Atropine Eye Drops: An Unusual Homicidal Poisoning

In March 2009, the body of a 51‐year‐old man was found in the boot of his car. The body had been frozen before being dismembered at the abdomen. The autopsy failed to determine the cause of death. Systematic toxicological analyses of the victim's peripheral blood and urine showed the presence of atropine, a powerful anticholinergic. Atropine was therefore specifically detected and quantified throughout the victim's biologic samples by HPLC‐MS² in the biologic fluids and UHPLC‐MS² in the hair. The atropine concentrations were 887 ng/mL in the cardiac blood, 489 ng/mL in the peripheral blood, 6693 ng/mL in the gastric contents (1.1 μg), 6753 ng/mL in the urine, and 2290 pg/mg in the hair. The blood concentrations measured in the decedent were consistent with an overdose of atropine, which was determined as the cause of death. The manner of death was a homicide with criminal intent.     

Toilet is not a dirty word: close to meeting the MDGs for sanitation?

Improving access to water and sanitation facilities has been a priority on the international development agenda. Halving the number of those who do not have access to sanitation facilities is an MDG target. This study assessed the toilet conditions in an urban slum in Ghana. Many felt that the sanitary conditions were deplorable; they were unsatisfied with having to walk over half a kilometre before using a toilet. Government efforts to improve hygiene and address sanitation problems need to take into account financial, religious, and other factors that promote the supply and maintenance of appropriate toilet facilities and services in urban communities.

Toilettes n'est pas un mot tabou : à deux doigts d'atteindre les OMD en matière d'assainissement ?

L'amélioration de l'accès à l'eau et aux installations sanitaires a été une priorité de l'ordre du jour international en matière de développement. La réduction de moitié du nombre de personnes qui n'ont pas accès à des installations d'assainissement est un OMD. Cette étude a évalué les conditions sur le plan des toilettes dans un bidonville urbain du Ghana. De nombreuses personnes estimaient que les conditions d'assainissement y étaient déplorables; elles n'étaient pas satisfaites de devoir parcourir plus d'un demi-kilomètre pour pouvoir utiliser des toilettes. Les efforts fournis par les pouvoirs publics pour améliorer l'hygiène et résoudre les problèmes d'assainissement doivent tenir compte des facteurs financiers, religieux et autres qui favorisent la fourniture et l'entretien d'installations et de services de toilettes dans les communautés urbaines.

Excusado no es una mala palabra: ¿se está próximo a cumplir con los odm en el área de saneamiento?

La ampliación del acceso al agua potable y al saneamiento ha sido una prioridad del desarrollo internacional. Una de las metas de los odm es reducir a la mitad el número de personas que actualmente carecen de acceso al saneamiento. El presente artículo valora las condiciones en que se encuentran los excusados en un barrio pobre de Ghana. Muchos de quienes residen allí consideran que las condiciones de saneamiento son deplorables, manifestando su desacuerdo con tener que caminar más de medio kilómetro para hacer uso del excusado. Los esfuerzos realizados por el gobierno para mejorar la higiene y enfrentar los problemas de saneamiento, deberán tomar en cuenta tanto los factores financieros como los religiosos u otros que promuevan la oferta y el mantenimiento de excusados, así como la posibilidad de otros servicios de saneamiento en las comunidades urbanas.

Banheiro não é uma palavrão: estamos prestes a cumprir os ODMs para saneamento?

Melhorar o acesso a redes de abastecimento de água e saneamento tem sido uma prioridade na agenda de desenvolvimento internacional. Reduzir pela metade o número de pessoas que não têm acesso a redes de saneamento faz parte dos Objetivos de Desenvolvimento do Milênio (ODMs). Este estudo avaliou as condições de banheiros em uma favela na zona urbana de Gana. Muitos sentiam que as condições de saneamento eram deploráveis e estavam insatisfeitos em ter de caminhar mais de meio quilômetro para usar um banheiro. Esforços do governo para melhorar a higiene e abordar os problemas de saneamento precisam levar em conta fatores financeiros, religiosos, além de outros, que promovam o fornecimento e manutenção de instalações de banheiros e serviços adequados nas comunidades urbanas.     

