hands, but not on humidified hands. The AF PVAL method performance was lower compared to the other methods in both examined conditions of the hands. The SEM/EDX analysis showed that the Filter and AF PVAL method provided satisfactory results when a sufficient carbon coating thickness was applied to the cuttings. It was also observed that the thinner the PVAL layer, the better the quality of the spectra and obtained images in SEM/EDX. Furthermore, the surface of the photographic paper did not seem to be conductive, even after the application of a thick layer of carbon.In conclusion, the Filter method gave the best overall results, but its application required slightly more time and expertise than the two other methods.     

Principal component analysis and analysis of variance on the effects of Entellan New on the Raman spectra of fibers

During the forensic examination of textile fibers, fibers are usually mounted on glass slides for visual inspection and identification under the microscope. One method that has the capability to accurately identify single textile fibers without subsequent demounting is Raman microspectroscopy. The effect of the mountant Entellan New on the Raman spectra of fibers was investigated to determine if it is suitable for fiber analysis. Raman spectra of synthetic fibers mounted in three different ways were collected and subjected to multivariate analysis. Principal component analysis score plots revealed that while spectra from different fiber classes formed distinct groups, fibers of the same class formed a single group regardless of the mounting method. The spectra of bare fibers and those mounted in Entellan New were found to be statistically indistinguishable by analysis of variance calculations. These results demonstrate that fibers mounted in Entellan New may be identified directly by Raman microspectroscopy without further sample preparation.     

Forensic Discrimination of Dyed Hair Color: I. UV‐Visible Microspectrophotometry*†

Abstract: Current protocols for examining hair do not attempt to differentiate hair color using instrumental analysis. In this study, hair samples treated with 55 different red hair dyes were analyzed using UV‐visible microspectrophotometry between 200 and 700 nm. Using air as a background reference gave the best results, although mounting media such as glycerin could also be used. The contribution of the hair substrate is predominantly observed in the range of 300–400 nm while the dye peak is evident in the range of 425–550 nm. It was found that the presence of hair dye reduces the overall intrasample variability of the hair color. In addition, visual inspection and spectral interpretation showed that dyed hair exhibits distinct and discernable shades. The color of all samples was stable during storage and while all hair dyes fade with washing, significant fading of the color was only evident after daily washing for 3 weeks.     

Children's truthful and deceptive testimonies: How camera perspective affects adult observers’ perception and assessment

Abstract

This experimental study investigates adults’ perception and assessments of children's testimonies as a function of camera shot (close-up shot vs medium shot vs long shot) and camera focus (child only vs child and interviewer). Truth-telling and lying children were interviewed and videotaped simultaneously by four cameras, each taking a different visual perspective (‘close-up shot/child only’, ‘medium shot/child only’, ‘medium shot/child and interviewer’, ‘long shot/child and interviewer’). Mock jurors (N=256) watched the videotaped testimonies and rated their perception of the children's statement and appearance, and assessed the children's veracity. Children seen in long shot were perceived as more neutral and relaxed, and children seen in close-up were perceived as having to think harder. The adult's deception detection accuracy was at chance level. The results suggest that legal policy-makers should consider the outcome of psycho-legal research on camera perspective when establishing and/or reforming standards for police interviews and courtroom procedures.     

Planning the health care system in a decade of economic decline: The Ghanaian experience

Health and medical care in Ghana is examined from the broader issues of development and underdevelopment. Ghana's dependent, peripheral standing has created a serious bottleneck in the domestic economy. The mounting debt crisis and the need to respond to International Monetary Fund (IMF) policies on economic stabilization have worsened the precarious health resources of Ghanaians. In an attempt to repond to Western pressures as well as Western taste, Ghana has also blindly followed the Western model of health care with no attempt to address the immediate health needs of her population. This paper concludes by calling for the integration of traditional, and Western medical practices as the foundation for any future effective health planning.     

Comparative investigations on the uptake of basic substances into the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT--a model for the uptake of xenobiotics into the keratinocytes of the hair follicle

The human cell line HaCaT was used to study drug uptake by keratinocytes as an in-vitro model to elucidate drug incorporation into anagen hair follicle. The basic drugs under investigation were taken up very rapidly resulting in a concentration plateau in the keratinocytes which was dependent on the drug concentration in the cell culture medium. The results obtained for HaCaT clearly demonstrated the existence of a partition-equilibrium between the extracellular and intracellular drug concentrations. Only small amounts of the offered drugs were taken up and remarkable differences were observed showing a decreasing uptake for imipramine > haloperidol > cocaine/benzoylecgonine. Total protein content in the culture medium was 3.5 +/- 0.3 mg/mL and the protein binding of the drugs to the foetal serum proteins was found to be negligible in the experiments. Overall, the in vitro findings were consistent with previous observations for in vivo drug incorporation into hair. In particular, an explanation was found for the correlation between the AUC-value and hair concentration observed in animal studies as well as for the generally low drug concentrations in non-pigmented hair.     

