Bioisosteric Fluorine in the Clandestine Design of Synthetic Cannabinoids

2015 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shane M. Wilkinson ◽  
Samuel D. Banister ◽  
Michael Kassiou

Over the past decade, a plethora of indole-based synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) have emerged with their structures clearly inspired by scientific literature. Their structures continually evolve to elude detection by law enforcement and circumvent finite scheduling laws. The latest generation of SCs follow patent literature that encompasses a bioisosteric fluorine-for-hydrogen replacement commonly applied in medicinal chemistry. Unlike traditional pharmaceutical development, where rigorous preclinical evaluation is completed before human administration, these SCs are distributed for intended recreational consumption with little-to-no pharmacological data known. This highlight explores the evolution of SCs to this latest generation of fluorinated SCs where accumulating evidence indicates increased health concerns.

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 57-67
Author(s):  
Madina Makarenko

The possibility of illegal movement of foreign citizens from countries of residence across state borders to the territory of the Russian Federation has led to the fact that most of them have been criminally active in recent years. Over the past three years, the rate of crimes committed by foreign citizens and stateless persons has not significantly decreased (an average decrease of 6% per year). Based on an analysis of the scientific literature and law enforcement practice, the article discusses some criminal procedural, psychological and other features of interrogation of foreign citizens in criminal investigations. The following features and factors that influence the conduct of interrogations with the participation of foreign citizens are highlighted as necessary: the legal status of a foreign citizen, including the presence or absence of legal immunity or citizenship; language barrier, a complex of ethno-social, ethno-cultural and psychological features of its existence and development.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence B. Leonard

Purpose The current “specific language impairment” and “developmental language disorder” discussion might lead to important changes in how we refer to children with language disorders of unknown origin. The field has seen other changes in terminology. This article reviews many of these changes. Method A literature review of previous clinical labels was conducted, and possible reasons for the changes in labels were identified. Results References to children with significant yet unexplained deficits in language ability have been part of the scientific literature since, at least, the early 1800s. Terms have changed from those with a neurological emphasis to those that do not imply a cause for the language disorder. Diagnostic criteria have become more explicit but have become, at certain points, too narrow to represent the wider range of children with language disorders of unknown origin. Conclusions The field was not well served by the many changes in terminology that have transpired in the past. A new label at this point must be accompanied by strong efforts to recruit its adoption by clinical speech-language pathologists and the general public.


Author(s):  
Роман Михайлович Морозов ◽  
Дмитрий Юрьевич Волков

Целью статьи было рассмотреть проблемные аспекты тактико-криминалистического применения технических средств при производстве допроса, предложить научно обоснованные рекомендации по их использованию. В статье раскрываются особенности применения технико-криминалистических средств процессуально уполномоченными должностными лицами органов предварительного следствия и дознания при производстве допроса подозреваемых (обвиняемых), в отношении которых избрана мера пресечения в виде заключения под стражу. По результатам проведенных исследований правоприменительной практики и научной литературы авторами раскрываются процессуальные и тактические основания и порядок применения технических средств при производстве допроса на отдельных его этапах, предлагаются решения проблем, связанных с применением технико-криминалистических средств, даются рекомендации по порядку применения отдельных технических средств. Выделяются наиболее целесообразные тактические приемы допроса при применении технических средств фиксации. Авторами предложены изменения в уголовно-процессуальное законодательство по совершенствованию законодательных норм в области применения технических средств при производстве следственных действий. Сформулированные в статье выводы могут быть использованы в правоприменительной практике следователями (дознавателями) при производстве допроса в следственном изоляторе, а также при преподавании отдельных дисциплин: «Уголовный процесс», «Криминалистика», а также специальных курсов (по выбору) уголовно-правового профиля. The purpose of the article was to consider the problematic aspects of the tactical and forensic use of technical means during the interrogation, to offer evidence-based recommendations for their use. The article reveals the features of the use of technical and forensic means by the procedurally authorized officials of the preliminary investigation and inquiry bodies during the interrogation of suspects (accused), in respect of which a preventive measure in the form of detention has been chosen. According to the results of the research of law enforcement practice and scientific literature, the authors reveal the procedural and tactical grounds and the procedure for the use of technical means during the interrogation at its individual stages, offers solutions to problems associated with the use of technical and forensic means, gives some recommendations on the order of application of individual technical means. The most appropriate tactics of interrogation, the use of technical facilities of fixation. The authors propose changes to the criminal procedure legislation to improve the legislative norms in the field of application of technical means in the investigative actions realization. The conclusions formulated in the article can be used in law enforcement practice by investigators (inquirers) during the interrogation in the pretrial detention center, as well as in the teaching of certain disciplines: «Criminal procedure», «Criminalistics», as well as special courses (optional) of criminal law profile.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1739
Author(s):  
Artyom A. Astafiev ◽  
Olga V. Repina ◽  
Boris S. Tupertsev ◽  
Alexey A. Nazarov ◽  
Maria R. Gonchar ◽  
...  

