Chemical Enhancement Techniques of Bloodstain Patterns and DNA Recovery After Fire Exposure*

Abstract: It is common in forensic casework to encounter situations where the suspect has set a fire to cover up or destroy possible evidence. While bloodstain pattern interpretation, chemical enhancement of blood, and recovery of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from bloodstains is well documented in the literature, very little information is known about the effects of heat or fire on these types of examinations. In this study, a variety of known types of bloodstain patterns were created in a four‐room structure containing typical household objects and furnishings. The structure was allowed to burn to flashover and then it was extinguished by firefighters using water. Once the structure cooled over night, the interior was examined using a bright light. The bloodstains were evaluated to see if the heat or fire had caused any changes to the patterns that would inhibit interpretation. Bloodstain patterns remained visible and intact inside the structure and on furnishings unless the surface that held the blood was totally burned away. Additionally, a variety of chemical techniques were utilized to better visualize the patterns and determine the possible presence of blood after the fire. The soot from the fire formed a physical barrier that initially interfered with chemical enhancement of blood. However, when the soot was removed using water or alcohol, the chemicals used, fluorescein, luminol, Bluestar^®, and Hemastix^®, performed adequately in most of the tests. Prior to DNA testing, the combined phenolphthalein/tetramethyl benzidine presumptive test for the presence of blood was conducted in the laboratory on samples recovered from the structure in an effort to assess the effectiveness of using this type of testing as a screening tool. Test results demonstrated that reliance on obtaining a positive presumptive result for blood before proceeding with DNA testing could result in the failure to obtain useful typing results. Finally, two DNA recovery methods (swabbing the stain plus cutting or scraping the stain) were attempted to evaluate their performance in recovering samples in an arson investigation. Recovery of DNA was more successful in some instances with the swabbing method, and in other instances with the cutting/scraping method. Therefore, it is recommended that both methods be used. For the most part, the recovered DNA seemed to be unaffected by the heat, until the temperature was 800°C or greater. At this temperature, no DNA profiles were obtained.     

Political critique in Nigerian video films

Video films have established themselves as the dominant formof Nigerian popular culture, with more than 1,000 titles beingreleased every year. They arose during politically tumultuoustimes but have had a reputation for being studiously commercialand avoiding political subjects. This essay attempts to revisethis conventional wisdom by exploring three video genres thatembody forms of political critique: the hardy genre of filmsabout traditional rulership; the crime thriller, with severalvariants; and family melodrama, which tends to infiltrate allother genres. It then surveys some films with directly politicalsubjects made since the end of military rule in 1999.     

Indigenous rights discourse in Australia

The ability of Australia's indigenous people to create their own cultural identity and social reality is shaped profoundly by the Australian legal system in various ways. The 1992Mabo decision of the Australian High Court ‘created’ a right to land tenure for Australia's indigenous people. This ‘right’ has been further explicated by federal legislation in the post-Mabo era, in and around law. This essay analyzes the 1992Mabo decision in the context of governmental, judicial and wider social responses to indigenous issues. At several sites, it examines ‘indigenous rights’ discourse to illustrate the shifting meaning of ‘rights’ in legal currency in the indigenous debate. The essay suggests that the ‘rights’ discourse of legal liberalism has not yet provided meaningful plurality in the recognition of indigenous rights.     

Perceptions of Police Among Hispanic Immigrants of Mexican Origin in the Southeast United States

Studies have repeatedly shown that members of minority groups are likely to hold less favorable perceptions of the police than their white counterparts. Relying on a unique sample of nearly 70 Hispanic immigrants, this study expands current knowledge on correlates of Hispanics’ perceptions of police. Overall, findings of this study indicate Hispanic immigrants of Mexican descent generally hold favorable views of the police. Results also suggest, however, that those who came to the US through illegal channels are significantly less likely to hold positive perceptions of police than those who relocated through legal channels. Furthermore, a preliminary analysis to assess the level of understanding that Hispanic immigrants have of police, including their role and function in American society, was conducted. Findings indicate there is a high level of misunderstanding concerning police services among this population. Based on our results, we discuss policy implications and future directions for research.     

National Party Division and Divisive State Primaries in U.S. Presidential Elections, 1948–2012

In presidential nomination campaigns, individual state primaries and a national competition take place simultaneously. The relationship between divisive state primaries and general election outcomes is substantially different in presidential campaigns than in single-state campaigns. To capture the full impact of divisiveness in presidential campaigns, one must estimate both the impact of national party division (NPD) and the impact of divisive primaries in individual states. To do so, we develop a comprehensive model of state outcomes in presidential campaigns that incorporates both state-level and national-level controls. We also examine and compare several measures of NPD and several measures of divisive state primaries found in previous research. We find that both NPD and divisive state primaries have independent and significant influence on state-level general election outcomes, with the former having a greater and more widespread impact on the national results. The findings are not artifacts of statistical techniques, timeframes or operational definitions. The results are consistent—varying very little across a wide range of methods and specifications.     

Cannabinoid concentrations in hair from documented cannabis users

Fifty-three head hair specimens were collected from 38 males with a history of cannabis use documented by questionnaire, urinalysis and controlled, double blind administration of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in an institutional review board approved protocol. The subjects completed a questionnaire indicating daily cannabis use (N=18) or non-daily use, i.e. one to five cannabis cigarettes per week (N=20). Drug use was also documented by a positive cannabinoid urinalysis, a hair specimen was collected from each subject and they were admitted to a closed research unit. Additional hair specimens were collected following smoking of two 2.7% THC cigarettes (N=13) or multiple oral doses totaling 116 mg THC (N=2). Cannabinoid concentrations in all hair specimens were determined by ELISA and GCMSMS. Pre- and post-dose detection rates did not differ statistically, therefore, all 53 specimens were considered as one group for further comparisons. Nineteen specimens (36%) had no detectable THC or 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC (THCCOOH) at the GCMSMS limits of quantification (LOQ) of 1.0 and 0.1 pg/mg hair, respectively. Two specimens (3.8%) had measurable THC only, 14 (26%) THCCOOH only, and 18 (34%) both cannabinoids. Detection rates were significantly different (p<0.05, Fishers' exact test) between daily cannabis users (85%) and non-daily users (52%). There was no difference in detection rates between African-American and Caucasian subjects (p>0.3, Fisher's exact test). For specimens with detectable cannabinoids, concentrations ranged from 3.4 to >100 pg THC/mg and 0.10 to 7.3 pg THCCOOH/mg hair. THC and THCCOOH concentrations were positively correlated (r=0.38, p<0.01, Pearson's product moment correlation). Using an immunoassay cutoff concentration of 5 pg THC equiv./mg hair, 83% of specimens that screened positive were confirmed by GCMSMS at a cutoff concentration of 0.1 pg THCCOOH/mg hair.     

Will pay for performance be worth the price to medical providers? A look at pay for performance and its legal implications for providers

This article explores the legal implications of pay for performance programs from the perspective of healthcare providers. The author provides an informative background on the emergence of pay for performance programs and examines the structure and operation of these programs. She then explores the liability issues of health plans and managed care organizations and delves into evidentiary issues related to pay for performance information. Her article concludes with some practical suggestions for providers in preparing for an expansion of these quality initiatives.