Genetic analysis of suicide: a sample study in Tuscany (Central Italy)

Many studies have examined the genetic contribution to suicide. However, data on suicide in the Italian population are scarce. We therefore aimed to address this gap by investigating a cohort of 111 Italians for whom a verdict of suicide had been declared in court in Florence, Italy between 2007 and 2017. This cohort included 86 men and 25 women. DNA samples were obtained from tissues or blood, and 22 genes from multiple neurobiological pathways previously shown to be associated with the pathogenesis of suicide were analysed. Next-generation sequencing was used to compare these gene sequences with those from a large, normal population. In this study, we identified 19 gene variants that were present at significantly lower frequencies in our Italian cohort than in the general population. In addition, four missense mutations were identified in four different genes: Monoamine Oxidase A (MAOA), 5-Hydroxytryptamine Receptor 2 A (HTR2A), Sodium Voltage-Gated Channel Alpha Subunit 8 (SCN8A), and Nitric Oxide Synthase 3 (NOS3). Our study identified several potential genetic links with suicide in a cohort of Italians and supports a relationship between specific genetic variants and suicidal behaviour in this population.     

Analysis of the D1S80 (pMCT118) VNTR locus polymorphism in a native Kuwaiti population by the polymerase chain reaction

We have determined the allele and genotype frequencies at the hypervariable locus D1S80 in a native Kuwaiti population using the polymerase chain reaction technique and subsequent high resolution gel electrophoresis. In a sample of 200 individuals, 21 alleles and 57 genotypes were detected. The alleles with 18 and 24 repeat units were most common with frequencies of 0.188 and 0.408 respectively. The distribution of the observed genotypes was in agreement with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium prediction. The observed heterozygosity for the population sample was 0.80 with the allelic diversity of 0.781 ± 0.029 and the power of discrimination was 0.94. The data obtained in this study are potentially useful for individual identification in forensic casework.     

Early adopters of the magical thinking cap: a study on do-it-yourself (DIY) transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) user community

Among currently available technologies, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is one of the most promising neuroenhancements because it is relatively effective, safe, and affordable. Recently, lay people have begun to build—or purchase—the tDCS device to use it at home for treatment or as a cognitive enhancer. The tDCS device is currently not covered by the existing regulatory framework, but there are still significant potential risks of misusing this device, and its long-term effects on the brain have not been fully explored. Thus, researchers have argued the need for regulations or official guidelines for the personal use of tDCS. However, until now, no systematic research on the do-it-yourself (DIY) tDCS user community has been done. The present study explores the basic demographic characteristics of DIY tDCS users as well as why and how they are using this device through a questionnaire survey, in-depth interviews, and a content analysis of web postings on the use of tDCS. This preliminary but valuable picture of the DIY tDCS user community will shed light on future studies and policy analysis to craft sound regulations and official guidelines for the use of tDCS.     

Immunocytochemical study on the ultrastructural localization of human-type ABO (H)-blood group activities in a macaque (Macaca irus)

The immunocytochemical study on the ultrastructural localization of human-type ABO(H)-activities in a crab-eating macaque (Macaca irus) was carried out by using postembedding and immuno-gold staining method. The tissue specimens examined were the esophagus, stomach (St), small intestine (Si), large intestine, liver, kidney, and pancreas. The specimens from these organs and submandibular gland (Sg) of a human (O-group) were used as staining reaction controls. Primary and secondary antibodies were commercially obtained mouse monoclonal anti-A, -B, -H (IgM), and goat anti-mouse IgM labeled with colloidal gold particles (luminal diameter 20 nm), respectively. The results were as follows: (1) In macaque specimens, only A-activity could be observed as the location of gold particles on the peripheral rim of serous secretory granules (Sg) and of epithelial cells (esophagus), the mucous droplets in epithelial cells and brush border (St, Si), the intracellular secretory canaliculi [ISC (St)] and the zymogen granules and secretory ducts (pancreas). Gold particles could be also noted at the Golgi apparatus and nascent secretory granules. (2) By periodic acid-thiocarbohydrazide-osmium tetroxide (PA-TCH-OS) reaction, hexose-rich neutral mucopolysaccharides were noted on the peripheral rim of serous secretory granules (Sg), the mucous droplets (St, Si), the ISC (St), and the brush border (Si). Such a distributional pattern corresponded well with that of gold particles, indicating that the substances were responsible for ABO(H)-activities.     

