Emerging Markets: Preferences,R isks,Performance...

The paper surveys the most important literature on emerging markets and their performance. Emerging market countries are defined here as the countries with low intuitional capacity in general, rather than the countries with particular economic characteristics and per capita income; although the latter is the predominant view in the current literature. The paper places particular importance on the legal system and legal order (compliance) in the transitional economies, stressing the importance of adequate regulation where even more advanced regulatory models, like market regulation, should not be totally excluded. Despite many common characteristics, emerging markets differ significantly one from another and it is very difficult, if really not impossible, to create one ‘general theory of emerging markets’ and its financial behaviour. Finally, the practice in the last decade or so, has proven that emerging markets are somewhat unpredictable and difficult to model.     

Peculiarities of organization and performance of forensic medical expertise of the corpses of persons died of acute radiation injury

This paper is concerned with the topical problems of forensic medical diagnostics of acute radiation injury. The general and specific problems pertaining to the organization and performance of forensic medical expertise of the corpses of persons deceased by reason of acute radiation sickness are considered. The special emphasis is laid on the selection of autopsy materials and their referring to specialized laboratories for the additional investigation. The methods of anti-radiation protection of the medical personnel are considered.     

Age-related changes in the nervous apparatus of the blood vessels in the brain and spinal cord

This work was designed to study changes in the nervous apparatus of the blood vessels in the brain and spinal cord with a view to developing methods for the determination of the biological age in man. Pial and intramedullary vascular systems of the brain and spinal cord were examined in different periods of postnatal ontogenesis (between the age of 1 and 90 years) using histological, fluorescent-histochemical, and immunohistochemical methods as well as by ink injections into the blood vessels, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The data obtained on the age-related rearrangement of the nervous apparatus of the arterial vessels in the brain and spinal cord have not only theoretical significance but can also be used for the solution of practical problems encountered in the practical work of forensic medical experts.     

The theory of postmortem rigidity: the history and an original concept

The original theory of postmortem rigidity has been developed and substantiated based on the concept of postmortem muscular contracture. It is postulated that the unrestricted growth of Ca2+ concentration in myoplasm of contractile cells during the immediate postmortal period brings the actin-myosine complex to the force generation state without subsequent relaxation.     

In vitro production of GHB in blood and serum samples under various storage conditions

The in vitro production of GHB was observed in freshly collected, untreated whole blood samples using glass BD-Vacutainers and polypropylene S-monovettes. GHB concentrations were determined daily over a period of one week and after 3, 6 and 9 weeks again. Furthermore, the GHB concentration in 40 untreated random whole blood samples stored at 4°C for a longer period of time (10 samples 12 month, 10 samples 24 month and 20 samples 36 month) was also determined. For comparison, the in vitro production of GHB in freshly collected and prepared serum samples was observed. GHB serum concentrations were determined three times over a period of one week and once again after six weeks. Sample preparation was performed by means of methanolic extraction following the precipitation of whole blood and serum samples. A methanolic standard calibration was done in a low range of 0.005-0.1 μg/mL (LOD: 0.004, LLOQ: 0.013). For quantification a spiked blood bank serum with a determined GHB concentration of 0.09 μg/mL was used. Corrected calibrations in the range of 0.09-5.09 μg/mL were used (LOD: 0.08 μg/mL, LLOQ: 0.30 μg/mL), recovery: 91.3% (high level: 4.09 μg/mL) 50.5% (low level: 0.19 μg/mL). RESULTS: Relevant elevation of GHB was observed in all whole blood samples stored in liquid form (4°C or room temperature). In two of the 40 whole blood samples stored over a longer period of time at 4°C, GHB concentrations in the range of 13 μg/mL were even determined. These findings constitute grounds for caution. Even a GHB cut-off level of 5 μg/mL cannot be considered as "absolutely positive" proof of a case of exogenous administration, at least in untreated liquid blood samples in long time storage. However, no significant elevations of GHB were otherwise observed in any of the serum samples independently of storage temperature nor in the whole blood samples that were frozen for storage. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the cut-off for exogenous GHB of 5 μg/mL could be lowered significantly, with the consequence of winning valuable time for the potential victim, but only if serum is collected for GHB determination or if the whole blood sample is frozen immediately after collection and the procedure well documented.     

Raman spectroscopy and microspectrophotometry of reactive dyes on cotton fibres: Analysis and detection limits

A collaborative study on Raman spectroscopy and microspectrophotometry (MSP) was carried out by members of the ENFSI (European Network of Forensic Science Institutes) European Fibres Group (EFG) on different dyed cotton fabrics. The detection limits of the two methods were tested on two cotton sets with a dye concentration ranging from 0.5 to 0.005% (w/w). This survey shows that it is possible to detect the presence of dye in fibres with concentrations below that detectable by the traditional methods of light microscopy and microspectrophotometry (MSP). The MSP detection limit for the dyes used in this study was found to be a concentration of 0.5% (w/w). At this concentration, the fibres appear colourless with light microscopy. Raman spectroscopy clearly shows a higher potential to detect concentrations of dyes as low as 0.05% for the yellow dye RY145 and 0.005% for the blue dye RB221. This detection limit was found to depend both on the chemical composition of the dye itself and on the analytical conditions, particularly the laser wavelength. Furthermore, analysis of binary mixtures of dyes showed that while the minor dye was detected at 1.5% (w/w) (30% of the total dye concentration) using microspectrophotometry, it was detected at a level as low as 0.05% (w/w) (10% of the total dye concentration) using Raman spectroscopy. This work also highlights the importance of a flexible Raman instrument equipped with several lasers at different wavelengths for the analysis of dyed fibres. The operator and the set up of the analytical conditions are also of prime importance in order to obtain high quality spectra. Changing the laser wavelength is important to detect different dyes in a mixture.     

Sexual Dimorphism in Finger Ridge Breadth Measurements: A Tool for Sex Estimation from Fingerprints

Previous research has demonstrated significant sexual dimorphism in friction ridge skin characteristics. This study uses a novel method for measuring sexual dimorphism in finger ridge breadths to evaluate its utility as a sex estimation method from an unknown fingerprint. Beginning and ending in a valley, the width of ten parallel ridges with no obstructions or minutia was measured in a sample of 250 males and females (N = 500). The results demonstrate statistically significant differences in ridge breadth between males and females (p < 0.001), with classification accuracy for each digit varying from 83.2% to 89.3%. Classification accuracy for the pooled finger samples was 83.9% for the right hand and 86.2% for the left hand, which is applicable for cases where the digit number cannot be determined. Weight, stature, and to a lesser degree body mass index also significantly correlate with ridge breadth and account for the degree of overlap between males and females.     

固根萃取技术在系统药、毒物分析中的应用

根据反相色谱法及离子交换色谱法的原理,研制了一种固相萃取小柱,建立了筛分系统,可以同时完成对复杂体系中酸性、中性及碱性药、毒物的一次革取净化及富集,适应于系统毒物及药物筛分工作的需要。并对筛分柱的草取机理进行了初步的实验论证。     

人体组织ABO血型检测方法的研究

探讨人体组织ABO血型检测方法。对已知ABO血型尸体的不同组织,用红细胞粘连试验、吸收—抑制试验和吸收－解离试验进行ABO血型测定。12例尸体的16种组织中均检出与尸体血痕相同的ABH物质。对不同温度保存的组织块进行ABH物质检测的结果显示,4℃保存的组织ABH物质的检出时间长于室温,空腔脏器的检出时间短于实质脏器。三种方法中,红细胞粘连试验简单易行,适用于基层单位,吸收－抑制试验用于组织块的测定时优于吸收－解高试验。