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。     

西部地区中小企业网络营销发展研究

经济发展的实践表明,信息网络技术的发展和应用改变了企业经营理念、经营组织、经营方式和经营方法,不断促使企业飞速发展.网络营销作为一种全新的营销方式,是适应网络技术发展与信息网络社会变革的新事物.本文立足西部地区中小企业发展的特殊性,在简单分析其网络营销现状、面临主要问题的基础上,提出了促进欠发达区域中小企业如何利用网络营销,促进自身较快健康发展的对策建议.     

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。     

传播与西部少数民族地区文化建设

传播是文化变迁和文化模式构建及发展的重要机制之一.由边缘和封闭而导致的信息匮乏,是西部少数民族地区文化发展的瓶颈和障碍,借助传播采借之力是促进其文化变迁和发展的必要选择.通过信息的交流,促进少数民族地区文化与他文化的互动,使之向"开放型"文化转变,获得持续发展的动力和活力.