One Field, Many Perspectives: Building the Foundations for Dialogue

Highlighted by the dramatic changes that are occurring in the world and the number of problems that are now global in scope, there is an increasing need for dialogue among the subfields and specializations that comprise the field of international studies. But because the questions we raise, the ways we define the prime movers in international politics, and the information we seek often differ, we prefer to interact with those who share our view of the world rather than with those who might challenge it. This article describes some of the effects of the stereotypes that result from this practice and proposes several ways of engaging in focused interaction to address these ingroup-outgroup barriers we have constructed.     

Women leadership in Oxford House: examining their strengths and challenges

This study examined the perspectives and definition of leadership by women and mothers with children (n = 40) affiliated with Oxford Houses, a communal mutual-help recovery setting. Participants were asked questions relating to their experiences living in an Oxford House including the strengths and challenges encountered and how leadership impacted the stability in their house. Results illustrated the value of female leadership and highlighted the characteristics deemed important for women leaders in Oxford House, as well as some differences between these women's perception of leadership and the standard definition of leadership. The implications of the findings and how they may be useful to women's and mothers' with children houses are discussed.     

Deposition of cocaine in tissue after lethal and repeated sublethal administration to sheep

The deposition of cocaine in tissue after lethal administration to sheep was investigated. In addition, the presence of cocaine in tissue obtained from sheep treated for 30 days with a sublethal dose (2.4 mg/kg b.wt.) after 1-day, 1-week, or 1-month withdrawal was studied. The determination of cocaine was performed by radioimmunoassay. The concentrations measured represent the sum of cocaine and its metabolites. The presence of cocaine was also qualitatively proven by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. After a lethal dose administration cocaine was found in all investigated organs. The highest concentrations were present in liver, bile, and kidney. In tissue obtained from the sheep treated daily with a sublethal dose and killed after 1-week withdrawal, the concentrations found were significantly lower. After 1-month withdrawal, cocaine was not to be discovered in tissue.     

A comparison study of hair examination methodologies

A study was conducted to investigate the accuracy between two methods of hair analysis: PCR-STR DNA analysis and microscopic comparison analysis. Standard sets of pubic hairs were collected from volunteers, and unknown sets were generated from these samples. Three out of five (60%) of the hairs analyzed produced full DNA profiles that were correctly matched to the standard sets. DNA analysis was inconclusive (partial or no DNA profile) for two out of five (40%) of the samples. In contrast, the microscopic comparison analysis correctly matched four out of five (80%) of the samples to the standard sets but mis-identified one out of five (20%) of the samples. These results reinforce the practice of preliminary microscopic hair examination in narrowing down a set of hairs for DNA analysis. Microscopic comparison analysis is sufficiently reliable to remain a rapid and inexpensive method for forensic hair analysis.     

Evaluation of an automated liquid hybridization method for DNA quantitation

The AluQuant (Promega Corporation) liquid hybridization DNA quantitation method was evaluated on an automated robotic platform (Biomek 2000, Beckman Coulter, Fullerton, CA) for use in forensic PCR-STR systems. DNA from bloodstains and buccal swabs was extracted by three different methods: Chelex, Qiagen and DNA IQ (Promega). Samples were quantitated using both the Quantiblot and the AluQuant systems. Concordance between methods was determined by comparing the average AluQuant DNA concentrations for samples having matching (binned) Quantiblot values. Studies testing the "accuracy" (STR analysis), precision, sensitivity, and specifies specificity of the AluQuant method were also conducted. The effect of inhibitors (carpet, denim, and suede) was evaluated. The results indicate that the AluQuant quantitation system equals the Quantiblot system in "accuracy", sensitivity, precision, and primate-specificity. While extracts from denim and suede affected (inhibited) both systems minimally, the carpet extracts produced a sharp increase in DNA quantitation values in the AluQuant but not the Quantiblot system. The speed and user-friendliness of the AluQuant system on a robotic platform offer specific advantages to the forensic community.