Individual Dismissals in Europe and the United States: A Model on the Influence of the Legal Framework on Firing Costs

In this article, we present a model of individual dismissals based on the workers' right to file a suit against their employer arguing that the dismissal is unjustified or unfair. The model is a standard pre-trial bargaining game between a firm and a worker. We study two cases: when the law states the severance pay for unfair dismissal (the European case), and when judges can decide freely on the compensation to be paid to the worker (the American case). The model provides some guidelines for Labour Law reforms. In the European case, a decrease in the severance pay for unfair dismissals fixed by law will decrease the severance pay offered by the firm, and only under some assumptions will decrease the expected firing cost and will increase the settlement probability. In addition, the transition from the European to the American case is likely to increase the probability of settlement (and to decrease it in the opposite case) with ambiguous effects on agreed severance pay and expected firing costs.     

Suicide risk in outpatients with specific mood and anxiety disorders

The present study examined the relationships between specific anxiety, mood disorders, levels of hopelessness, and suicide ideation. The sample consisted of 606 outpatients recruited from several psychiatric settings. It was found that dysthymia was significantly associated with hopelessness. Patients presenting major depressive episode with higher anxiety symptoms had significantly increased scores on the hopelessness scale. Major depressive episode and bipolar disorder, but not dysthymia, were significantly associated with higher levels of suicide ideation. Increased levels of anxiety symptoms in patients with dysthymia were associated with increased levels of suicide ideation, while increased depressive symptoms in patients with specific phobia and generalized anxiety disorder were associated with significantly lower levels of suicide ideation. The findings suggest that depressive disorders, but not anxiety disorders, constitute risk for suicide. Moreover, the differentiation between a depressive and an anxiety disorder as the principal diagnosis, as well as the assessment of anxiety-level symptoms in patients with major depressive episode and dysthymia, seems of special relevance when assessing suicide risk.     

Serum cannabinoid levels 24 to 48 hours after cannabis smoking

Low concentrations of THC and 11-hydroxy-THC in serum samples are often claimed not to result from recent cannabis use. Prediction of time of exposure is difficult, especially if distinctive features of drug use could not be observed. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the presence of THC and 11-hydroxy-THC in serum samples as well as to obtain preliminary data on the analyte profile for a time window of 24-48 hours after discontinuation of cannabis smoking. Serum samples from heavy (n = 12, > 1 joint/day), moderate (n = 11, < or = 1 joint/day) and light (n = 6, < 1 joint/week) smokers of cannabis were analyzed for THC, 11-hydroxy-THC and free THC-COOH by GC/MS as well as for glucuronidated THC-COOH by LC/MS-MS. The blood samples were collected 24-48 hours after abstaining from cannabis use. Additionally, 8 specimens were obtained from persons after discontinuation of the drug for more than 48 hours. During collection of the blood samples, distinctive effects due to drug use could not be observed. For heavy users of cannabis, THC was detectable in 8 samples, and in 5 cases both biologically active compounds, THC and 11-hydroxy-THC, were present (1.3-6.4 ng THC/mL serum, 0.5-2.4 ng 11-hydroxy-THC/mL serum). Among moderate users, in 1 sample 1.8 ng THC/mL serum and 1.3 ng 11-hydroxy-THC/mL serum were determined, and another sample was tested positive with low concentrations close to the limit of detection. In serum samples of light users both analytes could not be detected, indicating that in those persons a positive finding of THC and 11-hydroxy-THC may rather result from recent consumption than from cannabis use 1 or 2 days prior to blood sampling. The concentrations of THC-COOH and its glucuronide covered a wide range in all groups of cannabis users. However, there was a trend to higher concentrations in heavy users compared to moderate users, and the mean concentration was smaller in light smokers than in moderate smokers. Overall, the findings indicated that data from pharmacokinetic studies should be supplemented by data obtained from "real-life" samples.     

Mechanisms of unexpected death in tuberous sclerosis

Tuberous sclerosis complex is a protean autosomal dominant disorder characterized by multifocal tissue lesions arising from defects in cellular migration, proliferation, and differentiation. It has an association with sudden death. In the current study, review of all cases of sudden death due to tuberous sclerosis was undertaken at the Forensic Science Centre in Adelaide, Australia from 1991 to 2001, in addition to an analysis of cases from the literature. There were two local cases where unexpected death had occurred in individuals with known tuberous sclerosis, involving a 31-year-old male (epilepsy), and a 24-year-old female (massive hemorrhage into a renal angiomyolipoma). Fatal mechanisms in cases of tuberous sclerosis may be associated with underlying cardiovascular, renal and cerebral abnormalities. Sudden death may be due to cardiac arrhythmia, epilepsy, and intra-tumoral hemorrhage with additional complications including cardiac outflow obstruction, obstructive hydrocephalus, aneurysm rupture, and spontaneous pneumothorax. An awareness of the highly variable tissue manifestations of tuberous sclerosis and the mechanisms that may be responsible for death is necessary to establish correctly the diagnosis in occult cases (possibly with molecular confirmation), and to chart accurately organ changes in individuals with established disease.     

Rare pattern of injuries after being run over by a railroad train

The article reports on findings after a suicide committed by being run over by the driving unit of an ICE train in a railway station. After recovering the body a fresh abrasion was found on the right upper abdomen with a minor laceration. Some hours later a circular abrasion mark and zones of contusion were discernible on the trunk. Whereas the integument was largely intact, the spine was severed and inner organs of the trunk were ruptured.