Fourier transform infrared analyses of some particulate drug mixtures using a diamond anvil cell with a beam condenser and an infrared microscope.

Although the diamond anvil cell (DAC) has been used in many forensic science laboratories for the analysis of trace evidence, few applications of this technique for the analysis of controlled substances have been reported. This may be due to both an unfamiliarity on the part of forensic drug chemists with this accessory and the nature and quality of spectra that result from use of a DAC on a dispersive instrument. Along with low energy throughput, which results in relatively high noise levels, strong broad diamond absorptions occur. With the use of a Fourier transform infrared instrument, these do not present a problem and nanogram quantities of materials can be analyzed when the DAC is used with an infrared microscope. Since single crystals can be sampled with the DAC, simple physical separations (involving particle-picking) can be used in certain cases to isolate drugs from particulate mixtures for infrared analysis. This method is especially useful for some "difficult" mixtures and residues, and several examples of such analyses involving samples of forensic science interest are presented.     

应用DRV 200、360度多视野旋转显微系统检验印章印文与卓迹先后顺序的研究

目的确定复印文字材料、喷墨打印文字材料、激光打印文字材料、黑色签字笔书写材料上的文字与印章印文形成的先后顺序.方法采用DRV200、360多视野旋转视频显微系统进行观察分析.结果通过观察、分析,判断出了书写、打印文字与印章印文形成的先后顺序.     

New detection method for ribonuclease 2 (RNase 2) using immunoblotting with specific antibody

A ribonuclease (RNase) was isolated from the urine of a 35-year-old male and purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. The enzyme was tentatively designated RNase 2. A rabbit antibody produced by injection of the purified RNase 2 was able to distinguish RNase 2 from another type of RNase coexisting in body fluids. With this antibody it was possible to detect RNase 2 isozymes in human serum and urine without difficulty using isoelectric focusing or sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, followed by immunoblotting. Both RNase 2 in serum and urine seemed to exist in multiple forms with regard to their molecular masses and pI values. This technique may prove to be useful in genetic and forensic studies of RNase polymorphism.     

A three-year follow-up of the performance of a class of state police academy graduates using the MMPI-2

Research has demonstrated the utility of the MMPI-2 in identifying good and poor performance, dissatisfaction, termination, low performance ratings, unsatisfactory and satisfactory criterion groups, problematic behavior, corruption, and aggression. There is much research to suggest that certain patterns of responding to this measure by officer applicants predict job performance behaviors that supervisors and police executives view unfavorably. This study illustrates the fact that variables which are likely to predict police performance are less obvious and more subtle. Discussion centers on repression and underlying hostility. Authors' Note: William U. Weiss, Ph.D., is professor of psychology, The University of Evansville, 1800 Lincoln Avenue, Evansville IN 47722. At the time this study was done, Jessica Johnson was an undergraduate student research assistant. Gerald F. Serafino, Ph.D., and Ann Serafino are in private practice in Roswell, New Mexico.     

Predicting aggression in police officers using the MMPI-2

This study attempted to determine if any of four MMPI-2 scales formulated to measure various forms of hostility or aggression is useful in predicting aggressive behavior among police officers. In our analysis of 80 officers from two police departments, we found that some scales predicted supervisor ratings of officer performance in one of the departments but not in the second department. In one department, officers with higher ANG scores or HOS scores, or lower O-H scores, were judged by supervisors to be more assertive. Officers from the same department with higher HO scores or lower O-H scores received moire justified citizen complaints. We discuss the importance of predicting aggression in police officers, the difficulty of making this prediction using MMPI-2 scores, and differences between the two departments that might have impacted the outcome of this research. Authors' Note: Communications should be addressed to the authors at James Madison University, School of Psychology, MSC 7401, Harrisonburg VA 22807.     

应用膝关节MRI T_2加权脂肪抑制像推断活体年龄

目的探索膝关节MRI T2加权脂肪抑制像(T2-FS)在法医年龄推断中的应用价值,建立安全可靠的四川汉族年龄推断方法。方法收集膝关节MRI 324例(男性170例,女性154例),年龄范围为10~30岁。采用西门子1.5T磁共振仪摄片,MRI参数:T2-FS TSE序列,矢状位。将股骨远端、胫骨近端骨骺发育分为6个等级并赋分,分析各指标性别差异及年龄相关性,建立年龄推断回归模型。结果男女性股骨远端、胫骨近端MRI等级与年龄呈正相关性,股骨远端与年龄的相关性男性0.687,女性0.661;胫骨近端与年龄的相关性男性0.684,女性0.488。股骨远端骨骺完全闭合,骺线消失的最小年龄男性18.42岁,女性19.36岁;胫骨近端男性骺线消失的最小年龄为16.93岁,女性为14.68岁。股骨远端等级1~3、5、6和胫骨近端等级1~3、5年龄分布性别差异不显著。分别建立男女年龄推断模型,男性年龄推断平均绝对误差(MAD)=2.90岁;女性年龄推断MAD=3.30岁。结论膝关节MRI T2-FS影像可作为活体年龄推断的指标之一,股骨远端等级6可作为判断18岁的指标之一。     

