The Making of a European Public Sphere: Media Discourse and Political Contention

Territorial autonomy is one aspect of power-sharing in multi-ethnic societies. Nevertheless, the multi-ethnic countries of Central and Eastern Europe are still among the most centralised in the European Union. This article analyses the failure of any attempts to establish (symmetric) federalism or (asymmetric) autonomy, creating self-governed regions by the Hungarian minorities in Romania and Slovakia. The analysis focuses on the positions of the main parties of the ethnic majorities and the Hungarian minority parties in the two countries. In both cases, the parties representing the Hungarian minorities have favoured territorial autonomy along ethnic lines, but this demand has been rejected by the parties of the ethnic majority. Against the historical legacy of unstable borders, the parties of the ethnic majority argue that territorial autonomy or federalisation might be a first step for a revisionist agenda and separatism. Instead, supported by the European integration, the parties have been able to agree on decentralisation as a half-hearted compromise.     

Highly sensitive screening method for nitroaromatic, nitramine and nitrate ester explosives by high performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC-API-MS) in forensic applications

A highly sensitive screening method based on high performance liquid chromatography atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-API-MS) has been developed for the analysis of 21 nitroaromatic, nitramine and nitrate ester explosives, which include the explosives most commonly encountered in forensic science. Two atmospheric pressure ionization (API) methods, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and electrospray ionization (ESI), and various experimental conditions have been applied to allow for the detection of all 21 explosive compounds. The limit of detection (LOD) in the full-scan mode has been found to be 0.012-1.2 ng on column for the screening of most explosives investigated. For nitrobenzene, an LOD of 10 ng was found with the APCI method in the negative mode. Although the detection of nitrobenzene, 2-, 3-, and 4-nitrotoluene is hindered by the difficult ionization of these compounds, we have found that by forming an adduct with glycine, LOD values in the range of 3-16 ng on column can be achieved. Compared with previous screening methods with thermospray ionization, the API method has distinct advantages, including simplicity and stability of the method applied, an extended screening range and a low detection limit for the explosives studied.     

Exploratory study on classification and individualisation of earprints

The FearID research project is aimed at the individualisation of earprints for the purpose of forensic research. The study presented here was carried out within the framework of this project. It intends to combine a review of what is known from literature on the classification and individualisation of earprints with results from a preliminary study of earprints. Possibilities for, and limitations to, the use of earprints in forensic investigation are addressed. Differences between eliminating a suspect, placing a suspect at a crime scene, and linking crimes by prints left at different scenes are considered.     

3 case examples of intravital maggot infestations

The authors report on three cases of myiasis which rarely occurs in the civilized world. Poor social conditions, old age, alcoholism, diabetes and vascular occlusive disease were predisposing co-factors. All three victims showed large necrotizing skin ulcerations, but in no case a generalized infection had developed. Therefore the probable benefit from the maggot infestation concerning these ulcerating skin lesions is discussed. For centuries clinicians have observed that maggots provide debridement of necrotic wounds particularly in Military Medicine. With the advent of antibiotics their therapeutic use declined. Recently "biosurgery" (syn. maggot or larval therapy) again became a promising tool for therapy of infected, necrotizing skin-ulcerations. Besides wound debridement marked anti-microbial activity and secretion of proteolytic enzymes could be detected. Maggot debridement is an valuable and cost-effective treatment option for patients with nonhealing wounds.     

Extraction of human nuclear DNA from feces samples using the QIAamp DNA Stool Mini Kit

The use of a QIAamp DNA Stool Mini Kit (QIAGEN) for extracting human nuclear DNA from feces samples is reported. This method employs a stool lysis buffer and a unique matrix (InhibitEX tablet) to remove PCR inhibitory substances specific to feces samples. DNA extracted from various amounts of stool and from stool samples exposed to different environmental impacts was successfully amplified and typed using the Profiler Plus Amplification Kit and ABI PRISM 310 Genetic Analyser.     

Why has the antidepressant era not shown a significant drop in suicide rates?

Over the past decades the rate of completed suicide has remained quite stable, whereas that of suicide attempts seems to have increased (to the extent it has been studied in defined regions). These are puzzling observations, since depression is the major suicide precursor and and since antidepressants have been increasingly used over the years in the treatment of depression. These observations have not attracted sufficient attention, possibly because they do not accord with consensus opinions about depression treatment in psychiatry today. This paper discusses a number of possible explanations that not only deserve, but are definitely in need of systematic investigation.     

Elain: Innovative transfer of a federal-industry network

ELAIN is an automation project for the processing of export-license applications by the Bureau of Export Administration of the Department of Commerce (DOC). The project is unusual in that it was implemented by administrators without going through normal approval channels. The relationships between the change agent and the agency participants can best be described by Havelock's diffusion-adoption model, which depicts the execution as a one-way relationship from sender to receiver. The more complex models that were examined do not apply because this project was inauguated and furthered by bureaucrats, as opposed to the more usual participation of political appointees. The ELAIN system uses commercial valueadded telecommunications vendors to trasfer the information between the exporters and DOC. Industry used its own funds to develop the necessary special features, with repayment possible only if exporters used their sevices, paying fees for this convenience. No precedent for this type of arrangement was found, hence it is considered to be a social invention as well as an innovation.