Investigating Residential History Using Stable Hydrogen and Oxygen Isotopes of Human Hair and Drinking Water

The relationship between isotopic signals in human hair and geographic region has potential forensic applications for identifying unknown individuals' place of recent residence. This study analyzes δ²H and δ¹⁸O isotopes in residential tap water and bulk hair samples from 17 volunteers representing 12 locations in Ontario, Canada. There is a strong correlation (R² = 0.9) between δ²H and δ¹⁸O values of the water samples. In contrast, the δ²H and δ¹⁸O values of the hair samples are weakly correlated (R² = 0.3), and the greater variability in the data is linked to dietary factors. This study demonstrates that the δ²H and δ¹⁸O values of hair and drinking water can be used to help identify potential place of residence in forensic cases, particularly in relation to proximity to large bodies of water such as the Great Lakes, but interpretations are complicated by the contribution of both water and diet to δ²H and δ¹⁸O values in hair.     

Policy Stalemate and Policy Change in Israel's Water Sector 1970–2010: Advocacy Coalitions and Policy Narratives

This paper seeks to explain policy stalemates that persist despite recognition of their risks and damages, as well as the factors and processes that enable a breakthrough and lead to policy change. The paper seeks to fill a gap in the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) theory by supplementing it with Narrative Analysis (NA). We claim that NA provides a link missing in the ACF that is required for the transformation of “necessary” conditions—like external and internal shocks to the system—into “sufficient” conditions for policy persistence or change. We use the ACF to delineate coalition members and their belief systems and policy positions, as well as external, internal, and structural shocks to the system. We rely on NA to analyze the narratives employed in the public arena, which turn conditions necessary both for hurting stalemates and for policy change into sufficient conditions. We illustrate the benefits of combining the two approaches through a study of Israel's water policy during four decades (1970s–2000s) based on government records and on information from interviews with key players.     

Toward maintaining canine training aid integrity: Visualizing contamination and testing storage materials for a non-hazardous canine training aid

Contamination of canine training aids is a pervasive issue that may lead to incorrect canine discrimination of target odors. It is therefore important to properly store training materials to maintain their integrity and efficiency. First, this study demonstrated the potential for contamination using GloGerm™ as a proxy for odor/particulate transfer. Then, eight types of containers were evaluated to determine (1) the ability to prevent odor permeation and (2) the likelihood of maintaining the ab/adsorbed odor. Lastly, a longitudinal study evaluated how the permeation of the target odor changed over time. Analysis occurred using a direct analysis in real-time mass spectrometer (DART-MS) to detect triacetone triperoxide (TATP) from the non-hazardous canine training aid known as the polymer odor capture-and-release (POCR) system. Results showed that Mylar and Opsak bags were most effective for short-term storage, maintaining low levels of ab/adsorption. Over time, the amount of TATP permeating through the primary containers and collecting in a secondary container (i.e., outer packaging) increased at 1 week and decreased thereafter (up to 4 months). The amount of TATP collecting in the primary containers, however, increased up to 1 month and decreased thereafter.     

Evaluation of Nile Red‐Loaded Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Developing Water‐Soaked Fingerprints on Thermal Paper

Nile red has been an alternative reagent for detecting latent fingerprints on wetted substrates. However, the presence of methanol in nile red solution could make injury to handlers and destroy the traces on surfaces, such as texts on thermal papers. A novel small particle reagent formulation constituting of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) based on nile red was prepared to overcome the problem. Compared with the conventional reagents Oil Red O or nile red solution, the nile red‐loaded MSNs are highly selective to lipid residues of fingerprints and showed a greater ability to develop clear, sharp, and detailed fingerprints on thermal papers after these were immersed in water. In addition, it can retain texts on the thermal papers well and use only water as a solvent. These suggested that nile red‐loaded MSNs are a safe, efficient, and convenient method to develop latent fingerprints on wide range of substrates of forensic importance.     