Arylazoimidazoles are important dyes which were intensively studied in the past. In contrast, triarylazoimidazoles (derivatives which carry aryl substituents at the imidazole core) received almost no attention in the scientific literature. Here, we report a new family of simple and easily accessible triarylazoimidazole-group 12 metal complexes, which feature highly efficient photo-luminescence emission (Φ up to  0.44). Novel compounds exhibit bright red emission in solution, which could be excited with a visible light.


Drones ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Miloš Stanković ◽  
Mohammad Meraj Mirza ◽  
Umit Karabiyik

Rapid technology advancements, especially in the past decade, have allowed off-the-shelf unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that weigh less than 250 g to become available for recreational use by the general population. Many well-known manufacturers (e.g., DJI) are now focusing on this segment of UAVs, and the new DJI Mini 2 drone is one of many that falls under this category, which enables easy access to be purchased and used without any Part 107 certification and Remote ID registration. The versatility of drones and drone models is appealing for customers, but they pose many challenges to forensic tools and digital forensics investigators due to numerous hardware and software variations. In addition, different devices can be associated and used for controlling these drones (e.g., Android and iOS smartphones). Moreover, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the adoption of Remote ID is not going to be required for people without the 107 certifications for this segment at least until 2023, which creates finding personally identifiable information a necessity in these types of investigations. In this research, we conducted a comprehensive investigation of DJI Mini 2 and its data stored across multiple devices (e.g., SD cards and mobile devices) that are associated with the drone. The aim of this paper is to (1) create several criminal-like scenarios, (2) acquire and analyze the created scenarios using leading forensics software (e.g., Cellebrite and Magnet Axiom) that are commonly used by law enforcement agencies, (3) and present findings associated with potential criminal activities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Katana ◽  
Bob Omoda Amodan ◽  
Lilian Bulage ◽  
Alex R. Ario ◽  
Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Uganda inclusive, implemented lockdowns, curfew, banning of both private and public transport systems, and mass gatherings to minimize spread. Social control measures for COVID-19 are reported to increase violence and discrimination globally, including in Uganda as some may be difficult to implement resulting in the heavy deployment of law enforcement. Media reports indicated that cases of violence and discrimination had increased in Uganda’s communities following the lockdown. We estimated the incidence and factors associated with experiencing violence and discrimination among Ugandans during the COVID-19 lockdown to inform control and prevention measures. Methods In April 2020, we conducted a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data under the International Citizen Project (ICP) to assess adherence to public health measures and their impact on the COVID-19 outbreak in Uganda. We analyzed data on violence and discrimination from the ICP study. We performed descriptive statistics for all the participants’ characteristics and created a binary outcome variable called experiencing violence and/or discrimination. We performed logistic regression analysis to identify the factors associated with experiencing violence and discrimination. Results Of the 1726 ICP study participants, 1051 (58.8%) were males, 841 (48.7%) were currently living with a spouse or partner, and 376 (21.8%) had physically attended work for more than 3 days in the past week. Overall, 145 (8.4%) experienced any form of violence and/or discrimination by any perpetrator, and 46 (31.7%) of the 145 reported that it was perpetrated by a law enforcement officer. Factors associated with experiencing violence or discrimination were: being male (AOR = 1.60 CI:1.10–2.33), having attended work physically for more than 3 days in the past week (AOR = 1.52 CI:1.03–2.23), and inability to access social or essential health services since the epidemic started (AOR = 3.10 CI:2.14–4.50). Conclusion A substantial proportion of Ugandan residents experienced violence and/or discrimination during the COVID-19 lockdown, mostly perpetrated by law enforcement officers. We recommend mitigation of the collateral impact of lockdowns with interventions that focus on improving policing quality, ensuring continuity of essential services, and strengthening support systems for vulnerable groups including males.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 959-971
Author(s):  
Andrei L. BELOUSOV

