Distribution of D1S80 alleles in the Bahrainian population

This study demonstrates that the locus D1S80 is highly polymorphic in the Bahrainian population. There were 24 different D1S80 alleles and 51 distinct genotypes observed in 198 Bahrainians. There was one allele observed that was smaller than the 14 repeat allele. This data set meets the Hardy-Weinberg expectations (HWE) and could be a useful marker for parentage testing and forensic applications.     

Evaluation of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) membrane test assays for the forensic identification of seminal fluid.

Prostate specific antigen (PSA, also known as p30), a glycoprotein produced by the prostatic gland and secreted into seminal plasma, is a marker used for demonstrating the presence of seminal fluid. Methods for the detection of PSA include Ouchterlony double diffusion, crossover electrophoresis, rocket immuno-electrophoresis, radial immunodiffusion, and ELISA. The extremely sensitive ELISA technique can detect PSA in concentrations as low as approximately 4 ng/mL. However, all these techniques are cumbersome and time consuming to perform in forensic laboratories, especially when only a few samples per week are processed. Various membrane tests are currently used in clinical settings to screen a patient's serum for the presence of PSA at levels greater than 4 ng/mL. In this study we evaluated three immunochromatographic PSA membrane tests by analyzing semen stains stored at room temperature for up to 30 years, post-coital vaginal swabs taken at different time after intercourse, semen-free vaginal swabs, and various female and male body fluids, including urine. The data demonstrate that PSA membrane test assays offer the same sensitivity as ELISA-based tests and provide a rapid approach for the forensic identification of seminal fluid. Furthermore, when the supernatant from a DNA extraction is used for the assay, there is essentially no DNA consumption for determining the presence of PSA in a forensic sample.     

The Effect of Jury Deliberations on Jurors' Reasoning Skills

The effect of jury deliberation on jurors' reasoning skill in a murder trial was examined. Specifically, the effect of deliberating on reasoning competence (as defined by Kuhn, Weinstock and Flaton, 1994) was explored. One hundred and four participants viewed a videotaped murder trial and either deliberated in 12-person juries or ruminated on the case individually. Among those assigned to juries, half had their reasoning skill assessed prior to deliberations, while the others were tested after deliberating. Jurors in the individual rumination condition were assessed after they had the opportunity to reflect on the case alone. As hypothesized, post-group-deliberation jurors were more likely to discount both the selected verdict and alternative theories and incorporate judgmental supporting statements than were the other mock jurors. However, the mock jurors did not differ with regard to making statements that supported alternative verdicts or including judgmental statements that discounted their chosen verdict. In terms of Kuhn's reasoning continuum from satisficing (low level) to theory–evidence coordination (high level), there is some evidence that post-group-deliberation jurors may be closer to the high end than predeliberation jurors or post-individual-rumination jurors in some aspects of the task, but not in others.     

Adolescent discipline: Different family members' perception

Adolescence is perhaps the most difficult period of child rearing for parents. This study attempted to identify disciplinary techniques used by parents as perceived by mothers, fathers, and their adolescent children. Results indicated several significant areas of intrafamilial disagreement in regard to disciplinary techniques utilized, although all subjects tended to agree that some form of verbal reasoning was the primary disciplinary technique utilized with these adolescents.This study was funded, in part, by the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (H-644) and the School of Home Economics, The University of Georgia.Received his Ph.D. in child and family studies from the University of Tennessee. Current interests include adolescent development, family influences on sex-role development, and dual-work families.Received her Ph.D. in sociology from Iowa State University. Major interests include family research methodology, assessment of family power, and marital dissolution.Received her Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Texas. Current research interests include parenting, sex roles, and socialization across the life-span.     

B. Reviews and notes of recent bibliographies

i. Le Moyen‐Orient contemporain. By Guy Feuer, with the collaboration of S. Chauvin and F. Pourcelet. (Guides de Recherches, No. 6) Paris, Fondation Nationale des Sciences Politiques, 1975. pp. 245. 48 fr.

ii. Eléments de bibliographie des études arabes. By Aubert Martin. Paris, Publications Orientalistes de France, 1975. pp. iii, 235. 35 fr.

iii. The Emergence of Arab Nationalism from the 19th century to 1921: A Bibliography. Compiled and annotated by Frank Clements, London, Diploma Press, 1976. pp. x, 290. £10.00

iv. Union catalogue of Arabia Serials and Newspapers in British Libraries. By the Middle East Libraries Committee, edited by Paul Auchterlonie and Yasin H. Safadi. London, Mansell, 1977. pp. xvi, 146. £12.50.

v. Arabia Historical Writing, 1973 & 1974. By Fawzi Abdulrazak. Cambridge, Mass., Harvard University Library, 1974 & 1976. 2v. $ 8.65 (for both vols).

vi. Modern Arabic Literature: A Bibliography of Articles, Books, Dissertations and Translations in English. By Salih J. Altoma. Bloomington, Indiana University, Asian Studies Research Institute, 1975. pp. 73. $ 4.00

vii. The Kurds in Iran, a Selected and Annotated Bibliography. By Wolfgang Behn. London, Mansell, and Munich, Verlag Dokumentation, Publishers, 1977. pp. 76. £6.00

ix. American Doctoral Dissertations on the Arab World 1883–1974. Second edition. By George Dimitri Selim. Washington D.C., Library of Congress, 1976. pp. xviii, 173. Obtainable from: Superintendent of Documents, Government Publications Office, Washington D.C. 20402. Price: outside USA $5.75 plus $1.44 for overseas postage.

x. International and regional politics in the Middle East and North Africa: a guide to information sources. (International Relations Information Guide Series, 6). By Ann Schulz. Detroit, Gale, 1977. pp. xii, 244. $18.00

xi. The politics of African and Middle Eastern states: an annotated bibliography. By Anne Gordon Drabek & Wilfrid Knapp. Oxford, Pergamon, 1976. pp. x, 192. £6.75     

Current contradictions in adolescent theory

This article points out two contradictions in current adolescent theory. The first is between the classical point of view, espousing the notion of storm and stress, and the empirical view, supporting a concept of adolescence as relatively peaceful and harmonious. The latter approach, however, creates a second contradiction because it does not explain how young people cope with the major adaptations demanded as a result of changes in their physical, social, and emotional spheres of life. The article examines the status of concepts such as the generation gap and identity crisis and concludes with the formulation of a focal theory of adolescence which attempts to resolve the contradictions discussed earlier.Received his B.A. from McGill University, Montreal, and Ph.D. from University College, London. Is both a developmental and clinical psychologist. Major interests include adolescence and the preschool years.     

Electoral Backlash against Climate Policy: A Natural Experiment on Retrospective Voting and Local Resistance to Public Policy

Retrospective voting studies typically examine policies where the public has common interests. By contrast, climate policy has broad public support but concentrated opposition in communities where costs are imposed. This spatial distribution of weak supporters and strong local opponents mirrors opposition to other policies with diffuse public benefits and concentrated local costs. I use a natural experiment to investigate whether citizens living in proximity to wind energy projects retrospectively punished an incumbent government because of its climate policy. Using both fixed effects and instrumental variable estimators, I identify electoral losses for the incumbent party ranging from 4 to 10%, with the effect persisting 3 km from wind turbines. There is also evidence that voters are informed, only punishing the government responsible for the policy. I conclude that the spatial distribution of citizens' policy preferences can affect democratic accountability through ‘spatially distorted signalling’, which can exacerbate political barriers to addressing climate change.