Registration of fingertip pattern with dental impression materials: A scanning electron microscope study

A scanning electron microscope (SEM) study has been made on fingerprints taken with three dental impression materials and a replica tape. A comparative analysis of the impression materials revealed that clearest SEM images were obtained with a Kerr wax-based, type I Compound. Other advantages of this material are its low cost and convenience in handling. Impression plaster was found to be somewhat inferior to Compound due mainly to the porosity of this material. Xantopren, a silicon-based material, gave excellent resolution. However, this was associated with many artefacts that rendered the specimen difficult to interpret. The replica tape was inappropriate for use with specimens as large as whole fingertips. The advantages of examination with SEM are its three dimensional images and the option of using an image inversion mode for accurate reconstruction of the actual fingertip pattern.     

Enforcing compliance with international environmental agreements using a deposit-refund system

Whether nations are able to cooperatively manage shared resources through international environmental agreements (IEAs) depends on whether compliance with voluntary commitments can be enforced. Given that nations are sovereign enforcing compliance with IEAs cannot rely on the presence of a strong sanctioning body. Nonetheless, enforcement provisions must be effective in the sense that they will deter non-compliance and credible in the sense that they will actually be imposed. In this paper, we address the problem of enforcing compliance with IEAs by examining one promising mechanism—a deposit-refund system—that exhibits the necessary features for effective enforcement. We analyze a simple model to demonstrate the desirable properties of the mechanism and then consider the effects of imperfect monitoring, uncertainty, partial participation and reputation on the effectiveness of a deposit-refund system.     

Improved skull identification using the superprojection technique with the help of a video-tape system (author's transl)

The photographic identification of a skull through the well-known superprojection technique can be modified and decisively improved by the use of a video-tape system. The identification method based on electronic photo composition is methodically simple to use. It offers the examiner the possibility to recognize the relationship between bone and soft part proportions, and the structure of the bone surface and the details of the soft part shape, as a concrete, tangible characteristic of identity to a substantially greater extent. The large number of controllable characteristics inherent in the ihgh degree of individuality of the skull offers not just an either/or "The skull fits"/ "It does not fit" into a photograph, but achieves proof of disproof of identity.     

A micromethod for the isolation of drugs from blood using amberlite XAD-2

The extraction of drugs from small blood samples (1 ml or less) for subsequent quantitative determination is described. Isolation was carried out by adsorption of the drugs to Amberlite XAD-2 resin utilizing a batch procedure that enabled the simultaneous extraction of up to 200 samples in approx. 5 hours. A new desorption technique yielded extracts of high purity that could be used directly for gas chromatographic or radioimmunological determinations, even if hemolyzed or putrid blood was to be examined. The following 26 substances were quantitated after addition to postmortem blood speciments at concentrations of 1-10 microgram/ml: tilidine, diphenhydramine, dibenzepine, imipramine, chlorpromazine, amphetamine, pentazocine, phenacetin, methaqualone, meprobamate, parathion, diazepam, digoxin, beta-methyldigoxin, carbromal, glutethimide, amobarbital, pentobarbital, cyclobarbital, phenobarbital, diphenylhydantoin, carbutamide, tolbutamide, glycodiazin, tolazamide and chlorpropamide. Thereby recoveries of 60-100% could be achieved. The reproducibility of the procedure was satisfactory as demonstrated by coefficients of variation of 3.7-8%.     

Identifying trauma symptoms among adjudicated youth using the BASC-2 SRP and CROPS

This study examines the ability of the Behavior Assessment System for Children, Self Report of Personality-Adolescent, 2nd edition (BASC-2-SRP-A) to predict trauma symptomatology as measured by the Child Report of Post-traumatic Stress among a sample of 59 male and 59 female adjudicated youth. Logistic regression revealed that clinically significant CROPS scores were predicted by BASC-2-SRP Social Stress and Somatization scale scores. A second logistic regression indicated that among youth with significant CROPS scores, gender was predicted by Sensation Seeking and Depression scale scores. Further, 47.4% (n = 56) of juvenile offenders’ CROPS scores were clinically significant, with females scoring significantly higher than males. Results endorse the validity of the CROPS and suggest that with additional analysis the BASC-2-SRP may also have the potential to identify juvenile offenders with a history of trauma.     

Fluorescent TiO2 powders prepared using a new perylene diimide dye: applications in latent fingermark detection

A new, highly fluorescent dye was synthesised using oleylamine combined with a perylene dianhydride compound. The new dye was characterised by 1H NMR, UV-vis spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy as well as quantum yield. The dye was absorbed onto titanium dioxide nanoparticles for use as a fingerprint detection powder. The new fluorescent powder was applied to latent fingermarks deposited onto different non-porous surfaces and compared with commercial fluorescent powders. The powder exhibits strong fluorescence at 650-700 nm under excitation at 505 nm. On glass surfaces, the new powder gave images showing tertiary-level detail of the fingermark ridges with almost no background development. Compared with current magnetic fluorescent powders, the new powder was slightly weaker in fluorescence intensity but produced significantly less background development, resulting in good contrast between the fingermark and the substrate.