The determination of psilocin and psilocybin in hallucinogenic mushrooms by HPLC utilizing a dual reagent acidic potassium permanganate and tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) chemiluminescence detection system

This paper describes a procedure for the determination of psilocin and psilocybin in mushroom extracts using high-performance liquid chromatography with postcolumn chemiluminescence detection. A number of extraction methods for psilocin and psilocybin in hallucinogenic mushrooms were investigated, with a simple methanolic extraction being found to be most effective. Psilocin and psilocybin were extracted from a variety of hallucinogenic mushrooms using methanol. The analytes were separated on a C12 column using a (95:5% v/v) methanol:10 mM ammonium formate, pH 3.5 mobile phase with a run time of 5 min. Detection was realized through a dual reagent chemiluminescence detection system of acidic potassium permanganate and tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II). The chemiluminescence detection system gave improved detectability when compared with UV absorption at 269 nm, with detection limits of 1.2 x 10(-8) and 3.5 x 10(-9) mol/L being obtained for psilocin and psilocybin, respectively. The procedure was applied to the determination of psilocin and psilocybin in three Australian species of hallucinogenic mushroom.     

Environmental survey for four pathogenic bacteria and closely related species using phylogenetic and functional genes

Bacterial species with high DNA sequence similarity to pathogens could affect the specificity of assays designed to detect biological threat agents in environmental samples. The natural presence of four pathogenic bacteria, Bacillus anthracis, Clostridium perfringens, Francisella tularensis, and Yersinia pestis and their closely related species, was determined for a large collection of soil and aerosol samples. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gene sequencing were used using group-specific 16S rRNA primers to identify pathogens and related species, and pathogen-specific virulence genes. Close relatives of B. anthracis (B. cereus group species) were detected in 37% of the soils and 25% of the aerosol samples. The B. anthracis protective antigen (pag) gene or a close homolog was detected in 16 of these samples. For the other three pathogen groups, the frequency of detection was much lower, and none of the samples were positive with both the phylogenetic and virulence gene primer sets.     

Evaluation of real-time PCR amplification efficiencies to detect PCR inhibitors

Real-time PCR analysis is a sensitive template DNA quantitation strategy that has recently gained considerable attention in the forensic community. However, the utility of real-time PCR methods extends beyond quantitation and allows for simultaneous evaluation of template DNA extraction quality. This study presents a computational method that allows analysts to identify problematic samples with statistical reliability by comparing the amplification efficiencies of unknown template DNA samples with clean standards. In this study, assays with varying concentrations of tannic acid are used to evaluate and adjust sample-specific amplification efficiency calculation methods in order to optimize their inhibitor detection capabilities. Kinetic outlier detection and prediction boundaries are calculated to identify amplification efficiency outliers. Sample-specific amplification efficiencies calculated over a four-cycle interval starting at the threshold cycle can be used to detect reliably the presence of 0.4 ng of tannic acid in a 25 microL PCR reaction. This approach provides analysts with a precise measure of inhibition severity when template samples are compromised. Early detection of problematic samples allows analysts the opportunity to consider inhibitor mitigation strategies prior to genotype or DNA sequence analysis, thereby facilitating sample processing in high-throughput forensic operations.     

An Empirical Test of the Behaviour Analysis Interview

The present experiment is the first empirical test of the Behaviour Analysis Interview (BAI), an interview technique developed by F. E. Inbau, J. E. Reid, J. P. Buckley, & B. C. Jayne (2001) designed to evoke different verbal and non-verbal responses from liars and truth-tellers. Inbau et al. expect liars to be less helpful than truth-tellers in investigations and to exhibit more nervous behaviours. Just the opposite predictions, however, follow from the deception literature, which notes that liars take their credibility less for granted and are therefore more aware of their responses and their impact on others. This suggests that liars' answers should be more helpful than truth-tellers' answers, and liars' non-verbal responses should appear more relaxed than truth-tellers' non-verbal responses. In the present experiment, 40 participants (undergraduate students) lied or told the truth about an event during a BAI interview. The interviews were coded according to Inbau et al.'s guidelines. The results showed that, compared to liars, truth-tellers (a) were more naive and evasive when explaining the purpose of the interview, and (b) were less likely to name someone who they felt certain did not commit the crime. Truth-tellers also exhibited more nervous behaviours. The results were consistent with the predictions of the deception literature, and directly opposed to the predictions of BAI.     

“Intuitive” Lie Detection of Children’s Deception by Law Enforcement Officials and University Students

Adults ability to detect childrens deception was examined. Police officers, customs officers, and university students attempted to differentiate between children who lied or told the truth about a transgression. When children were simply questioned about the event (Experiment 1), the adult groups could not distinguish between lie-tellers and truth-tellers. However, participants were more accurate when the children had participated in moral reasoning tasks (Experiment 2) or promised to tell the truth (Experiment 3) before being interviewed. Additional exposure to the children did not affect accuracy (Experiment 4). Customs officers were more certain about their judgments than other groups, but no more accurate. Overall, adults have a limited ability to identify childrens deception, regardless of their experience with lie detection.     

论侦查管辖的相对性及侦查协作的多样化

在犯罪的动态化成为常态的时候,侦查管辖的相对性就凸显出来。这种基于相对性认识的侦查思维应转化为多样化、多层次的侦查协作形式,并将之纳入法制化建设轨道,实现侦查与防范的有效结合。     

计算机入侵动态取证技术研究

计算机取证是打击计算机犯罪的有效手段,传统的计算机取证大多采用事后分析的静态取证技术,证据的采集不够及时、全面,经恢复的数据可能是已经被篡改,因而法律效力低。可以运用一种将计算机取证技术与入侵检测技术结合的入侵动态取证系统,动态收集识别入侵证据,及时分析、提取证据至证据库中保存。此系统采用认证、加密、隔离等安全手段,确保了证据在传送、保存过程中的真实性、准确性及不可篡改性,使其成为有效的法庭证据,实现了计算机取证的及时性、智能性。     

侦查突破口的选择

侦查突破口,是指侦查中容易查明案件事实、查明犯罪嫌疑人的环节或对象。侦查突破口往往选择刑事案件的特定之处、变化之处、细节之处、可疑之处、假象之处、反常之处和多余之处。     

应用酶联免疫吸附试验检测实验感染绵羊进行性肺炎病毒的山羊血清抗体

用酶联免疫吸附试验（ＥＬＩＳＡ）在接种绵羊进行性肺炎病毒（ＯＰＰＶ）的山羊血清中可测到ＯＰＰＶ抗体。抗体的最早检出时间是接毒后的第１５ｄ，且４只接毒山羊都呈阳性反应。检测结果表明，ＯＰＰＶ可在山羊体内诱生较强的体液免疫应答反应。试验所用的ＥＬＩＳＡ除可用于ＯＰＰＶ通过山羊体的传代研究之外，还可应用于绵羊进行性肺炎（ＯＰＰ）的诊断     

国内外液态爆炸物安全检查技术和设备的发展

液态爆炸物具有制造简易、不易识别、威力巨大、易于引爆等特点,这些特点增加了液态爆炸物安全检查的难度。液态爆炸物的安全检查分为探测、防护和处置三个环节。针对探测环节,文章综述了国内外主要使用的液态爆炸物探测技术及其特点,介绍了有代表性的技术产品,探讨了液态爆炸物探测技术的发展趋势,最后,对我国液态爆炸物安全检查行业的技术发展提出了几点建议。