CO‐OFFENDING AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DELINQUENT CAREER*

This article examines the role of co‐offending in the development of the delinquent career. Hypotheses derived from Reiss's (1986, 1988) taxonomic theory of co‐offending are tested, using police‐reported data on the delinquent careers and co‐offending of 55,336 Canadian offenders. Support is found for a taxonomic theory and for age‐related and functional theories of co‐offending. The taxonomy consists of two types of offenders—high activity (3 percent) and low activity (97 percent)—whose co‐offending patterns differ during the teenage years but not during childhood. For low‐activity offenders as teenagers, the proportion of co‐offenses decreases with criminal experience. The rate of co‐offending by high‐activity offenders as teenagers is lower at onset than for low‐activity offenders, and it varies little with criminal experience. For both offender types, the proportion of co‐offenses decreases with age, is slightly less in males, and varies with the type of offense. For both offender types, the proportion of co‐offenses in childhood offending is greater than in the teenage years and is unrelated to the offender's age or criminal experience.     

Classification of Glass Fragments Based on Elemental Composition and Refractive Index*

Abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the efficiency of likelihood ratio (LR)‐based measures when they are applied to solving various classification problems for glass objects which are described by elemental composition, and refractive index (RI) values, and compare LR‐based methods to other classification methods such as support vector machines (SVM) and naïve Bayes classifiers (NBC). One hundred and fifty‐three glass objects (23 building windows, 25 bulbs, 32 car windows, 57 containers, and 16 headlamps) were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy coupled with an energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometer. Refractive indices for building and car windows were measured before (RI_b), and after (RI_a) an annealing process. The proposed scheme for glass fragment(s) classification demonstrates some efficiency, although the classification of car windows (c) and building windows (w) must be treated carefully. This is because of their very similar elemental content. However, a combination of elemental content and information on the change in RI during annealing (ΔRI = RI_a?RI_b) gave very promising results. A LR model for the classification of glass fragments into use‐type categories for forensic purposes gives slightly higher misclassification rates than SVM and NBC. However, the observed differences between results obtained by all three approaches were very similar, especially when applied to the car window and building window classification problem. Therefore, the LR model can be recommended because of the ease of interpretation of LR‐based measures of certainty.     

A Fatal Shot with a Signal Flare—A Crime Reconstruction*

Abstract: A reconstruction of an incident of a fatal wounding of a football fan with a parachute flare was performed. Physical and chemical examinations of the victim’s trousers and parts of a flare removed from the wound in his leg were performed by means of an optical microscope and a scanning electron microscope coupled with an energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometer. Signs of burning were seen on the front upper part of the trousers, including a 35–40 mm circular hole with melted and charred edges. Postblast residue present on the surface of the trousers contained strontium, magnesium, potassium, and chlorine. Also the case files—the medical reports and the witnesses’ testimonies—were thoroughly studied. It has been found that the evidence collected in the case supported the version of the victim being shot by another person from a distance.     

Application of Raman Spectroscopy and Surface‐Enhanced Raman Scattering to the Analysis of Synthetic Dyes Found in Ballpoint Pen Inks*

Abstract: The applicability of Raman spectroscopy and surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) to the analysis of synthetic dyes commonly found in ballpoint inks was investigated in a comparative study. Spectra of 10 dyes were obtained using a dispersive system (633 nm, 785 nm lasers) and a Fourier transform system (1064 nm laser) under different analytical conditions (e.g., powdered pigments, solutions, thin layer chromatography [TLC] spots). While high fluorescence background and poor spectral quality often characterized the normal Raman spectra of the dyes studied, SERS was found to be generally helpful. Additionally, dye standards and a single ballpoint ink were developed on a TLC plate following a typical ink analysis procedure. SERS spectra were successfully collected directly from the TLC plate, thus demonstrating a possible forensic application for the technique.     

Unusual Death of a Transvestite: Identification of Crime Weapon and Survival Time*

Abstract: The authors report a case of a transvestite found murdered near his automobile with several lacerated contused wounds to the face and cranial fractures. Autopsy revealed that the cause of death was a serious head trauma with subdural and subarachnoidal hemorrhages. In order to identify the crime weapon, a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used which revealed metallic residue on the skin fragments with the same molecular composition of the car paint. As for survival time, antibody anti‐beta‐amyloid precursor protein (APP) was applied to brain fragments and brainstem tissue, allowing for axonal varicosities (which form 2 to 3 h following death) to be observed under the optic microscope. So, by using SEM we understood that the fatal cranial‐encephalic lesions were the result of the victim’s head being repeatedly struck against the car door while anti‐betaAPP led to the understanding that the time elapsed between injury and death was less than 2 to 3 h.     

