Dynamics of Ninhydrin‐Reactive Nitrogen and pH in Gravesoil During the Extended Postmortem Interval

Estimating the postmortem interval of skeletal remains is difficult, as few tools exist to do so. To address this problem, we conducted a field experiment to measure the chemistry of swine (Sus scrofa domesticus Linnaeus) gravesoil after 1 year and 3 years postmortem. Carcasses were placed on the soil surface of a pasture during June in a cold (Dfa) climate. Significant (p < 0.05) increases in ninhydrin‐reactive nitrogen, pH, total nitrogen, and nitrate in gravesoil were detected 1 year postmortem. Significant differences in gravesoil chemistry were not detected 3 years postmortem. These observations coincided with gaps in plant growth 1 year postmortem and the development of lush vegetation 3 years postmortem. We conclude that these phenomena can be used to assist the decision‐making process regarding the allocation of resources during the early stages of a death investigation.     

The Effects of Polymer Pigmentation on Fingermark Development Techniques

The effectiveness of latent fingerprint development techniques is heavily influenced by the physical and chemical properties of the deposition surface. The use of powder suspensions is increasing for development of prints on a range of surfaces. We demonstrate that carbon powder suspension development on polymers is detrimentally affected by the presence of common white pigment, titanium dioxide. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrates that patches of the compound are clearly associated with increased levels of powder adhesion. Substrates with nonlocalized titanium dioxide content also exhibit increased levels of carbon powder staining on a surface‐wide basis. Secondary ion mass spectrometry and complementary techniques demonstrate the importance of levels of the pigment within the top 30 nm. The association is independent of fingermark deposition and may be related to surface energy variation. The detrimental effect of the pigment is not observed with small‐particle reagent (MoS₂ SPR) or cyanoacrylate (superglue) fuming techniques that exploit different development mechanisms.     

Climate change: Double-edged sword for African trade and development

Abstract

African governments face increasing pressure from major export destinations, primarily former colonial and slave-owning countries, to be climate change compliant. This will certainly be on display at the upcoming December 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, which will seek to strengthen climate change rules agreed on in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997, and adopt new protocols on global climate change regulation. Climate change is a double-edged sword: on one side it is hitting Africa's agricultural sector with increased droughts, floods, extreme frost and wildfires; and on the other, African governments are being forced to respond to stringent regulatory regimes imposed by international export destinations. Currently, the per capita greenhouse gas emissions from the highly industrialised nations – the North – is estimated to be four times that of Africa and the rest of the developing world. Twin research questions were investigated in this article: (1) to what extent does climate change impact on African trade and development, and (2) how can African governments stay on a path of sustained trade and development in this era of climate change? The article argues that Africa's survival in these times of climate change compliance rests on a shift to greater intra-African trade, as individual nations move towards cleaner and more organic technologies to become full-fledged partners in the international climate change regulatory regime.     

Subprime catalyst: Financial regulatory reform and the strengthening of US carbon market governance

The 2008 financial crisis has had an important, but neglected, impact on carbon market governance in the United States. It acted as a catalyst for the emergence of a domestic coalition that drew upon the crisis experience to demand stronger regulation over carbon markets. The influence of this coalition was seen first in the changing content of draft climate change bills between 2008 and 2010. But the coalition's more lasting legacy was its role in shaping the content of, and supporting, the passage of the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the Dodd–Frank bill) in July 2010. Although that bill was aimed primarily at bolstering financial stability, its derivatives provisions strengthened carbon market regulation in significant ways. This policy episode demonstrates new patterns of coalition building in carbon market politics as well as the growing links between climate governance and financial regulatory politics. At the same time, the significance of these developments should not be overstated because of various limitations in the content and implementation of the Dodd–Frank bill, as well as the waning support for carbon markets more generally within the US since the bill's passage.     

The Challenges to Promoting Collaboration Between Child Protection Services Workers and Court Professionals

Abstract

In juvenile dependency proceedings, the protection of children depends upon the collaboration between professionals in the child welfare and court systems. Since there is little empirical research on such collaborations, this exploratory study sought to identify factors associated with the difficulties encountered in these professional relationships through an analysis of case records. The data were extracted from 111 cases in seven Northern California counties. Using a logistic regression it was found that the short tenure of court professionals is significantly associated with the difficulties of fostering inter-professional collaboration. The implications for future practice and research are identified.     

Child Welfare and the Courts

ABSTRACT

This exploratory study focuses on the relationships between professionals working in the juvenile dependency system, including judicial officers, attorneys, social workers, and court-appointed special advocates. It includes an examination of the quality of professional relationships, factors contributing to tensions, the consequences of difficult relationships, and strategies for improving relationships. It utilizes interviews and focus groups with professionals and focus groups with clients involved in the juvenile dependency system. The major findings address: (a) the nature and quality of professional relationships, (b) the structural and operational factors contributing to tension in those relationships, (c) client perceptions of professional relationships, and (d) respondent recommendations for improving professional relationships. This study is a contribution to the small but growing literature on the complexity of the interface between public child welfare services and the court system.     

国内外碳足迹研究进展述评

在全球气候变化的宏观语境下,“碳足迹”成为公共生活领域中的一个热门术语.然而,学术界对碳足迹的概念内涵、测算方法、衡量单位及适用范围等的理解尚未形成统一意见.本文首先对国内外学术界关于碳足迹的概念内涵进行梳理和述评,从终端消费和全生命周期两个方面界定碳足迹,以此与“生态足迹”、“碳排放”等术语相区别;其次,从产品、家庭、企业及类似组织、城市和区域、国家和地区等不同尺度对碳足迹的研究进行综述,比较了碳足迹测度的不同方法和标准,发现“自下而上”的生命周期评价和“自上而下”的投入产出分析方法适用于不同的研究尺度;最后,对进一步的研究方向做了展望,指出应尽快明确碳足迹的概念内涵,避免泛化和滥用,并尝试构建一种综合性的碳足迹测度方法.     

我国省域低碳经济发展水平比较研究

低碳经济是气候变化背景下人类的必然选择,也是我国实现绿色发展的重要途径。依据我国30个省区2001—2011年相关平均数据,运用层次分析法,从低碳环境、低碳产业、低碳效率和低碳创新四个层面对我国省域低碳经济发展水平进行综合评价可以发现,我国整体低碳经济发展水平较低,且区域差异明显。长期以来,粗放型经济增长对我国的生态环境造成极大破坏;在空间上,我国东南沿海地区低碳经济发展水平相对较高,中西部地区偏低。促进我国低碳经济的发展,必须提升森林面积和质量,改善能源和产业结构,发展节能减排技术。     

全球化时代国际“碳政治”博弈与中国的战略选择

本文首先对国际“碳政治”这种新型国际政治进行分析，然后剖析了当前国际“碳政治”的博弈形势，最后从国际与国内两个层面提出建设性对策，为中国应对国际“碳政治”博弈提供理论与实践支持。     

赛丹的检验

目的建立水中微量赛丹提取检测方法。方法利用活性炭富集法提取、气相色谱/质谱联用方法中的SIM方式检验水中赛丹。结果利用此方法可检验水中赛丹浓度达pg水平。结论该方法适用于案件检测。