Deducing drop size and impact velocity from circular bloodstains

An experimental study was done to determine the diameter and velocity of blood drops falling on a surface by measuring the size of bloodstains they produced and counting the number of radial spines projecting from them. Bloodstains were formed by releasing drops of pig blood with a range of diameters (3.0-4.3 mm) and impact velocities (2.4-4.9 m/s), onto four different flat surfaces (glass, steel, plastic, paper) with varying roughness (0.03-2.9 microm). High-speed photography was used to record drop impact dynamics. Bloodstain diameters and the number of spines formed around the rim of stains increased with impact velocity and drop diameter. Increasing surface roughness reduced stain diameter and promoted merging of spines, diminishing their number. Equations are presented that explicitly relate drop diameter and impact velocity to measurements of stain diameter and number of spines.     

When Loving Means Hurting: An Exploration of Attachment and Intimate Abuse In a Community Sample

Intimate relationship abuse can be understood by considering two critical tenets of attachment. First, attachment fulfills a basic need for survival. Thus, the tenacity of the attachment bond is independent of relationship quality. Second, individuals whose attachment needs have been frustrated may strike out violently to regain proximity to the perceived loss of an intimate partner. We examined how individual differences in attachment were associated with women's and men's relationship abuse. A telephone survey assessed levels of psychological and physical abuse in 1249 Vancouver residents. Of these, 128 completed an attachment interview exploring their interpersonal relationships. Hierarchical regressions revealed that attachment variables contributed significant variance to prediction of both receipt and perpetration of psychological and physical abuse, with preoccupied attachment acting as an independent predictor. There was no evidence that gender moderated these associations. The findings suggest that attachment preoccupation in either partner may increase likelihood of abuse in couples.     

Blood grouping in mixed blood stains and excretions

Blood grouping in mixed blood stains and excretions can often be a problem. It is related with the fact that, when blood and excretions of persons having different groups get mixed, the determinants of blood antigens of one person interact with the active centers of excretions' antibodies of another one and vice versa. The authors suggest a method to do away with the phenomenon.     

Zur Politisierung der Europäischen Union

The constitutional treaty of the EU failed. Why so? Does this failure indicate the end of European integration and the beginning of re-nationalization of European politics? This contribution argues that the failure of the constitutional treaty is due to a process of politicization of the EU. As a result, political processes beyond the nation state are judged increasingly not just on the basis of their effectiveness, but also in terms of the criteria for good political order, such as fairness and legitimacy. The respective governments of the EU member states, however, publicly still take an instrumental approach to the EU. This is doomed to failure and thus the future of the European project is open. Either politics adapts to the new evaluation criteria for European integration or a partial re-nationalization of European politics is indeed likely.     

Anthropological and radiographic comparison of vertebrae for identification of decomposed human remains

This case study demonstrates the importance of involving an anthropologist in forensic situations with decomposed remains. Anthropological consultation was used in conjunction with the comparison of antemortem and postmortem radiographs to establish positive identification of unknown, decomposed remains. The remains had no traditional identifying features such as fingerprints or dental. Through anthropological analysis, it was determined the decedent was male, between 20 and 23 years at time of death and c. 5'2' tall. This information allowed for a presumptive identification and a request for antemortem radiographs. The missing person was identified comparing the spinous processes of the cervical and thoracic vertebrae between ante- and postmortem radiographs.