The effect of sodium fluoride on the stability of cyanide in postmortem blood samples from fire victims

Assigning a level of significance to cyanide concentrations found in the blood of fire victims is often hampered by the fact that cyanide is inherently unstable in cadavers and in stored blood samples. A few researchers have proposed that sodium fluoride can be used to minimize the instability of cyanide in blood samples; however, controlled studies have not been performed to support validation of this hypothesis. To test the sodium fluoride hypothesis, both treated and control blood samples from 14 autopsied fire victims were tested over a 25-30 day period. A 2% concentration of sodium fluoride was added to the blood samples at the start of testing and the samples were refrigerated between testing intervals. Cyanide concentrations in the treated and control samples were measured between 9 and 11 days post treatment and between 25 and 30 days post treatment. A statistically significant difference was not present between blood cyanide concentrations in treated and control samples between 9 and 11 days. During this time period, although there were small statistically significant increases in both treated and untreated samples the fluctuations were minor. Since the treated and control samples did not exhibit instability between 9 and 11 days, it is not surprising that the sodium fluoride appeared to have no effect. However, a statistically significant difference between blood cyanide concentrations in treated and control samples was observed between 25 and 30 days. Those samples treated with sodium fluoride showed a reduction in blood cyanide variability with virtually no overall change, over a 25-30 day period when compared to control samples, while unconditioned samples showed a significant, average increase of 35%. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that 2% sodium fluoride be added to blood samples obtained from fire victims to reduce cyanide instability due to bacteriological activity.     

Evidence of arteriosclerosis in cremated remains.

Severely burned or cremated human remains (i.e., cremains) are among the most challenging cases investigated by forensic pathologists, odontologists, and anthropologists. Exposure to extreme heat of long duration destroys all organic components of the body, leaving only the inorganic component of the skeleton. The numerous calcined osseous or dental fragments that remain after the cremation process rarely convey useful information to the investigator. In most cases, it is associated nonosseous artifacts that provide evidence of the decedent's identity. In a case investigated at the University of Florida's C. A. Pound Human Identification Laboratory, as well as in several cases examined during data collection for a research project, several fragments were identified as calcined plaque tubules from sclerotic blood vessels. These tubules provide direct evidence that the cremated individual had a variety of arteriosclerosis.     

Status of alcohol absorption in drinking drivers killed in traffic accidents

One issue which constantly confronts the forensic toxicologist in drinking driver cases is the relationship between the breath or blood alcohol concentration (AC) of the driver at the time of an event such as a traffic stop or an accident and the AC measured at a time subsequent to the event. In theory, the AC can be rising, on a plateau or declining at the time of the event. Several studies have indicated that the overwhelming majority of drinking drivers are on a plateau or are post-absorptive at the time of the event. In this study, driver fatality cases investigated by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of Maryland during a three-year period were reviewed. Included in this study were cases positive for alcohol in the blood at a cutoff of 0.01 g/dL and death occurring within 15 min of the accident. In fact, many of these deaths were instantaneous or near instantaneous based on the injuries documented by the medical examiner at autopsy. The blood and urine were analyzed for alcohol by head-space gas chromatography and urine AC to blood AC ratios were calculated. A total of 129 cases were included in this study. Eleven of the 129 cases (8.5%) had urine to blood AC ratio less than 1.0. It is likely that these individuals were in the absorptive phase at the time that the accident occurred. Thirty-two cases had a urine to blood AC ratio between 1.0 and 1.2 inclusive. In these cases, the subject could be viewed as in the plateau phase of the blood AC versus time curve. The remaining 86 cases had a urine to blood AC ratio greater than 1.2. This suggests that these individuals were in the post-absorptive state at the time of the accident. The information acquired from this study provides additional evidence to support the notion that the vast majority of individuals are not in the absorptive phase at the time of a traffic stop or an accident.     

Sexual violence among dates and acquaintances: Trends and their implications for marriage and family

While it would be difficult to make a conclusive case that there has been a significant increase in forcible rape during the past generation, there is evidence showing that the rate of date rape has increased dramatically during this period. This study describes certain sociocultural changes that society has undergone during this time that appear to be largely responsible for this trend. These include the equalization of sexual freedom for females vis-a-vis males, the pervasive and questionable ways in which the mass media and popular culture feature human sexuality, and the widespread, excessive use of alcoholic beverages among male and female adolescents and college students.     

Should rules be simple?

The principal argument of the paper is that in an incomplete information setting, where the private sector lacks information of government objectives and has to learn about the policy rule by direct observation and estimation, simple ‘sub-optimal’ rules may outperform the more complicated rule which is optimal under complete information. This result is demonstrated by simulations using an overlapping contract rational expectations model. The paper thus provides some formal reasoning to support arguments for simplicity associated with credibility and the need for the private sector to be able to monitor policy.