CHILDREN OF SAME‐SEX PARENTS DESERVE THE SECURITY BLANKET OF THE PARENTAGE PRESUMPTION*

This article considers what rights are important to children of same‐sex couples, and concludes that these children must be protected by the presumption of parentage. In reaching this conclusion, the article first analyzes the limited protections currently provided to children of same‐sex couples. It then concludes that there is no persuasive reason to treat these children differently from children of “traditional” heterosexual marriage. As such, the parentage presumption should apply equally to children born of a same‐sex marriage, domestic partnership, or civil union, as well as to children who live with a same‐sex partner in a parent‐child relationship. Only with such broad protection can these children receive the economic and psychological support that they deserve.     

Immunologic defects as possible causes of therapeutic failures in children with transposition of the great arteries

Recurrent and severe infections and absence of thymic shadow in X-ray examination were observed in children with the transposition of the great arteries (TGA). Among 45 children (29 boys and 16 girls) with TGA whose age ranged from 3 days to 16 years and who were hospitalized during 1 year, infectious diarrhea was observed in 77.7% cases, urinary tract infections in 44.5%, respiratory tract infections in 42.2%, sepsis in 17.5%, and meningitis in 8.8%. Nine of the children died, sepsis was a cause of death in seven children, and there were postsurgical complications in two children. Immunologic abnormalities in children with TGA included a decreased level of T-lymphocytes and T29 degrees subpopulation, impaired mitogen-induced lymphoproliferation in vitro, and increased nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction activity of monocytes. Impaired parameters of cellular immunity correlated with worst clinical status. No disorders of humoral immunity were observed. These observations may be important for forming opinion about proper therapy and the cause of death in children with TGA.     

The use of bacteriological analysis of the blood in the diagnosis of death by drowning

Investigation of blood samples from the femoral vein of subjects drowned in water and died of other causes (control) was carried out. Penetration of microflora contained in water into the bloodflow of the drowned people was shown. Possibility of using bacteriologic analysis of the postmortal blood to diagnose death from drowning was stated. Ps. putida and Ps. fluorescens. that were not present in the blood of persons who had died of causes other than drowning were recommended as test bacteria. Selective media and methods to isolate the bacteria from the cadaveric blood were chosen.     

An Integration of Hindsight Bias and Counterfactual Thinking: Decision-Making and Drug Courier Profiles

Counterfactual thinking and hindsight bias have each generated separate, substantial bodies of research and provided insight into some areas of legal decision-making. An investigation of the relationship between Counterfactual thinking and hindsight bias in a situation in which both are implicated is presented in a legal decision-making context utilizing drug courier profiles and illegal search and seizure. The findings, which demonstrate each of these cognitive processes and show a pattern of results that supports an integrative relationship between them, are discussed in the contexts of social cognition and of legal decision-making. A suggested causal model of decision-making in this context is also presented. Specific implications of these findings for civil actions to remedy illegal searches are discussed.     

Specimen preparation for ABO determination of various kinds of blood stains

Trying to optimize the preparation of blood stains, we found methanol fixation not to produce very good results for the determination of ABO blood group antigens. It is advantageous to transfer blood stains before testing to cotton cloth. This transfer is also of practical use if blood stains are to be saved on a smooth surface for lateral determination. We testet on 35 different carrier materials, on which blood stains in casework often were found, whether blood grouping gave better results on either the original material or after transfer. Results are shown on a table. The test revealed, that solubility of the stain in aqua dest is a good sign for a successful transfer. Blood stains on pine-wood soil, soil and loam were not suited for ABO grouping.     

External Constraints on Local Service Standards: The Case of Comprehensive Performance Assessment in English Local Government

Central government in the UK has introduced performance management regimes that apply rewards and sanctions to local service providers. These regimes assume that organizational performance is attributable to decisions made by local policy-makers rather than circumstances beyond their control. We test this assumption by developing a statistical model of external constraints on service standards and applying this model to the outcomes of comprehensive performance assessment (CPA) in English local government. The results show that CPA scores were significantly influenced by the characteristics – such as social diversity and economic prosperity – of local populations. Thus 'poor' performance is partly attributable to difficult circumstances rather than bad choices.     

The cost price of expertise as an objective index of the work-share coefficient of the forensic medical expert]

The author suggests a method for estimating the net cost of a forensic medical expert investigation, consisting in calculation of an objective real coefficient of the ratio of various expert investigations to the reference value. The ratio between forensic medical investigation budget and the total number of these investigations forms the basis for the estimation of the net cost of an expert evaluation.