Climate Change: Legal Developments on Many Fronts

A dynamic set of diplomatic, political, and cultural forces is driving action on global climate change in many legal arenas. These include novel multi-state compacts to regulate certain emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs), vigorous legislative initiatives by the new Congressional leadership, judicial actions seeking damages and injunctive relief, and private sector responses to the potential new liabilities and obligations associated with climate change. In this environment, pressure is mounting on the federal government to abandon its policy of encouraging voluntary reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and to adopt programs that will impose mandatory and uniform national emission requirements.     

Familicide, depression and catathymic process

A case of familicide by a 36-year-old male is reported. After years of stable marriage, exemplary military service, and steady employment, the subject developed his first episode of depression triggered, in part, by his inability to solve a problem associated with completion of a home improvement project. As the depression intensified, and dormant conflicts regarding his competency and self-esteem were rekindled, he experienced pronounced feelings of failure. After an extended period of agonizing about his problem, the idea suddenly emerged that his only recourse was to kill his family and himself, in order to spare everyone the humiliation of his perceived inadequacy. Such a fixed idea, along with a mounting pressure to act, is characteristic of the (chronic) catathymic process, in which a subject, without apparent motive, resorts to extreme violence directed at someone close to him. A detailed discussion of this case within the framework of catathymic process adds to our knowledge of family mass murder and refines the profile of potentially familicidal men.     

Why requiring employers to provide health insurance is a bad idea

There is mounting pressure at the federal (and state) level to require employers to provide health insurance to their employees. However, two quite different groups of workers could be affected by such a mandate. In addition, there are at least five major problems with requiring employers to provide health insurance. Chief among these is the further fracturing of the insurance market, so that the spreading of risk will be reduced, and only the young and healthy will be offered insurance at relatively low premiums. We should be designing a health insurance system that has both universal coverage and a cost-containment structure. Toward this end, we need to tackle issues that transcend alternative methods of financing health care in the U.S.     

Using the National Diabetes Audit to improve the care of diabetes in secure hospital in-patient settings in the UK

To examine the ability of two forensic units, one high secure and one medium secure, to meet the NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) standards of care for diabetes. We applied the National Diabetes Audit programme, which uses as standards the NICE guidelines, to assess the quality of care provided for patients in two forensic units. Of the 500 patients, 200 in high secure and 300 in medium secure, 88 (17.6%) had type 2 diabetes. None had Type 1 diabetes. Of those with Type 2 diabetes, the care of 74 (84%) met all 8 NICE recommended standards. Glucose levels were lower in the medium/low secure unit compared to the higher security environment. Whilst achievement of process-based outcomes was higher than those reported nationally, achieving clinical outcomes was more challenging. High-quality diabetic care can be provided for patients in forensic units. Benchmarking physical health outcomes against national criteria in mental health inpatients is a potential method of improving outcomes.     

IMF职能改革：美国的观点及其评析

金融危机的频繁发生对于国际货币基金组织及其职能提出了挑战,国际社会对于IMF改革的呼声日益高涨。美国关于IMF职能改革的主流观点是要进一步强化其危机预防和管理职能,反对为克服金融危机而提供大规模援助。这一观点既具有合理性,也存在明显的缺陷和不足。国际货币基金组织的改革应遵循公平、公开的原则,要加快制度创新和完善治理结构,其职能应随国际经济环境变化及时加以调整和不断完善。     

Towards a Transformative Conceptualisation of Violence Against Women ‐ A Critical Frame Analysis of Council of Europe Discourse on Violence Against Women

Much academic attention has been devoted to violence against women (VAW) in Europe and research has focused on the mounting policy reform initiatives and capacity building strategies in the EU. Council of Europe initiatives in this area have, surprisingly, by contrast, remained under‐researched. This paper seeks to fill the gap in the literature by engaging in an examination and critique of the ways in which the Council of Europe has incorporated and framed VAW within various legal and policy initiatives. It will employ a methodology of critical frame analysis as theorised by the literature on social movements, and anti‐essentialist critiques within feminist literature to ask: how VAW is problematised; what solutions are offered; where they are located; to what extent they are gendered; and who has a voice in these policy and legal texts.