The application of amino acid racemization in the acid soluble fraction of enamel to the estimation of the age of human teeth

Estimation of age-at-death for skeletonised forensic remains is one of the most significant problems in forensic anthropology. The majority of existing morphological and histological techniques are highly inaccurate, and show a bias towards underestimating the age of older individuals. One technique which has been successful in forensic age estimation is amino acid racemization in dentine. However, this method cannot be used on remains where the post-mortem interval is greater than 20 years. An alternative approach is to measure amino acid racemization in dental enamel, which is believed to be more resistant to change post-mortem. The extent of amino acid racemization in the acid soluble fraction of the enamel proteins was determined for modern known age teeth. A strong correlation was observed between the age of the tooth and the extent of racemization. No systematic bias in the direction of age estimation errors was detected. For the majority of teeth analyzed, the presence of dental caries did not affect the results obtained. In a minority of cases, carious teeth showed a higher level of racemization than would be expected given the age of the individual. These results indicate that amino acid racemization in enamel has the potential to be used in age estimation of skeletal remains.     

Correlates of depressive symptoms in adolescents

The relationship between a number of social and cognitive variables and depressive symptomatology was evaluated in a sample of public middle-school and high-school students. The variables measured included stressful life events, locus of control, causal attributions, and means-ends problem-solving abilities. Higher levels of depression were found to be associated with a more external locus of control and a tendency to attribute outcomes to causes which are internal, stable, and global. Parental divorce and socioeconomic status were also found to be associated with higher levels of depression. No relationship was found to exist between either amount of life stress or problem-solving ability and depression. The implications of these results for delineating the underlying dimensions of depression in adolescents are discussed.Previously Dr. Siegel was in the Department of Clinical Psychology at the University of Florida. Received his Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University in 1975. Major interest is stress reactivity and coping processes in children and adolescents.Clinical psychology intern at the Dallas V.A. Medical Center and doctoral student in clinical psychology at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Major interest is adolescent psychopathology and self-esteem.     

HUNTER‐GATHERER COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE

This article describes the development of a practice group based on a hunter‐gatherer model, with the mission of providing high quality collaborative divorce services, with an emphasis on protecting children and divorcing partners, and expanding access to middle‐ and lower‐income families. The practice group professional disciplines include law, mental health divorce coaching, co‐parent coaching, financial analysis, and case administration. These professionals have collectively associated their individual practices to address challenges facing their collaborative practices. With common purpose, the practice group builds skills, generates client base, nurtures trust, and lays a common knowledge base. Collaborative divorce teams formed from its members serve divorcing families with efficient, cost‐conscious, interest‐based negotiation processes that protect children and help parties productively move on with their lives.     

Long-term intracerebral inflammatory response after traumatic brain injury

Epidemiological and pathological studies suggest that head injury is a significant risk factor for subsequent neurodegeneration and cognitive decline in later life. The precise mechanisms for the development of post-traumatic neurodegenerative change are unclear but we hypothesize that persistence of inflammatory processes in the brain may play a key role and that some individuals are more susceptible to such changes based on their genetic make-up. In support of this hypothesis we present evidence of persistent elevated microglial activity in long-term survivors of head injury and the suggestion of an association between the extent of this activity and interleukin-1 genotype.     

NEGOTIATING TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE IN THE COMMONWEALTH BANKING CORPORATION

Abstract: In May and June 1981 Automatic Telling Machines (ATMs) were introduced into sixty-one branches of the Commonwealth Banking Corporation in New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT. In contrast to union bans which had been imposed on ATMs in the private banking sector, the Commonwealth Bank Officers' Association (CBOA) actively supported the use of this new technology. After outlining the industry industrial relations system this paper examines the three-way process of negotiations, involving the union, management and the federal government, which led to the introduction of ATMs. The terms of the agreement reached — a 19 day working month, early voluntary retirement after age 55 and a joint consultative committee on technological change in return for supports for ATMs — are analysed and the factors which contributed to the absence of industrial conflict during the negotiations are discussed.     

Abuse among African-American elderly

This paper presents an overview of recent literature and research on elder abuse among African-Americans. Data about maltreatment of elders in the majority and minority races are presented, but persistent, unanswered questions and other issues also are raised. Characteristics of victims and perpetrators of elder abuse, the history and cultural traditions of Black families, differences between Black informal support networks and others, the phenomenon of violence and African-Americans, and concerns about access and utilization of formal support(s) are discussed. Interim recommendations are proposed.     

AIDS drugs & the pharmaceutical industry: a need for reform.

The pharmaceutical industry has long enjoyed substantial profits despite increased requirements for drug approval and various attempts to regulate the industry. Drug companies have avoided effective regulation by blaming high prices on the costs of research and development. The search for drugs effective in combatting HIV and AIDS related illnesses has provided a stark background on which to view the actions and justifications of drug companies. Despite increased cooperation between government and the drug industry and expedited approval of several useful drugs, these drugs are still prohibitively expensive. This Article explores the history and economics of the drug industry and proposes a system of national price regulation for all drugs.     

Corporate restructurings: ripple effects on corporate philanthropy

Corporate restructurings, by their very nature, are inherently disrupting. With managerial discretion potentially curtailed, the ripple effects of restructurings are likely to be widespread and long‐lasting. This paper examines one ripple effect of corporate restructurings: the effects of donations from corporate philanthropic foundations after acquisitions. By extending the business strategy merger and acquisition (M&A) literature to include philanthropic activities and applying the corporate citizenship literature to an M&A context, the author creates a model and tests hypotheses. Simultaneous examination of the impacts of corporate citizenship and business strategy is warranted in today's research on corporate restructurings, since larger acquisitions are occurring more frequently, and acquisitions have the potential to adversely affect large numbers of individuals. As ever‐larger firms consolidate, with record‐breaking merger announcements, the potential for increased scrutiny by the media, shareholders, anti‐trust officials and salient stake‐holders is heightened. These findings, contrary to predictions, suggest that corporate philanthropy increases during the first year after an acquisition within the same industry. Moreover, the increase is sustained. Philanthropic donations continue to increase three years after acquisitions within the same industry. Implications for public affairs executives is examined. Copyright © 2004 Henry Stewart Publications