Interpretation of a 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) blood level: discussion by means of a distribution study in two fatalities

The amphetamine derivative 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "Ecstasy" is a currently used or abused designer drug and fatalities are frequently encountered in forensic practice. However, the question remains open whether an MDMA blood level can be toxic or even potentially lethal. In order to provide insight in the interpretation of a detected MDMA concentration, the distribution of MDMA and its metabolite 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) in various body fluids and tissues was studied and discussed in two different fatalities. Apart from peripheral blood samples (such as femoral and subclavian blood), various blood samples obtained centrally in the human body and several body fluids (such as vitreous humour) were examined. In addition, various tissues such as cardiac muscle, lungs, liver, kidneys, and brain lobes were analysed. In contrast to the peripheral blood levels, high MDMA and MDA levels were found in cardiac blood and the majority of the organs, except for the abdominal adipose tissue. The high concentrations observed in all lung lobes, the liver and stomach contents indicate that post-mortem redistribution of MDMA and MDA into cardiac blood can occur and, as a result, blood sampled centrally in the body should be avoided. Therefore, our data confirm that peripheral blood sampling remains "the golden standard". In addition, a distinct difference in peripheral blood MDMA concentrations in our two overdose cases was established (namely 0.271 and 13.508 microg/ml, respectively). Furthermore, our results suggest that, if a peripheral blood sample is not available and when putrefaction is not too pronounced, vitreous humour and iliopsoas muscle can be valuable specimens for toxicological analysis. Finally, referring to the various mechanisms of death following amphetamine intake, which can result in different survival times (e.g. cardiopulmonary complications versus hyperthermia), the anatomo-pathological findings and the toxicological results should be considered as a whole in arriving at a conclusion.     

Causes of sudden natural death in Jamaica: a medicolegal (coroner's) autopsy study from the University Hospital of the West Indies

Medicolegal (coroner's) autopsies are an important source of epidemiological data. A large proportion of them comprise sudden natural deaths and an analysis of such cases has never been undertaken at the University Hospital of the West Indies, the only teaching hospital in Jamaica. In a retrospective study, 841 cases of sudden natural deaths comprising 51.3% of the medicolegal autopsies conducted over the 15-year period, January 1983 to December 1997, were analyzed. There were 459 males and 382 females (M:F ratio = 1.2:1); 35 patients (4.1%) were less than 1 year of age, and the mean age of the remainder was 53.7+/-21.8 years. The peak age group was the seventh decade accounting for 21.9% of cases. The most common causes of death were cerebrovascular accidents (13.6%), pneumonia (9.4%), pulmonary embolism (7.4%), ischaemic heart disease (7.0%) and diabetes mellitus (6.1%). These findings contrasted with those from developed countries in which ischaemic heart disease is the commonest cause of sudden death. Hypertension was associated with the majority of cases of cerebrovascular accident and congestive cardiac failure (78.1 and 61.9%, respectively). Sickle cell disease represented one of the 10 most common causes of death accounting for 2.5% of cases. Documentation of autopsy-based data such as these is important in the planning of medical services in a developing country.     

Victims and Offenders in Two Crime Statistics Programs: A Comparison of the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) and the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)

The National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) overcomes a basiclimitation of the traditional summary Uniform Crime Reporting program (UCR)by collecting victim information. Using this new victim information tocompare National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) and NIBRS results, wefind some similarities as well as some differences in the characteristics ofvictims and offenders suggested by the two programs. Similarities appear inthe proportions of men and women involved as victims and offenders forrobbery and assault. Comparisons are more difficult and the proportions lesssimilar for property offenses. Nevertheless, the results suggest that whenthe NIBRS is fully developed, it will be an important source of informationon the characteristics of both victims and offenders. Even before theredesigned program is fully implemented, one of the most important featuresof NIBRS reports will be their ability to provide local area victimizationinformation. In addition, the NIBRS will provide much more information onarrests and the characteristic of offenders than any existing program.     

The effect of a social reintegration (parole) program on drug-related prison inmates in Japan: a 4-year prospective study

Social reintegration has been known to protect against recidivism, but its effects against drug-use relapse have previously remained unclear. To address this gap, the present study sampled 196 inmates imprisoned for drug-related offenses in Japan. We examined the protective effects of a social reintegration (parole) program against recidivism and drug-use relapse using a 4-year prospective design. During the 4-year follow up, 79 (40.3 %) of the participants reoffended and 61 (31.1 %) relapsed into drug use. The results suggest that the parole program was significantly associated with a decreased risk of recidivism, even if participants’ age, sentence length, number of prison terms, educational levels, and gang membership were controlled for. However, the effects of the parole program on drug relapse disappeared when the above variables were controlled for. To decrease the risk of relapse, drug-related inmates may need both prosocial communities and rehabilitative environments. The Japanese criminal justice system needs to introduce drug treatment courts for drug users.     

