Influence of storage on larval length and age determination of the forensically important blow fly Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

One of the main tasks in forensic entomology is the determination of the minimum post-mortem interval (PMI_min) based on the age of the juvenile insects feeding and developing on the dead body. An important task is to store the evidence appropriately so that the evaluation and expert report can be used in court. However, existing recommendations can be contradictory or lacking scientific validation, e.g. by proposing various preservation liquids without knowing whether and to what extent the period of storage in such a liquid has an effect on the length of the preserved larvae. Storage time can be an issue since, due to technical and procedural circumstances, killed larvae may be stored for hours, days, weeks or even longer prior length measurement. A changed body length would have consequences for the entomological report, as the age of the larvae is usually derived from their length.This study investigates the effect of four differently concentrated ethanol solutions (70%, 80%, 90% and 96%) during a storage period of up to 196 days on the body length of stored larvae of the forensically important blow fly species L. sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Larvae of different ages (24 h, 48 h and 72 h after hatching) were killed by immersion in hot, non-boiling water (≥80 °C) for at least 30 s. Their lengths were measured immediately. Subsequently samples were stored in ethanol of appropriate concentration at room temperature (approx. 22 °C). Further length measurements were made at 16 different storage intervals between 1 and 196 days.Many specimens showed a length decrease for most storage conditions and all larval ages. However, there was a tendency for 48 h- and 72 h-old larvae to increase in length after the first days of storage of up to 1.1 mm which may lead to an erroneous overestimation of the PMI_min using this kind of specimens. All changes in length within each cohort over total time were in the range of +7% to −9.1%. Significant differences in length changes within the first days of storage were found mainly in larvae stored in 70%- and 80%-ethanol, but larvae stored in 90%- and 96%-ethanol showed first significant differences on day 56 at the earliest.Our results lead to the recommendation that the measurements of fly larvae samples should be taken immediately after killing and before storage to avoid any effects. Ethanol ≥90% should be used for storage.     

Building the Evidence Base for Intensive Family Preservation Services

This article examines the state of intensive family preservation services (IFPS) research. Using studies of IFPS in five states, this article seeks to establish whether IFPS can be regarded as an evidence-based practice, an increasingly important standard for publicly funded services. While reporting rates of repeat child maltreatment, the analysis uses placement rates as the main outcome measure and compares effect sizes using Cohen's arcsine transformation for data reported as proportions. Significant differences in rates of child out-of-home placement and repeat maltreatment were found in some studies, particularly for higher risk families. The findings also underscore the difficulty of identifying which families to serve (targeting), ensuring treatment fidelity, and employing rigorous and appropriate evaluation methods. Overall, additional research is needed to move IFPS from a promising practice to an evidence-based practice.     

Advancing Knowledge through Grassroots Experiments: Connecting Culture and Sustainability

Since 2006, hundreds of communities in Canada have produced Integrated Community Sustainability Plans, based on a four-pillar model of sustainability and developed in consultation with residents and stakeholders. These community-based experiments have developed models, knowledge, and insights about the place of culture in local sustainability. Both conceptual thinking and planning practices regarding the role of culture in sustainable communities were at an embryonic stage when these initiatives took place. The discussions, plans, and implementation processes have advanced both theory and “leading edge” practices with regard to culture and community sustainability, illustrating the importance of a robust relationship between research and practice.     

新时期构建党的纪律教育平台的理论与实践思考

构建党的纪律教育平台,加强纪律教育,是落实党要管党、从严治党的必然要求,是加强党的纪律建设的迫切需要,是做好新时期干部教育培训工作的现实需要。新形势下构建党的纪律教育权威平台,就是要在把握和尊重干部成长规律和干部教育培训规律的基础上,进一步整合资源、突出重点、创新方法、健全机制,提高党的纪律教育的科学化、制度化、规范化水平,不断夯实党员干部廉洁从政的思想基础、筑牢拒腐防变的思想道德防线,切实解决党员干部"不想腐"的问题。     

从国际私法的角度谈WTO协议在我国的实施

我国加入WTO后如何实施其协议规则 ,是一个迫在眉睫的问题。本文从国际私法的角度分析了WTO规则的非直接适用性 ,指出必须通过“废、改、立” ,把它转化成国内法 ,才能在我国实施。针对目前我国正在清理法律法规 ,相关新法还没有出台的情况 ,本文提出应适用“国际惯例补缺”的原则处理涉及WTO规则的涉外案件。     

论艺术消费过程

从艺术经济学的角度看,艺术欣赏(鉴赏)就是艺术消费.艺术消费是人类特有的以满足精神审美需要为目的,以艺术产品为对象的审美活动.而艺术消费过程可以具体化为感受知觉过程、理解领悟过程、情感体验过程、想象超越过程和内化升华过程,各个过程对艺术消费主体具有相对独立的审美意义,它们共同带给消费主体深浅不同的精神愉悦和审美享受,程度不同地满足着人们的精神审美需要.     

社会变迁与中国行政诉讼原告资格制度的发展

行政诉讼原告资格制度发展与社会变迁之间存在着内在联系。我国市场经济的不 断发展,民主政治的不断完善,行政法治建设的不断进步,行政法治理论的不断成熟,为行政诉讼 原告资格制度的发展提供了根本动力、政治条件、实践基础及理论前提。21世纪,我国社会的经 济、政治、法制实践和法治理论仍将不断变迁,因此,行政诉讼原告资格制度必将继续向逐步放宽 的世界性标准发展。     

紧扣公安实际搞好公安院校哲学教学

公安院校的哲学教学要针对学生的思想实际、针对公安特色、针对教师的公安专业知识来提高,才能做到理论联系实际.     

关于循环经济理论与实践的思考

随着经济快速增长和人口增加,资源不足的矛盾越来越突出。中央宏观调控的一个重要目标就是重塑一个资源消耗低、环境污染少、经济效益好的国民经济体系,为建设资源节约型社会奠定基础。因此,2004年的中央经济工作会议高举发展循环经济大旗,发展循环经济被提到一个前所未有的战略高度。     

Medical Practice in Early Colonial Spanish America: A Prospectus

This paper outlines the current state of research on medical practice in early colonial Spanish America. It argues that medical practice in Spain was more diverse than generally supposed, and that this complicated the exchange that occurred between Native American, African and European medical traditions in the Americas. Control of medical practice in Spanish America was exercised not through the establishment of state institutions, but through the close working of the state and the Church that on the one hand promoted medical care as a charitable activity and on the other sought to suppress practices that were incompatible with Catholic beliefs. However, due to the shortage of trained medical practitioners, the authorities were relatively tolerant of alternative medical practices and this enabled a process of exchange and fusion. The paper illustrates these processes with respect to medical practice in Cartagena de Indias in the early seventeenth century. It concludes with suggestions of avenues for future research.