GC–MS studies on acylated derivatives of 3-methoxy-4-methyl- and 4-methoxy-3-methyl-phenethylamines: Regioisomers related to 3,4-MDMA

A series of side chain regioisomers of 3-methoxy-4-methyl- and 4-methoxy-4-methyl-phenethylamines have mass spectra essentially equivalent to the controlled drug substance 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (3,4-MDMA), all have molecular weight of 193 and major fragment ions in their electron ionization mass spectra at m/z 58 and 135/136. The acetyl, propionyl and trifluoroacetyl derivatives of the primary and secondary regioisomeric amines were prepared and evaluated in GC–MS studies. The mass spectra for these derivatives were significantly individualized and the resulting unique fragment ions allowed for specific side chain identification. The trifluoroacetyl derivatives provided more fragment ions for molecular individualization among these regioisomeric substances. These trifluoroacetyl derivatives showed excellent resolution on a non-polar stationary phase such as Rtx-1.     

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CRIME AND INCARCERATION AMONG THE AMERICAN STATES1

Data from the 50 states for 1975 are analyzed to try to separate the presumed reciprocal effects on each other of crime rates and incarceration rates. Two-stage least-squares regression shows no significant effect of crime on incarceration nor of incarceration on crime. Incarceration rates are affected mainly by the percentage of blacks in the state population. Crime rates are significantly influenced by urbanization, region, mean income, and unemployment.     

Abolition of plea bargaining in the coast guard

In the administration of criminal justice, the abolition or restriction of plea bargaining has raised many issues. Of primary concern is the impact on court systems and case dispositions. This research note looks at the Coast Guard military justice system and its 1975 decision to abolish pretrial agreements, effectively eliminating plea bargaining in that system. Studying criminal cases from 1973 to 1978, we determine if that intervention in a time series exhibits any potency. Specifically, what difference did the abolition of plea bargaining make? We find that the abolition of plea bargaining did not make much of a difference to the Coast Guard military justice system, similar to the conclusions drawn from studies of civilian courts.     

Sodium monochloroacetate poisoning of greenfinches.

A large number of passerine birds, mainly greenfinches, were found dead or dying in a hedgerow close to a field of onions recently sprayed with sodium monochloroacetate (SMCA). An analytical method is described for isolating monochloroacetic acid from bird tissues, as its potassium salt, by ion exchange chromatography. The ion exchange eluate is evaporated to dryness, acidified, extracted with ether and the ethereal extract methylated with diazomethane. The concentration of the methyl ester of monochloroacetic acid is determined using the Mass Selective Detector in the selected ion mode. Chemical analysis confirmed the exposure of the birds to SMCA. It is calculated that 50 microliter of spray contained the lethal dose of SMCA for a greenfinch.     

Legal rules and the basis for evaluating economic losses

Damages or a loss in economic well-being can be measured by either the maximum sum people would pay to avoid the loss, or by the minimum compensation they would require to accept it. These alternative bases for evaluation have been assumed to yield fully equivalent measurements, and as a consequence no discrimination is usually made between them in assessment procedures. However, contrary to this presumption recent evidence from survey studies and from real exchange experimental tests shows that measures of values vary widely depending on which of the two bases is used. As an accounting of losses in economic welfare often figures prominently in the settlement of disputes and in the establishment of legal rules, this disparity can cause considerable ambiguity and lead to unintended and undesired outcomes: it can undermine negligence and nuisance determinations and project feasibility judgments, can bring about seriously incorrect assessments of losses and inadequate indemnification of damages, and can bias determinations over a range of other instances where measures of economic values are used.