Basal renal tubular epithelial cell vacuolization and alcoholic ketoacidosis

Subnuclear renal tubular epithelial cell vacuolization is a marker for diabetic ketoacidosis. Whether it is because of hyperglycemia or of ketoacidosis is unclear. To examine the effect of ketoacidosis on renal cells in isolation, five cases of lethal alcoholic ketoacidosis without hyperglycemia were examined (vitreous humor β-hydroxybutyrate: 6.42-8.75 mM, mean 7.66 mM; and glucose: 0.1-4.2 mM, mean 1.46 mM). Microscopic examination of the kidneys revealed basal vacuoles in three cases (60%). Seven control cases with acute alcohol toxicity without ketoacidosis (blood alcohol: 0.18-0.43%, mean 0.31%; and β-hydroxybutyrate: 0.12-0.42 mM, mean 0.21 mM) did not have these changes. In this study, basal epithelial vacuolization was found only in cases with significant ketoacidosis. Although the numbers are small, the finding of basal renal tubular epithelial vacuolization in normoglycemic cases with elevated β-hydroxybutyrate levels provide further evidence that disordered lipid metabolism may be involved in the pathogenesis of this phenomenon.     

完善阳光检务长效机制的法理思考

阳光检务,是指检察机关通过检务公开,自觉接受社会监督,以实现检务工作透明、高效、公正、廉洁的一项重要检察制度。自推行以来,一些地方阳光检务已取得了积极成效,但也存在认识偏差、法律支撑缺乏、范畴模糊、制度缺失等诸多不足。要通过加强立法,明晰阳光检务的内容,完善阳光检务的制度保障,从而健全阳光检务长效机制,以促进阳光检务与日常检务工作的有效融合。     

关于受贿罪自首认定中隐瞒“行贿事实”问题的思考

贿赂犯罪存在行贿与受贿的对向性,因此司法机关对受贿犯罪自首的认定上比较混乱。这种混乱出现的原因在于法律对自首本身规定的复杂性,以及检察机关与法院对自首标准的把握尺度不同,主要表现在:是否要求受贿罪自首时供述行贿事实。因此,应当通过合理的刑法解释,打破行贿人与受贿人之间"相互信任"的关系〔1〕,并给予受贿人一定的司法奖励,使受贿人能主动交代行贿犯罪事实,从而寻找到案件的突破口。     

Evaluating the Violence Prevention Program: group and individual changes in aggression,anger, self-control,and empathy

While youth violence reduction program is a necessity to prevent long-term criminal and violent offending, its effectiveness in youth violent offenders is not well researched. This study investigated the effectiveness of the Violence Prevention Program (VPP) in addressing the aggression, anger, self-control, and empathy of youth violent offenders. One hundred and seventy youths (mean age 15.8 years) who completed VPP from 2008 to 2014 completed self-report measures on study outcomes both before and after the intervention. Repeated measures analyses revealed significant improvement in youths’ anger, aggression, and self-control at post-treatment, but changes in youths’ empathy were not significant. Subsequent analysis found that only youths with lower empathy scores at pre-treatment showed significant increase in empathy post-treatment. Overall, the results suggest that VPP can reduce aggression and mitigate the criminogenic needs of youth offenders. But its effect on empathy may be contingent on youths’ pre-treatment profiles. Limitations and implications for future studies are discussed.     

Psychophysiological Responses of People with Psychopathic Tendencies to the Concealed Information Test

This study was designed to investigate differences in psychophysiological responses among individuals with psychopathic tendencies. A total 40 students were participated and were divided into two groups based on Levenson Self‐Report Psychopathy Scale (LSRP) scores: a high psychopathic tendency group selected from the top 5% of LSRP scores, and a low psychopathic tendency group selected from the bottom 5% of LSRP scores. All participants were instructed to perform a mock crime and complete the concealed information test (CIT). Results indicate that significant differences between crime‐relevant questions and irrelevant questions were observed for respiration line length and skin conductance response in both groups, but heart rate did not significantly differ between groups. There were no differences in psychophysiological responses between the groups. In conclusion, CIT was found to be an effective method for detecting crime‐relevant information in individuals with psychopathic tendencies.     

Individual and situational determinants of the use of deadly force: A simulation

The study of police use of deadly force is a complicated issue because of the scarcity of observed high-risk encounters in the field. The present research explores police shooting behavior in both life-threatening and non-life-threatening situations in a simulated environment. The results suggest that officers’ characteristics, such as race and gender, are not associated with officer shooting behavior. The one exception is that officers with less police experience show more restraint than veteran officers in responding to non-life threatening situations. Suspect demographics, such as race, gender, and age, show inconsistent relationships with officer shooting behavior. One consistent finding is that officers who show poor judgment, slow response, or poor marksmanship suffer a high casualty rate in reacting to life-threatening situations involving multiple suspects.