Accuracy of comparison decisions by forensic firearms examiners

This black box study assessed the performance of forensic firearms examiners in the United States. It involved three different types of firearms and 173 volunteers who performed a total of 8640 comparisons of both bullets and cartridge cases. The overall false-positive error rate was estimated as 0.656% and 0.933% for bullets and cartridge cases, respectively, while the rate of false negatives was estimated as 2.87% and 1.87% for bullets and cartridge cases, respectively. The majority of errors were made by a limited number of examiners. Because chi-square tests of independence strongly suggest that error probabilities are not the same for each examiner, these are maximum-likelihood estimates based on the beta-binomial probability model and do not depend on an assumption of equal examiner-specific error rates. Corresponding 95% confidence intervals are (0.305%, 1.42%) and (0.548%, 1.57%) for false positives for bullets and cartridge cases, respectively, and (1.89%, 4.26%) and (1.16%, 2.99%) for false negatives for bullets and cartridge cases, respectively. The results of this study are consistent with prior studies, despite its comprehensive design and challenging specimens.     

The politics of external approval: Explaining the IMF's evaluation of austerity programmes

During the European debt crisis, numerous states launched austerity programmes. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) evaluates and forecasts the likelihood of member states’ success in implementing these programmes. Although IMF evaluations influence country risk perceptions on capital markets, little is known about their reasoning. This article uses fuzzy‐set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to explore on what grounds the IMF evaluated the success prospects of austerity programmes during the European debt crisis. Results reveal that IMF evaluations are heavily influenced by the programme's implementation credibility. They require a tractable policy problem, a country's institutional capacity to structure implementation, and favour expenditure reduction over revenue measures. By acting as a strict guide on the road to fiscal adjustment, the IMF indirectly influences member states’ scope of policy making through its surveillance activities. Extensive austerity programmes that need to be implemented swiftly are evaluated negatively if the country is not involved in an IMF programme.     

Fatal Insulin Overdoses: Case Report and Update on Testing Methodology

Suicidal insulin overdoses are an under‐recognized and uncommon cause of death, often relying on scene and nonspecific autopsy findings. Here, we present a case report of a fatal exogenous insulin overdose in a patient with type 1 diabetes. In our case, there were no contributory autopsy findings; however, serum analog aspart insulin levels were c. 10× the predicted therapeutic upper limit (4000, reference 6.6–55 uU/mL), which correlated with scene findings. This was specifically determined by a newly developed immunocapture liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry assay, able to discriminate between various synthetic insulin analogs. Total insulin levels by immunoassay were highly elevated on the Siemens Advia Centaur, but not the Roche platforms (4741 vs. 5.2 uU/mL, respectively), showing variable sensitivity of detection within the same analog depending on assay. We discuss the prevalence and features to look for at autopsy in these types of cases. Additionally, analytical options for testing insulin levels, including new methodologies, guidance on collection of samples, as well as an outline of available historical reference range data are discussed.     

Fatal Venous Air Embolism Following Intravenous Infusion*

Abstract: Venous air embolism has been reported as a complication of invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures or accidental trauma. Little is known about the incidence of air embolism after minimal intravenous manipulations such as the insertion of a peripheral intravenous cannula. Only when large amounts of air sufficient enough to block the cardiovascular system enter, the patient develops symptoms and signs of severe neurological injury, cardiovascular collapse, or death. The dead body of a 14‐year‐old boy was brought for postmortem examination with allegations of death from negligence during treatment. He was treated for pain in the abdomen in a hospital by attendants in telephonic consultation with a medical practitioner. Following intravenous infusions, the boy died suddenly in respiratory distress. Gross findings indicated the death to be from venous air embolism. Chemical analysis, histopathology, and microbiology ruled out other causes of death. Dilemmas of the case with difficulties in diagnosis are being presented herewith.     

论民族团结是构建和谐新疆的重要基石

没有民族团结,就没有新疆改革发展稳定的一切.历史与现实的经验一再证明:民族团结始终是构建和谐新疆的基本前提和重要保证;照顾民族特点、坚持民族平等、发展民族地区经济、落实民族宗教政策,维护好民族团结是构建和谐新疆的重要基础;坚持并实施好民族区域自治制度,维护好民族团结是构建和谐新疆的基本保障;建立和巩固社会主义民族关系,维护好民族团结是构建和谐新疆的核心.     

论行政许可的几个问题

行政许可兼有赋予权利和解除禁止两方面的性质 ;行政许可行为的基本形态是对当事人的申请作出准许或不准许的决定 ;行政许可既可以采取书面方式 ,也可以采取其他方式 ;行政许可必须以法律的一般禁止为前提。针对当前行政许可存在的问题 ,应着重从三个方面加强行政许可行为的规范 :一是应规范行政许可的设定 ;二是应明确行政许可的标准和条件 ;三是应完善行政许可的程序     

论我国社区矫正基层管理机构的创新——基于对浙江省台州市天台县社区矫正执法中队的调研

司法所作为社区矫正基层执行机构在运作中呈现诸多弊端。浙江省台州市天台县司法局结合本县实际,大胆创新,率先建立了县级社区矫正执法大队作为社区矫正工作的实体执法部门。这是对司法所在社区矫正工作中执法力度不足的强化,便于统筹规划、统一指挥、统一执法。天台县司法局通过整合资源,将执法管辖区域与乡镇行政区划适当分离,在县域范围内组建了五个执法中队,将社区矫正工作从司法所中分离出来,纯化工作队伍,实现对社区矫正工作的专人、专职、专业化管理,体现刑罚执行的严肃性和权威性。     

提高理论素养，树立科学观念——浅谈“两课”结合教学的必要性

当代军校学员不仅要掌握高科技、现代化的军事作战理论,而且还要树立科学的世界观、人生观和价值观.因此本文就如何将马克思主义理论课和忠诚卫士修养课二者相容,使其内容在课堂上更加丰富有力,同时更能拓展学员的视野,从而为造就合格的、德才兼备的武警现代警官提供政治保证.     

构建西部大开发的东西联动运行机制

积极探索东西联动的合作方式,努力构建东西联动的运行机制,科学把握东西联动的发展态势,借鉴发达国家的成功经验,促进西部大开发。