The development of the Guatemalan military

Studies in Comparative International Development -     

Some implications of non-reporting and self-reporting of crime on criminal justice research

Conclusions There are reasonable grounds for assuming that unreported crime is extensive. Inasmuch as questionnaires are the major source of data for self-reported crime and delinquency and Clark and Tifft have seriously challenged the validity of this data source, it seems these areas lack a valid and unequivocal basis for assessing theory. It seems rather pointless to pursue etiological studies until new, valid, and reliable sources of data are available for theory construction and testing. The contention that interdisciplinary research is needed in Criminology is strengthened by the Clark and Tifft study, which offers an instance of fruitful interdisciplinary collaboration. Other recognized examples of significant interdisciplinary effort include the works of Pasmanick,et.al.,²³ Srole,et. al.,²⁴ and Lindner,et. al. ²⁵ Students of crime and delinquency must break through the parochialism of unitary and doctrinaire commitment to their own disciplines. In particular, sociologists must learn increasingly to utilize and embrace, at least on the micro-level, the potentials offered by other sciences, especially the life sciences. An alternative to this proposal would be a largescale consecutive birth study; then, perhaps in a quarter of a century, we might have the data necessary to formulate tentative etiological conclusions.     

Short term impact of Tribulus terrestris intake on doping control analysis of endogenous steroids

Tribulus terrestris is a nutritional supplement highly debated regarding its physiological and actual effects on the organism. The main claimed effect is an increase of testosterone anabolic and androgenic action through the activation of endogenous testosterone production. Even if this biological pathway is not entirely proven, T. terrestris is regularly used by athletes. Recently, the analysis of two female urine samples by GC/C/IRMS (gas chromatography/combustion/isotope-ratio-mass-spectrometry) conclusively revealed the administration of exogenous testosterone or its precursors, even if the testosterone glucuronide/epitestosterone glucuronide (T/E) ratio and steroid marker concentrations were below the cut-off values defined by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). To argue against this adverse analytical finding, the athletes recognized having used T. terrestris in their diet. In order to test this hypothesis, two female volunteers ingested 500 mg of T. terrestris, three times a day and for two consecutive days. All spot urines were collected during 48 h after the first intake. The (13)C/(12)C ratio of ketosteroids was determined by GC/C/IRMS, the T/E ratio and DHEA concentrations were measured by GC/MS and LH concentrations by radioimmunoassay. None of these parameters revealed a significant variation or increased above the WADA cut-off limits. Hence, the short-term treatment with T. terrestris showed no impact on the endogenous testosterone metabolism of the two subjects.     

‘Developmental’ policies and rent: comparing Russia and Sub-Saharan Africa

The article evaluates the concept of ‘developmental’ policies, comparing post-communist Russia and Sub-Saharan African (SSA) states. Asian ‘developmental state’ policies have been identified as developmental because of successful industrial policies and leaders’ ability to implement them. The comparison shows that while these features have been absent in SSA, notably due to the trapping effects of commodity dependence, Russia exhibits an original dualistic model where the negative impact of commodity dependence (such as the creation of rents) is compatible with developmental industrial policies. The evidence presented demonstrates the importance of constraints that stem from both economic and political structures, in turn explaining variations in developmental policy effectiveness.