DNA typing for identification of some species of Calliphoridae. An interest in forensic entomology.

To determine precisely post mortem interval, larvae and puparium species found on a corpse have to be identified. Among more than 200 cases examined at the entomology department of the Institut de Recherche Criminelle de la Gendarmerie Nationale, two-thirds concerned corpses less than one month old. Therefore, insects from first and second screwworms are the most frequently found [1]. Some species commonly found in France, such as different Lucilia and Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy, are easily identifiable at an adult stage, but are almost impossible to differentiate at immature stages when only fragments of puparium or necrosed first instar larvae are available. For this reason, an easy and objective method of identification was thus searched by genetic analysis of these insects. Sequencing of partial gene of sub unit I of cytochrome oxydase has been used to predict restriction sites. Restriction enzyme cleavage of PCR products with Dde I allowed us to differentiate these species.     

The impact of situational factors, officer characteristics, and neighborhood context on police behavior: A multilevel analysis

While a considerable number of studies had been conducted to examine the effects of various variables on police behavior, very few studies had simultaneously analyzed factors that accounted both for police coercive and noncoercive behaviors. Equally limited is the research on the influences of officer characteristics and neighborhood context on police behavior controlling for all individual situational factors. Using observational and survey data collected by a large-scale project and hierarchical linear modeling techniques, this study assessed the effects of situational, officer, and neighborhood variables on police coercive and noncoercive actions, as well as the cross-level effects between these variables. Findings showed that situational characteristics played a strong role in determining officer coercive behavior, but not noncoercive activities. Similarly, officer-level predictors explained better officers' variation in coercive behavior than noncoercive behavior. Meanwhile, socially disadvantaged neighborhoods were more prone to receive coercive activities than were other neighborhoods. Implications for policy and future research are discussed.     

Effect of methamphetamine abuse on the bone quality of the calcaneus.

BACKGROUND: Methamphetamine, a derivative of amphetamine, has been said to cause mainly mental dependency in humans, but only little is known about its physical dependency. Like other narcotics, it may have chronic effects on the human body, so, this study was planned to evaluate it by examining the bone quality of the skeletal system. METHOD: Among the convicts serving in Fuchu Prison, two groups of people were chosen according to their methamphetamine experience. The bone quality of the calcaneus of both abusers (n = 59, ages 41 +/- 11 years) and controls (n = 50, aged 45 +/- 13 years) was examined with an Achilles ultrasound bone densitometer. SOS (speed of sound) and BUA (broadband ultrasound attenuation), both of which were obtained from the measurement and are an indicator of the strength of bone, were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The SOS of the abuser group was 1559 +/- 24 (mean +/- SD) m/s and this was significantly lower than that of the control group, 1570 +/- 27 (mean +/- SD) m/s (p = 0.017). The BUAs of the abuser group and the control group were 108 +/- 10 and 110 +/- 10 (mean +/- SD) dB/MHz, respectively, and there was no significant difference between them (p = 0.181). CONCLUSION: There was loss of SOS of the calcaneus in methamphetamine abusers.