液相色谱-串联质谱法测定血液和尿液中秋水仙碱

目的建立检测血液和尿液中秋水仙碱的液相色谱-串联质谱法。方法0.5mL血液或尿液以丁丙诺啡为内标,经pH9.2硼酸盐缓冲溶液碱化后,用乙酸乙酯进行提取,在ZORBAX SB-C18液相柱(150mm×2.1mm×5μm)上以V(甲醇)∶V(20mmol/L乙酸铵和0.1%甲酸缓冲溶液)=80∶20为流动相,流速为0.2mL/min,采用电喷雾正离子模式离子化、多反应监测模式检测秋水仙碱,内标法定量。结果血液、尿液中秋水仙碱与内标丁丙诺啡色谱分离良好,秋水仙碱在0.1~50 ng/mL内均具有良好的线性,相关系数>0.9990,最低检出限为0.05ng/mL,方法回收率为94%~116%,日内与日间精密度(RSD)均小于8.5%。结论所建LC-MS-MS方法灵敏度高、操作简便、快速、准确,适用于血液及尿液等生物检材中痕量秋水仙碱成分的检测。     

超高效液相色谱-四极杆/静电场轨道阱高分辨质谱法检测血斑中乙醇生物标志物

Objective To establish a method for determination of two alcohol biomarkers (ethyl glucuronide, EtG;ethyl sulphate, EtS) in bloodstains via ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/electrostatic field orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/eOrbitrap HRMS). Methods The bloodstains were prepared on clean glass slide where to have dropped the venous blood spiked of EtG or EtS, having them extracted with 50% hydrated methanol. The bloodstain-extracted supernatant was separated on a Synicronis C18 column (150mm×2.1mm×5.0μm) with gradient elution that was run through the mobile phases consisting of 0.1% formic acid (phase A) and acetonitrile: methanol (v/v 1:1) (containing 0.1% formic acid ) (phase B). MS tests were coupled with HPLC under HESI (heating electrospray ionization) source operated in negative ionization full-scan mode. Results Both EtG and EtS were linear with their calibration curves among the range of 0.2-100ng/patch (R²=0.9991, 0.9994), showing good recovery, intra-and inter-day precision less than 15%. The matrix effect was in the range of 85%-120%. Conclusion The method is effective to detect alcohol biomarkers (EtG and EtS) in bloodstains. © 2021, Editorial Office of Forensic Science and Technology. All rights reserved.     

Commentary on Interdisciplinary Teamwork in Family Law Practice

This commentary discusses and expands upon Mosten and Traumm's extraordinary work on interdisciplinary teams. Focusing on the continuum between independence and interdependence in team formation, we explore the benefits of team members' shared responsibility and highlight potential challenges. We emphasize that regardless of where a team may fall on the continuum, establishing and adhering to a strong structure results in increased practitioner satisfaction and better client outcomes. This commentary identifies five best practices that promote highly functioning teams and urges family law practitioners to seek more advanced interdisciplinary team training opportunities.     

无碳复写纸的X射线衍射分析

通过对无碳复写纸原纸和显色涂层的X射线衍射分析,达到对不同厂家无碳复写纸区分的目的.     

Bargaining When the Future of an Industry Is at Stake: Lessons from UAW–Ford Collective Bargaining Negotiations

The 2007 American automobile industry labor negotiations involved fundamental challenges for labor and management, including a historic shift of responsibility in the management of retiree health care, a need for new approaches to core employment security issues, identification of ways to create new unionized jobs in the industry, and a joint commitment to the competitive viability of U.S. operations. Less visible, but no less important in the United Auto Workers–Ford case, has been unprecedented levels of information sharing and unique innovations in the bargaining process designed to enable problem solving even when tough issues were on the table. More than 300 people were directly involved in the negotiations, serving at the main table and on twenty‐four subcommittees. This case study covers the context for the negotiations, key events leading up to the bargaining, a unique process of “bargaining over how to bargain,” the actual negotiation process, and the results achieved. Implications are generalizable to the broader concept of pattern bargaining and many other types of negotiations when transformation is on the table.