Subject. The article considers the development of the institution of bankruptcy in the context of the emerging legal environment in this area. Objectives. The focus is to study the development of relations in the bankruptcy sphere in the Russian Federation that relate to inefficient procedures aimed at the financial recovery of business entities, and to formulate the main directions for further changes in the legal regulation of this area. Methods. The study employs research methods, like logical and structural analysis, systems and functional approach, the formal legal method. Results. The paper reveals the essence, specific features and legal regulation of bankruptcy, assesses the regulatory enforcement based on the existing law on insolvency, formulates the key problems of the law enforcement practice of business entities that has been formed over the past 20 years, defines further directions of changes in the legal regulation of bankruptcy relations in the Russian Federation. Conclusions. Changing the approaches to the current bankruptcy system in favor of expanding the application of rehabilitation procedures for restoring the solvency of debtors will enable to support businesses that are in difficult financial situation. This will result in preservation of employment, increased tax revenues to budgets at various levels, improved competitiveness of Russian businesses. The findings may be useful in terms of theory, for the study of issues relating to the concept, essence and legal regulation of the institution of bankruptcy in the Russian Federation, and in practice, for developing proposals to improve regulations in this sphere.


2016 ◽  
Vol 78 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Setiawan

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most complicated problems in infection control and disease prevention. Imported strains or group of similar strains called clones were introduced from other states within Australia and also from other countries. Western Australia (WA) MRSA clones known to be the most predominant clones circulating in Western Australia (WA). However, MRSA strains originally from other states and countries outside Australia (imported) have increased in number in the last decades. The aim of this study was to examine the epidemiology of CA MRSA clones in Western Australia for the past 11 year’s period (2003-2013). There were 10 predominant clones of CA-MRSA circulating in WA with WA MRSA-1 (32,82%), Queensland (22,67 %) and WA MRSA-2 (22,67 %) clones as the top three predominant clones. The percentage of PVL positive CA-MRSA clones such as Queensland (Qld) clone has been increasing significantly (R2=0,67) from 2,38 % in 2002 to 25,69% in 2013. In contrast, the percentages of two major PVL negative clones, WA MRSA-1 and WA MRSA 2, have been decreasing nearly by half from 52,38 % to 27,71 % and 30,95 % to 16,59 % respectively in the last 11 years. PVL positive clones have been introduced in WA from other states and overseas in the last eleven years. Due to the virulence factor of PVL toxin, the emergence of PVL positive CA-MRSA should be considered as public health concerns.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (21) ◽  
pp. 6755
Author(s):  
Maria J. Matos ◽  
Eugenio Uriarte ◽  
Lourdes Santana

3-Phenylcoumarins are a family of heterocyclic molecules that are widely used in both organic and medicinal chemistry. In this overview, research on this scaffold, since 2010, is included and discussed, focusing on aspects related to its natural origin, synthetic procedures and pharmacological applications. This review paper is based on the most relevant literature related to the role of 3-phenylcoumarins in the design of new drug candidates. The references presented in this review have been collected from multiple electronic databases, including SciFinder, Pubmed and Mendeley.


The article deals with the situation in the city of Kharkiv at the end of 1918. At this time, Ukraine was experiencing the completion of one more historical stage, preparing for new, more turbulent and tragic events. German troops which have been the guarantors of security of the state over the past ten months were evacuated from its territory, a popular uprising broke out against the hetman Pavlo Skoropadsky, the republican authorities that recognized the Directory were forming slowly, local Bolsheviks and other left-wing groups were getting noticeably more active. In December 1918 all these forces were represented in the provincial Kharkiv. Some of them, for example, the German command and the hetman's guard, tried to transfer power to their successors in an organized manner. Others, on the contrary, tried to get to the controls as soon as possible. This multi-power lasted about a month, which became a real ordeal for the inhabitants of the city. Kharkovites tried to figure out a kaleidoscope of political developments, a variety of orders and decrees, the intricacies of official information and street rumors. Meanwhile, the criminal situation became more and more threatening: gangs of looters raged in rural districts, and shots were fired more often in Kharkiv itself. In the second half of December, the number of the city shops robberies became impressive. At that time, several influential forces were engaged in law enforcement: the German commandant’s office, the hetman’s guard, Directory fighters and socialist squads. However, all their efforts did not give the desired result, and ordinary Kharkovites were forced to organize self-defense units to protect their own homes. The culmination of anarchy in the city was the Bolshevik uprising on January 1–2, 1919, as a result of which Kharkiv was captured by armed units of the Red Army.


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