Measures for mines: approaches to impact assessment in humanitarian mine action

The ability to assess the impact of humanitarian interventions is key both for priority-setting and for maximising the quality of projects. Humanitarian mine action (hma) is a young sector, where the application of impact assessment is still in its infancy. In this article we will briefly revisit the history of impact assessment in hma, before reviewing the strengths and weaknesses of three different impact-assessment approaches: 1) the Landmine Impact Survey; 2) economic analysis; and 3) community studies. Each of the approaches has its own merits as well as its own shortcomings and the selection of one approach, or several approaches combined, needs to be informed by the particular conditions in a given setting. We argue that hma should always be based on sound impact-assessment practices, but also that it is important to encourage a general understanding of broader impact issues—as opposed to narrow output definitions—among all relevant stakeholders. In spite of considerable progress over the past few years on this issue, impact in mine action is still largely perceived as an event rather than an integral part of the process and specialised units responsible for impact assessment isolate this activity from day-to-day field management.     

Does Spending Time in Public Settings Contribute to the Adolescent Risk of Violent Victimization?

Objectives

Using data from a nationally representative survey of adolescents in Finland this research examined the influence of spending time in public settings on the risk of physical assault and robbery victimization.

Methods

Binary and multinomial regression models were estimated to disaggregate associations between hours spent in public settings and characteristics of the victimization incident. The amount of causality/spuriousness in the association was examined using a method of situational decomposition.

Results

Our findings indicate that: (1) an active night life (any time after 6 pm) has a strong effect on victimization for boys, whereas much of the association between night life and victimization is spurious for girls; (2) after-school activity is not a risk factor; (3) adolescents who frequent public places at night increase their risk of victimization by people they know as well as strangers; and (4) much of the risk of night time activity in public settings is alcohol-related.

Conclusions

Our research suggests that a good deal of the risk associated with spending time in public settings is a function of the victim’s own risky behavior rather than inadvertent physical contact with motivated offenders in the absence of capable guardians. In addition, this lifestyle is significantly more victimogenic for males.     

Postmortem dismemberment/mutilation--medicolegal and criminalistic evaluation of the autopsies performed by the Institute of Legal Medicine at the Hanover Medical School

Among all the autopsies performed by the Institute of Legal Medicine at the Hanover Medical School between 1978 and 1998. 16 cases of postmortem dismemberment/mutilation were evaluable under criminalistic and medicolegal aspects. In the present study, particular attention was paid to the psychosocial circumstances of the perpetrator's and victim's lives and also to the classification of the different types of postmortem dismemberment/mutilation illustrated by case reports. Apart from an unfavourable personal life situation at the time of the offence, essential predisposing factors were: poor integration in society and family, occupational problems, drug abuse and mental diseases. As the interactions between these factors differ in every single case and may be combined with other factors, the analysis of such homicides should always be based on the assessment of the individual case.     

The discrimination of automotive clear coats by pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and comparison of samples by a chromatogram library software

Identification particles used for the purpose of the post-blast identification of explosives have a coding system based on the combination of metal oxides and their various concentrations. These materials are composed of the polymeric matrix, iron powder (ferromagnetic properties), UV light active dyestuff and various metal oxides in a various ratios. A suitable analytical method has to be used for an accurate characterization of these metal components in the particles in order to find the required information, i.e. to determine the place and the year of production and as the case may be, also the production batch of misused explosives. In this work, the method of microwave digestion and flame atomic absorption spectrometry (F-AAS) was developed for an accurate determination of Zn, Mg, Cu and Pb in a few novel types of identification particles and applied to their characterization. When using specific sample treatment (digestion with a mixture of nitric acid with hydrochloric or hydrofluoric acid), the 3 sigma limits of detection (LODs) for the determination of Zn, Mg, Cu and Pb in 5mg original samples were 1.9, 0.2, 1.3 and 2.4 mg g(-1), respectively. The signal suppression due to the presence of HNO3+HCl or HNO3+HF was observed for Zn; therefore, the calibration solutions had to be prepared exactly with the same acids as those used for the sample mineralization. The determination of Mg, Cu and Pb was free of interferences; hence a simple calibration curve method could be adopted for attaining accurate results. The accuracy was checked by comparison of the results with those obtained by means of independent inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Good precision values, as relative standard deviation, in the range of 1-5% were obtained. A total number of 71 samples was analysed and classified by multivariate methods to prove the suitability of the procedure proposed for the purpose of the identification of explosives.     

The significance of anticipating suspected brain death for the accusation of failure to treat according to Section 323c of the Federal Penal Code

Brain death is usually not confirmed by neurological and angiographical techniques until long after it has actually taken place. In connection with a case in which expert testimony was heard, clinical and radiographic evidence and the autopsy statement are discussed as criteria of continuing development of brain edema; on the basis of the evidence it was possible to conclude that the cerebral circulation had not yet ceased at the time assumed.     

Networking and Knowledge Transfer Between Research and Industry in Transition Countries: Empirical Evidence from the Slovenian Innovation System

Using empirical data from an innovation survey carried out in the Republic of Slovenia in 1997/1998, the paper analyses the innovation-relevant co-operation pattern between different kinds of research institutes and industry. The hypothesis is made that system transformation is not yet accomplished in Slovenia, and that the innovation system is still fragmented. While there is intense co-operation between Slovenian research institutes and companies, the level of co-operation between university institutes and industrial firms remains below the average of all Slovenian research institutes, although one focal point in the co-operation activities of university institutes is the support of firms in market introduction. Mainly larger institutes co-operate with larger firms, whereas small institutes hardly co-operate. Consequently, the challenge of innovation policy is to integrate all participants of the Slovenian innovation system in a structure of mutual knowledge and information exchange.     

Exploring theoretical linkages between self-control theory and criminal justice system processing

Using Gottfredson and Hirschi's (1990) self-control construct for theoretical leverage, this conceptual article offers a preliminary framework for examining discretion, criminal justice decision-making, and criminal justice system behavior. Low self-control likely facilitates negative interactions between defendants, police, judicial officers, and correctional staff, potentially affecting discretionary outcomes. Research questions are provided for future investigators to begin empirical assessment of the relationships between self-control and criminal justice processing. As a global construct, self-control could be incorporated into criminal justice models as a potentially robust correlate of discretion, decision-making, recidivism, and offender noncompliance with the criminal justice system.