Reconstruction of root morphology in skeletonized remains with postmortem dental loss.

A reversible technique is presented in which the root morphology of missing teeth in skeletonized human remains can be reconstructed for the purpose of radiographic comparison and postmortem identification. In this technique, which is based upon pilot studies with skeletonized mandibles of archival remains, the alveolar socket walls are sealed with a coat of cyanoacrylate cement and injected with a mixture of vinyl polysiloxane and barium sulfate. Radiographs are produced with the radiopaque mixture in place, which highlights the antemortem morphology of the roots. Subsequently, the impression material is removed, resulting in no gross alteration of the evidence. The radiographs made with this technique, as well as the impressions, can be stored for later use at a trial or pending the discovery of antemortem dental evidence.     

Drinking and driving in Singapore, 1987 to 1989.

Between 1987 and 1989 there were approximately 5,000 cases of fatal and injury-sustained road traffic accidents, of which 2.3-3.0% were alcohol related (blood alcohol levels greater than the legal limit of 80 mg% ethanol). The offenders of alcohol-related accidents are mostly Chinese (> 79%), male (> 98%), and more often 30-40 years old. The majority of the alcohol-related accidents (> 74%) took place between 8 P.M. and 4 A.M. in fine weather and light traffic. Rear-end, head-on, and side-on collisions comprised > 60% of all the alcohol-related accidents, and losing control of vehicles approximately 30%. Drunken driving cases for the same period that were not accidents showed a number of characteristics similar to those for accidents. In Singapore, motorcycle riders and pedestrians are more prone to road fatality than other road-user groups. International comparisons of road fatalities per 100,000 population gave Singapore one of the lowest accident rates (8.1-8.4) as compared with countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, New Zealand, Canada, and Japan.     

Homicides in Auckland, New Zealand. A 14-year study.

In the 14-year period from 1976 to 1989, there have been 174 homicide victims in the Auckland colonial area. Data accessed from autopsy and police reports show that victims of marital conflict, family dispute, and arguments developing between nonmarried couples made up the largest proportion of homicide cases. Stabbing and assault with a blunt weapon were the most common causes of death. The data also show that homicide is relatively uncommon in Auckland in comparison with other cities of similar size.     

A Philosophy of Provocation?

Jeremy Horder, Provocation and Responsibility Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1992, pp xvi and 208 pp, hb £25.00.     

An end to a consensus on health care in the Federal Republic of Germany?

Over the past fifteen years the national government in the Federal Republic of Germany has animated the political debate about rising health care expenditures. However, it has only provided health policy leadership by shifting the burden of financing health and medical care to others. This paper presents three cases that illustrate the political and institutional constraints inherent in the German policy process that limit the proposal and implementation of appropriate policy solutions to rising health care costs. Cost controls have been inhibited because of the near-universal entitlement of national health insurance, the access all social groups have to advanced medical care, and policies targeted at providers rather than users of health services. The paper also underscores the past and future importance of regional policy coalitions in shaping national health policy.     

Analysis of preliminary procedures in suits against physicians at the Aachen Public Prosecutor's Office between 1978 and 1981

Altogether, 318 preliminary proceedings were initiated against physicians, compared to 2 against nonmedical practitioners. The majority i.e., 192 proceedings, dealt with charges of torture and deprivation of freedom committed against patients under psychiatric treatment. Ninety-nine proceedings were based on negligent bodily injury and negligent homicide and 15 on failure to give medical assistance. Other reasons were given in isolated cases only. The proceedings were mostly initiated against surgeons, psychiatrists, general practitioners, internists, gynecologists, and 2 against nonmedical practitioners (42 because of negligent bodily injury and 48 because of negligent homicide). The charges were dropped in accordance with Section 170,2 StPO in 78 cses, Section 153, 153a and 154 StPO in 7 cases, and there were 7 acquittals and 2 sentences after trial. In the remaining preliminary proceedings, the charges were dropped in 215 cases according to Section 170,2 StPO, and in 2 cases according to Section 153a StPO. Three defendants were sentenced to punishment and 1 received a verdict of not guilty. Thus in most of the preliminary proceedings the charges were dropped.     

The polymorphism of transferrin by ultrathin-layer isoelectric focusing. Tf phenotypes and TfC subtypes in the population of Padua

The distribution of Tf phenotypes in the population of Padua was investigated by ultrathin-layer isoelectric focusing. In our sample (n = 618) nine phenotypes, Tf C₁, C₂, C₃, C_3?1, C_2?1, C_3?2, C₁B, C₂B and C₁D, were observed and the following frequencies calculated: TfC₁ = 0.77837; TfC₂ = 0.1804; TfC₃ = 0.03641; TfB = 0.0040; TfD = 0.0008. These gene frequencies have been compared to those found in other populations. Analysis of 101 mother-child pairs was in agreement with an autosomal codominant mode of inheritance.     

How the spending patterns of cities change: Budgetary incrementalism reexamined

Do city governments generally behave in keeping with the assumptions underlying the incremental model when they allocate their resources among competing activities? That is to say, do they try to maintain everyone's historical “fair share” of the budget in order to minimize disputes among rival participants in the decision process? Earlier studies have lacked sufficient data to address this question. However, with data from 105 West German cities, the present study is able to provide an answer. The resource allocation behavior of many of those cities seems to conform with the incremental model's assumptions. Yet for other cities, major changes in expenditure patterns from one year to the next are common. The differences in the variability of expenditure patterns across the cities studied are far from random. They are systematically associated with certain characteristics of the municipal environment. These associations, in turn, offer plausible hints about the process that leads to change in cities' spending patterns.     

The Prevalence of Mental Illness Among Inmates in a Rural State

A limited number of recent empirical studies suggest that inmates suffer from high rates of serious mental illness. Different explanations are offered depending on the type of institution: jail or prison. The literature is based largely on urban samples and does not offer comparisons of rates across types of institution within a single study. The present study examined a random sample of 213 jail and prison inmates in a rural state using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (III-R). Among jail inmates there was little evidence of high rates of serious mental illness, suggesting the criminalization of mental illness may not be as evident in rural settings as urban areas. Among prison inmates, however, high rates of mental disorders were found, supporting previous findings in urban and rural jurisdictions. Implications of the findings are discussed in the context of a consolidated correctional system.