DIFFERENTIAL CRIMINAL PATTERNS OF NARCOTIC ADDICTS OVER AN ADDICTION CAREER*

In a further study of the addiction-crime relationship, 214 narcotic addicts were classified according to their criminal involvement during a 2-year preaddiction period. The sample was divided into two groups—those who reported involvement in any of 20 categories of criminal activity (N = 108) and those who reported no such activity (N = 106). The criminal behavior and drug-use patterns of the two groups were then compared during subsequent addiction and nonaddiction periods. As expected, the impact of addiction was much more prominent in the low-crime group. The implications of results for rehabilitation strategies are discussed.     

C7 typing of blood stains using isoelectric focusing and immunoblotting

By means of isoelectric focusing and immunoblotting C7 types were clearly demonstrated from bloodstains which had been stored at 37 degrees C for up to three weeks, at room temperature for up to six weeks and at 4 degrees C for over ten weeks. The C7 typing is practically useful in medicolegal individualization of unknown bloodstains.     

Senses involved in the visiting of flowers by Cucullia umbratica (Noctuidae, Lepidoptera)

Flowers ofMelandrium album are frequently pollinated byCucullia umbratica L. This heavy moth always lands on the flowers. The process of insertion of the proboscis and the drinking thereafter is described. From experiments it is concluded that senses for perception of the relative humidity of the air are located on the antennae. The moth is able to locate flowers by smell only, but visual orientation seems to be more predominant. Legs and antennae possess contact chemoreceptors, sensitive to sucrose and to chemicals present on the surface ofM. album flowers. The moth responds after contact of the legs with petal lobes ofM. album by extension of the proboscis. Inserting behaviour follows only after contact of the proboscis tip with the ligula. The moth appears to be a specialised flower visitor.

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Resume Les fleurs deMelandrium album sont polinisées parCucullia umbratica qui butine ces fleurs après s'y être posé. Les expériences rapportées ici témoignent que des organes sensoriels aptes à percevoir l'humidité de l'air sont localisés sur les antennes. Le papillon peut localiser les fleurs par simple odeur mais l'orientation visuelle semble prédominante. Les pattes et les antennes possèdent des chemorécepteurs de contact, sensibles au sucrose et aux composés chimiques associés aux fleurs deM. album. Le papillon, après contact de ses pattes avec les pétales de cette fleur manifeste une extension de son proboscis et ce n'est qu'après contact de ce dernier avec la ligula, que se réalise l'insertion dans la corolle. Ce papillon semble être spécialisé comme visiteur de fleurs.

     

Aberrant radioimmunoassay results for cannabinoids in urine

False negative and false positive radioimmunoassay results for cannabinoids in urine are reported. Such results occur infrequently and appear to be due to non-specific binding of the radiolabel by interfering substances, possibly proteins, in the specimens. False negatives arise when these substances and the non-specifically bound radiolabel are precipitated by polyethylene glycol in the separation stage of the assay, increasing the radioactivity in the bound fraction and thus lowering the assay result. False positives occur when the interfering substances and non-specifically bound radiolabel remain in solution during the separation stage, increasing the radioactivity in the free fraction and giving an erroneously high result. False positives could also occur in assays involving solid-phase antibodies or second-antibody separations. Methanol treatment of the samples prior to analysis precipitates the interfering substances and eliminates the aberrant effect. The interfering substances have not been identified through common serum proteins and semen have been excluded. No common factor in the circumstances of the cases that can account for the results has been identified.     

Prediction of stature from hand measurements

A sample of 166 normal adult males and females was taken from different colleges of Assiut representing those living in upper Egypt. Each subject has been studied for measurements of stature (S), hand length (HL) and hand breadth (HB). The data were statistically analysed in order to assess the relationship between stature and hand measurements. The correlation matrix of the study indicates close similarity of the relationship between stature and hand measurements in both sexes and in both sides. A generalized multiple regression equation has been designed to estimate stature from values of hand length and hand breadth regardless of sex or side in the form: S = 34.5 + 5.77 HL + 2.7 HB +/- 5.1. This equation may be helpful to obtain approximate stature when there is difficulty in obtaining a direct measurement or where there is a chance print of a criminal or an amputated hand or arm.