Toward a Better Understanding of Peripheral Nation-Building Strategies: A Critical Comparison of the Austro-Hungarian Ausgleich and the Canadian British North America Act (1867)

International Journal for the Semiotics of Law - Revue internationale de Sémiotique juridique - This paper addresses questions about the socio-legal context and mainstream political theories...     

The affective burden of separated mothers in PA(S) inflected custody law systems: a New Zealand case study

ABSTRACT

Custody law systems across the Anglo-West are increasingly characterised by the overt and covert use of parental alienation (syndrome) as an aid to the governance of post-separation mothers. Difficulties with care arrangements within PA(S) inflected custody law systems are often regarded as evidence of mothers’ alienating behaviours, resulting in a range of remedial, coercive and punitive censures, including losing resident parent status. I argue here that the synergistic interaction between custody law and PA(S) creates an affective burden for post-separation mothers. Drawing on the voices of mothers in contested custody cases, I show that their affective burden consists of negative emotional states for themselves and their children, emotion work in relation to these states, and court required emotion work in support of father-child relationships. The latter mitigates the risk of being found to be an alienator and losing what matters most to them – their children.     

Evaluation of the Abbott TDx-radiative energy attenuation (REA) ethanol assay in a study of 1105 forensic whole blood specimens

In a preliminary study to determine the applicability of the Abbott radiative energy attenuation (REA) method for the quantification of ethanol in whole blood specimens it was concluded that a larger number of samples was required to evaluate the method, particularly for use in forensic toxicology applications. In this study, 573 blood specimens from suspected driving while intoxicated individuals (DWI blood) and 532 postmortem blood specimens (PM blood) were analyzed by the REA method and a headspace gas chromatographic method (GC) currently used in this laboratory. "Negative" specimens (less than 10 mg/dL by GC) and "positive" specimens (greater than or equal to 10 mg/dL by GC) in each category were analyzed. Linear regression analysis comparing the REA values with the GC values was performed for each type of blood specimen. The equation obtained for DWI blood specimens was REA = 0.943 GC + 1.54; the equation for PM blood specimens was REA = 0.980 GC + 2.76. The correlation coefficient for each group was greater than 0.99. The data suggested that a limit of detection of 10 mg/dL could be applied for DWI blood specimens, while 20 mg/dL would be recommended as the limit of detection for PM blood specimens.     

Security in the Interparental Subsystem (SIS) Scale: Psychometric Characteristics in a Sample of Portuguese Adolescents

The Security in the Interparental Subsystem Scale (SIS) is based on emotional security theory. This study examined the psychometric properties of an adaptation of the SIS to a sample of Portuguese adolescents (60.3 % girls; 10 to 18 years old; Mage?=?13 years; N?=?229), recruited in public schools. Discriminant and concurrent validity were assessed by analyzing SIS dimensions associations with adolescents’ exposure to interparental conflict (IC), and psychological adjustment, respectively. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of the SIS supported a six-factor solution, with satisfactory internal consistency. Evidence for discriminant and concurrent validity was provided: most SIS dimensions significantly discriminated between adolescents exposed to higher vs. lower levels of IC; and a significant positive association between emotional reactivity and adolescents’ externalizing symptoms was found. These findings suggest that the SIS is a reliable tool for assessing adolescents’ emotional insecurity in the interparental relationship within the context of this sample.     

Perpetrators of organised child sexual exploitation (CSE) in the UK: a review of current research

ABSTRACT

Researchers and professionals tend to agree that there continues to be a paucity of evidence on who perpetrates organised child sexual exploitation (CSE). This article provides a review of currently available research and data pertaining to this form of offending. It also considers gaps in existing research and some of the challenges surrounding current data recording. Beginning with a discussion of terminology surrounding organised CSE - which has also been called “group localised grooming”, “internal trafficking” and “contact child sex abuse” – there then follows a request for greater clarity of terminology. Finally, the specific issue of offender characteristics is broached through an examination of available research and evidence relating to the perpetrators of organised CSE.