Analysis of drugs of abuse in hair: evaluation of the immunochemical method VMA-T vs. LC-MS/MS or GC-MS

Hair analysis is an elaborate and time-consuming multi-step process. The immunometric test VMA-T from Comedical has been evaluated as screening assay for hair analysis. From routine work, authentic samples were selected that were positive for opiates, cocaine, MDMA-type drugs, amphetamines, methadone or THC. These hair samples were investigated by LC-MS or GC-MS and the VMA-T procedure, respectively. Using the cut-off values recommended by the Society of Hair Testing, the VMA-T method discriminates with good sensitivity between negative and positive hair samples and is an expedient screening method for drugs in keratinized matrices such as hair. In order to save time and resources, the residue of the VMA-T extraction solution can be reused for confirmation analysis by LC-MS except for cocaine.     

Does Television Exposure Affect Emerging Adults' Attitudes and Assumptions About Sexual Relationships? Correlational and Experimental Confirmation

Because concern is frequently raised that TV's abundant yet stereotypical portrayals of sexual relationships may mislead young viewers, this study examined the effects of both regular viewing habits and experimental exposure on students' conceptions about sexual relationships. A multiethnic sample of 259 undergraduates aged 18–22 was assigned to view a set of clips depicting either 1 of 3 sexual stereotypes or neutral, nonsexual content. Participants then completed measures assessing their attitudes about sexual roles and relationships, their assumptions about the sexual experiences of their peers, and their regular viewing habits. Both correlational and experimental connections emerged between TV viewing and students' sexual attitudes and assumptions. More frequent and more involved viewing were repeatedly associated with students' support of the sexual stereotypes surveyed. Similarly, women exposed to clips representing a particular sexual stereotype were more likely to endorse that notion than were women exposed to nonsexual content. Finally, both experimental exposure and aspects of regular viewing significantly predicted students' sexual attitudes and assumptions, even with demographics and previous sexual experiences controlled.     

Lay perspectives on legal conundrums

Criminal law remains divided on the question of whether objectivity or subjectivity should be its dominant basis. Does liability begin with an objective act or harm, or with, subjective intent? In the first experiment, dealing with the conundrum of impossible act cases, the question is, Will respondents convict on subjective grounds (where intent to murder is clear), even when amanifest criminal act andharmful consequences are absent? The results show that they do convict, though their subjective preference moderates and even reverses with certain types of mistakes, or when thepotential harm, though not the actual harm, is perceived as high. In the second experiment, dealing with mistaken act and self-defense cases, the question is, Will subjectivity be determinative, or will respondents weigh objectivity more as the mistake gets more unreasonable? The results show that objectivity is weighed heavily, as fears of a plunge into subjective waters prove groundless Without legal guidelines, respondents navigate these conundrums by shifting their objective vs. subjective balance point, guided by good common sense.     

Validation of a microchip electrophoresis system as a DNA amplification control

As part of the normal procedure in a forensic DNA laboratory, a quality control step of the amplified DNA is often implemented to ensure the correct amplification of the sample before it is analysed in downstream applications. A validation study was undertaken to investigate a new microchip electrophoresis system (MultiNa, Shimadzu Corporation) claiming high resolution and sensitivity compared to routine polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). An array of STR multiplexes (AmpFISTR™ SGM+, GenePrint^® FFFL, PowerPlex™ 16, PowerPlex™ Y, an in-house Y-STR multiplex and AmpFISTR™ Profiler) was tested under both standard and low copy number PCR parameters to evaluate the accuracy, reproducibility and sensitivity of this technique. These tests showed that the microchip system did not have improved sensitivity compared to PAGE though had increased resolution and high reproducibility between samples.     

Investigation Delayed Is Justice Denied: Proposals for Expediting Forensic Examinations of Digital Evidence*

Abstract: There is an urgent need to reduce the growing backlog of forensic examinations in Digital Forensics Laboratories (DFLs). Currently, DFLs routinely create forensic duplicates and perform in‐depth forensic examinations of all submitted media. This approach is rapidly becoming untenable as more cases involve increasing quantities of digital evidence. A more efficient and effective three‐tiered strategy for performing forensic examinations will enable DFLs to produce useful results in a timely manner at different phases of an investigation, and will reduce unnecessary expenditure of resources on less serious matters. The three levels of forensic examination are described along with practical examples and suitable tools. Realizing that this is not simply a technical problem, we address the need to update training and establish thresholds in DFLs. Threshold considerations include the likelihood of missing exculpatory evidence and seriousness of the offense. We conclude with the implications of scaling forensic examinations to the investigation.     

Le style de gestion des hommes et des femmes: convergence ou divergence?

Sommaire: Bien que le modele masculin de la gestion soit encore la norme, il cons-titue un obstacle au leadership efficace. En effet, l'adaptation aux changements structurels que connaissent les organisations exige un changement de leur culture, misant davantage sur l'ecoute d'autrui, l'intuition, l'empathie, la flexibility, qualites qui sont traditionnellement pratiquees par les femmes. La reorientation des modeles de gestion et l'augmentation du nombre des femmes dans les postes de direction donnent-ils l'occasion aux femmes d'exercer leurs fonctions sans avoir a se deguiser psychologiquement en hommes? Ces conditions leur ont-elles permis de changer la culture organisationnelle en y introduisant des facons de faire qui tiennent mieux compte des facteurs humains? Les hommes ont-ils et eux-memes influences en ce sens? Pour repondre a ces questions, un questionnaire mesurant les styles de gestion et les caracteristiques manageriales a ete complete par 398 gestionnaires de la fonc-tion publique quebecoise (230 hommes et 168 femmes). Les resultats montrent que comparativement a leurs collegues masculins, les femmes utilisent davantage des styles de gestion faisant appel aux ressources humaines, a la cohesion et a la vulnerability, conformement aux hypotheses. Mais, contrairement aux hypotheses, elles recourent davantage au pouvoir et aux normes. Elles utilisent done plus que les hommes des styles de gestion masculins et feminins. De plus, elles s'attribuent plus de caracteristiques manageriales masculines et feminines que leurs collegues masculins. Par ailleurs, les gestionnaires des deux sexes s'attribuent davantage de caracteristiques manageriales feminines que masculines, ce qui suggere que des changements se produisent dans la culture organisationnelle. Abstract: Although the traditional masculine model of management is still the norm, it is criticized as impairing effective leadership. Adaptation to structural changes actually taking place in organizations requires a significant shift in their culture towards valuing and using talents such as intuition, empathy, flexibility and caring that women have been socialized to develop. In view of this reorientation of management skills and of the increase in the number of women holding managerial positions, are women now allowed to perform their functions as women, without having to imitate men? Do women have the opportunity to contribute to organizational change by developing practices more sensitive to humane factors? Finally, have men been influenced by women's ways of managing? These issues were addressed in a survey conducted with 398 respondents from the Quebec public service (230 men and 168 women). A questionnaire measured preferred managerial styles and self-attributed psychological characteristics. Results revealed that, as predicted, women's managerial style emphasized human resources, cohesion and vulnerability. However, contrary to predictions, women used power, norms and procedures to a greater extent than men did. Their managerial style thus combines feminine and masculine features. Moreover, women reported having more feminine and masculine psychological characteristics than did men. But, overall, feminine characteristics were self-attributed by both males and females, suggesting emerging changes in organizational culture.