Intelligence in Occupied Belgium: The Business of Anglo-Belgian Espionage and Intelligence Cooperation during the Two World Wars (1914–1918, 1940–1944)

During both World Wars, one of the most powerful weapons Belgian citizens possessed in resisting German occupation of their country was the gathering of intelligence on the enemy for the allied armies. But Belgian's first and second secret wars were different in several respects, one of the most important being the relationship between the Belgian secret services in exile and their British counterparts. If the First World War was essentially a story of bitter concurrency between them, the Second was mostly a tale of ‘jealous’ partnership. The relations with the intelligence networks in occupied Belgium formed a delicate but crucial issue, where money played an important role. This article explores these dynamics and how they affected the main mission of gathering intelligence on the Germans.     

Study of steroidogenesis in pupae of the forensically important blow fly Protophormia terraenovae (Robineau-Desvoidy) (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Protophormia terraenovae is a forensically important fly whose development time is studied by forensic entomologists to establish the time elapsed since death (post-mortem interval, PMI). Quantity and nature of ecdysteroid hormones present in P. terraenovae pupae were analysed in order to determine if they could be correlated to the age of pupae found on corpses and thereby could give information on the PMI. Ecdysteroid levels were quantified during the pupal-adult development of synchronised animals using enzyme immunoassay (EIA), a sensitive method allowing acurate quantification in one pupa. Two types of pupae were compared: "fresh" pupae, kept frozen until analysis and "experimentally dried" pupae, which were left for several weeks at ambient temperature. A peak of ecdysteroids was detected between 36 and 96 h after pupariation in fresh animals. It was not observed in "experimentally dried" pupae. High-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses combined with EIA showed that 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) was the major free ecdysteroid at various pupal ages. Enzymatic hydrolysis experiments revealed the presence of apolar conjugates at all ages tested. However, neither qualitative nor quantitative difference was detected between early and late pupae. This study gives precise information on the nature and quantity of ecdysteroids in the course of pupal development of a calliphorid fly. The limits of using ecdysteroid measurement as a tool in forensic entomology are discussed.     

The viability of the welfare state in Botswana

ABSTRACT

Vulnerability, mainly manifesting in poverty, economic risk and insecurities of life, is a universal problem. There are huge pockets of vulnerability in the developing world, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa. Sub-Saharan African states provide social welfare goods to address vulnerability. Social welfare programmes cost money, hence, there is a need to consider issues of sustainability, particularly, given constrained revenue envelopes. Similarly, while Botswana has posted developmental successes, there are vulnerabilities such as poverty, unemployment and income inequality which demand intervention through welfare programmes. Thus, the objective of this desktop study was to discuss the state's response to vulnerability. It concluded that Botswana funds welfare programmes. However, there are affordability challenges, mainly, a constrained post-2007 fiscal space calls into question the viability of the welfare state. The general lesson from the case is that while the welfare state goes to the heart of the social contract, its viability must be guaranteed through reforms.     

A socio‐cultural approach to public sector corruption in Africa: key pointers for reflection

The public sector of many African countries is notoriously corrupt; cultural inclinations and socialization processes largely have a tendency to lead public officials into actions that may amount to corrupt practices. Providing seven (7) key pointers for reflection, this study explores public sector corruption in African countries by examining the interplay between culturally acceptable norms and professional expectations of public officials. The public official, by these two unparalleled expectations, tends to walk on a tight rope which often results in ethical dilemma and conflict of interest. The study adopts Riggs' prismatic‐sala model and uses the case of Ghana and traditional proverbs to explain the cultural context within which Ghanaian public official ought to operate. How can one combine these cultural expectations with professionalism? To what extent does the ‘collectivity culture’, ‘culture of gift giving and acceptance’, ‘extended family system’, ‘ethnic loyalty’ and ‘unfettered respect of the aged’ downplay professional bureaucratic and ethical principles? Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of 3D Imaging Technology to Latent Fingermark Aging Studies

In most latent fingermark aging studies, two‐dimensional (2D) features are obtained from photo images, scans, or inked impressions. However, some relevant information is possibly being missed because fingermarks are three‐dimensional (3D) objects that age in all three dimensions. A feature that has not been carefully examined is how the height of ridges changes over time. In this report, a 3D imaging technology—called optical profilometry—is introduced as a tool for the visual examination of the aging process. Optical profilometry is a nondestructive technology that allows the visualization and data acquisition of unprocessed latent fingermarks. Detailed ridge images and spatiotemporal data were successively obtained on the x‐, y‐ and z‐axis, delivering 3D topographical information. OP was able to detect the loss of ridge heights over time. The feasibility of employing this technology to collect data on the aging process of ridges has been proven.