环氧乙烷消杀DNA污染效果初探

目的初探环氧乙烷消杀DNA污染的效果。方法收集98例分别含有唾液、皮屑、汗斑、毛发、血斑、肋软骨的法医物证样本,分两组进行环氧乙烷灭菌6h和8h,提取DNA后扩增,使用3130XL或3500XL测序仪检测进行STR分型。结果 EO 6h组44例样本中有2例口腔拭子检出阳性结果,EO 8h组54例样本中有1例毛发检出阳性结果,阳性样本STR图谱表明仅有少量DNA残留,其余生物样本未检测到STR图谱。结论环氧乙烷能有效消杀DNA污染,可适用于DNA检验耗材的灭菌。     

构建南水北调中线工程水源区生态补偿机制

南水北调中线工程水源区担负着缓解我国北方水资源短缺和生态环境恶化、促进水资源整体优化配置的重大战略性任务,但目前面临着地方财政资金困难、当地经济发展受限、水源保护任务艰巨等急需解决的问题。建立生态补偿机制,提供法律和政策保证,适当运用公共财政手段和"水权有偿转让"等市场手段,内部补偿和外部补偿相结合构建双向"造血"机制,强化管理和监管,体现公平原则、维护水源区权益,以保证南水北调工程顺利实施。     

水面使用权的法律规制

水资源对人类的存在、发展有着积极的、不可或缺的作用,我国水资源分布南方多、北方少,在开发利用中,需水最急剧增加,供需矛盾日渐突出;水的利用率偏低,又因水源污染严重,加剧了缺水危机等,面对水资源有限和浪费的现状,设计合理的水市场成为重新配置水资源有效机制的必需,解决的途径是完善现行立法,合理规制水面使用权的取得、转让、终止及水面使用权人的权利与义务等内容,建立水权制度,进而揭示水面使用权保护机制对于我国民事立法所具有的创新意义.     

Fatal Drowning Accident and Undiagnosed Hydrocephalus

Abstract: Bodies found in water present several diagnostic challenges for the forensic examiner, such as the identification of the time and mechanism of death, the postmortem submersion time, and above all the circumstances of drowning. We report the case of a 33‐year‐old security guard found dead in Venice, in the water of the lagoon, who at autopsy presented a previously undiagnosed hydrocephalus with macrocephaly. The victim remained asymptomatic until 2 months before death and had never undergone a neurological or radiological examination. In the article, we emphasize the need to perform a thorough autopsy in all suspected drownings, discuss the etiopathogenesis of the neurological disease and hypothesize a possible relationship between the hydrocephalus and the drowning accident. Finally, we discuss the major clinical and forensic implications of macrocephaly and hydrocephalus in adults.     

Female criminals—It's not always the offender!

Numerous crimes (including murder), all having a common denominator, occurred in Germany and Austria between 1993 and 2009. All of these cases presented with identical female DNA traces being found at the crime scene. The crimes committed differed markedly, as did the suspects involved, which were of varied origin. Many of these cases could be solved. However, none of the suspects could identify an involved female. Fourteen of these cases (including one murder) occurred in Upper Austria.A special task force of the Austrian police, together with the Institute of Legal Medicine in Salzburg, began systematically searching for errors in the investigative process after the cases became more and more incoherent and nebulous. In the end, the DNA trace evidence was shown to be contaminated. A woman involved in the manufacture of the cotton swabs turned out to be the source of the female DNA profile.Following this, several products of other manufacturers were tested for contamination with DNA. It was noted that cotton swabs which had been sterilised with radiation were often contaminated. As a result, it is recommended that the manufacturing process, as well as the products themselves used in collection of DNA trace evidence, should be re-evaluated with the emphasis on preventing contamination.     

Contested water,contested development: unpacking the hydro-social cycle of the Ñuble River,Chile

The way that water is entangled with broader social relations has become a prominent concern in political ecology, geography and beyond. Employing the concept of the hydro-social cycle highlights how water is produced by, and simultaneously constitutes, social and power relations. Applying and expanding the hydro-social cycle as an analytical lens, this paper explores the contestation of different discourses of water. Looking at the conflict over the construction of a proposed dam in Chile, we examine different meanings given to water to understand how these produce uneven power relations with material and symbolic implications. By teasing out the workings and contestations of this conflict as a hydro-social cycle, we aim to highlight the diverse range of elements enlisted in it beyond water, to expose its complexity and to search for more just and inclusive alternatives.