Street youths' violent responses to violent personal, vicarious, and anticipated strain

Utilizing general strain theory, this study explored the role experienced violent victimization, vicarious violent victimization, and two forms of anticipated violent victimization, played in the generation of street youths' violent offending. Basic models showed that experienced, vicarious, and fear of anticipated victimization were associated with violent offending. Full models suggested that only experienced violent victimization had a lower order relationship with violence. The relationship between experienced victimization and violence was further moderated by negative emotionality and low constraint. Males were also more likely to respond to experienced victimization with violence at higher levels of social support. Findings also revealed the relationship between vicarious violent victimization and violence was moderated by low constraint. Further, anticipated risk of violent victimization was associated with violent offending at lower levels of constraint, greater negative emotionality, and higher levels of social support. Results are discussed and avenues for future research are offered.     

A production system to generate reference genetic profiles from buccal swab cells on FTA cards

To generate the large quantity of genetic profiles that continuously feeds the French Reference Sample Database (F.N.A.E.G.), a secure and robust process is required. A complete automated production chain has been developed by Hamilton Robotics and the French Police Scientifique in Lyon to produce genetic profiles from buccal swab cells on FTA^® cards. The activities have been divided between Pre- and Post-PCR. The samples on FTA^® cards are punched directly into PCR plates. The plates are then transferred onto the Hamilton Microlab^® STAR liquid handling instruments. Air displacement pipetting coupled with Hamilton's CO-RE Technology allows a highly secure and contamination free pipetting for FTA^® wash and STR^® Identifiler^® PCR reaction set-up. Plates are sealed and transferred to the Post-PCR system for pooling into 384 format and denaturation. Throughout the process steps a complete sample tracking is performed and sample information is transferred to the LIMS system. This poster describes in detail this production system with an actual throughput of 40,000 samples/month, which is in production since 2006.     

Self-control, risky lifestyles, and situation: The role of opportunity and context in the general theory

Gottfredson and Hirschi (1990) propose that low self-control is a cause of criminal behavior. Several recent studies showed mixed support for the theory and called for researchers to examine proximate causes that might intercede between self-control and criminality including lifestyle and the social circumstances of criminal events. Utilizing a sample of 125 homeless male street youths, this study explored how low self-control, risky lifestyles, and street youths' reactions to situations influenced their participation in a range of violent behaviors both as offenders and victims. Results revealed that certain sub-scales of low self-control influenced the way street youth react to criminal events and the likelihood that they would become an offender or victim. Lifestyle and situational dynamics of conflicts also influenced people's propensity to become involved in violence. This suggests that learned repertoires for aggression and situational dynamics can mediate the effects of low self-control.     

Reye's syndrome. A review from the forensic viewpoint

Reye's syndrome, encephalopathy and fatty change in the liver and other viscera, typically occurs suddenly in infants and children recovering from a viral illness, particularly influenza or varicella. Its rapid clinical course may suggest a drug-related insult and the differential diagnosis includes a variety of toxins. There are grounds for suspicion that exogenous substances--including aspirin--may be cofactors with recent viral illness in the syndrome's pathogenesis. For these reasons, medical examiners may be called upon to rule the diagnosis in or out, to assess the possibility of direct toxic injury, or to document presence or absence of possible cofactors. With these tasks in mind, this review summarizes the diagnostic, pathologic, and laboratory findings of Reye's syndrome and considers the roles of viral infection, heritable predispositions, and exogenous toxins in its causation. It singles out salicylate treatment for special considerations as a possible cofactor, and concludes with a suggested approach to the forensic medical investigation of possible cases of Reye's syndrome.     

Street youth and labor market strain

This article applies strain theory to a high-risk sample of homeless street youth, with a particular focus upon labor market strain to predict violent and property crime and substance use. Data were collected through interviews with 200 street youth in a western Canadian city. Labor market strain was found to be related to the frequency of the youth's property, violent, and total crimes. Criminal peers and norms were also related to these crimes, as well as to drug use. Results also revealed a significant interaction effect between labor market strain and criminal norms predicting property, violent, and total crime. Interactions between strain and criminal peers, and external attributions also predicted property crime. Contrary to predictions, emotions were unrelated to crime and drug use. The results are discussed in light of Agnew's revised strain theory and suggestions are offered for future research on this topic.     

Fiscal Federalism for Emerging Economies: Lessons from Switzerland?

Switzerland is one of the most non-centralized countries inthe world. A groining literature is examining the economic effectsof tax competition between the 26 Swiss cantons. Despite therelative success of Swiss federalism, most federal countriesfollow the principles of coordinated rather than competitivefederalism. We identify the institutional preconditions forwell-functioning competitive federalism in Switzerland. Thesecond part deals with the applicability of the Swiss experiencefor emerging economies in Latin America. The analysis recognizesthat most institutions identified to be crucial in the Swisscase are missing in Latin America. This leads to the policyconclusion that competitive federalism can only produce itspositive effects under certain institutional circumstances.These circumstances are often not considered when introducinglax competition in emerging economies.