Some Problems of Investigative Experiment Regulatory Framework

The paper analyzes the investigative experiment regulatory issues. It is stated that because of the extreme conciseness of legal regulation, many aspects are based on scientific developments. The purpose of the investigative experiment is to establish whether the algorithm of trace formation as a result of the experimental actions performed by the investigator corresponds to the mechanism that took place when committing a criminal act.The conditions of the investigative experiment are highlighted: 1) exclusion of danger to the health and life of its participants; 2) similarity of the situation with that which took place during the checked event; 3) voluntary participation; 4) the inadmissibility of reproducing a crime. The cases in which the participation of the person who committed the act in the course of the crime is required (to check individual characteristics and skills), and in which the replacement of this person with a stand-in is possible (to check the fundamental possibility of a phenomenon that is not related to individual qualities) are differentiated.The main participant of the investigative experiment, if his personal characteristics are checked, must have the procedural status of a witness, victim, suspect or accused. Specific participants of the investigative experiment are distinguished: the understudy and the assistant, who are not given an independent procedural status. Proposals for participation in the investigative experiment of all persons who are in one way or another concerned with the results of experimental actions are considered. Such proposals are unrealistic, instead, it is proposed to use a video recording to record the progress of the investigative experiment, which can be demonstrated to other participants in the proceedings.Taking into account the legal nature of the investigative experiment, it is stated that it is impossible to seize material objects directly within the framework of this investigative action; they can be seized after its completion, during inspection or seizure.

Release probability increases towards distal dendrites boosting high-frequency signal transfer in the rodent hippocampus

Dendritic integration of synaptic inputs involves their increased electrotonic attenuation at distal dendrites, which can be counterbalanced by the increased synaptic receptor density. However, during network activity, the influence of individual synapses depends on their release fidelity, the dendritic distribution of which remains poorly understood. Here, we employed classical optical quantal analyses and a genetically encoded optical glutamate sensor in acute hippocampal slices of rats and mice to monitor glutamate release at CA3-CA1 synapses. We find that their release probability increases with greater distances from the soma. Similar-fidelity synapses tend to group together, whereas release probability shows no trends regarding the branch ends. Simulations with a realistic CA1 pyramidal cell hosting stochastic synapses suggest that the observed trends boost signal transfer fidelity, particularly at higher input frequencies. Because high-frequency bursting has been associated with learning, the release probability pattern we have found may play a key role in memory trace formation.

Historical and statistical data on the development of the domestic alcoholic beverages industry

The method of historical and statistical data analysis makes it possible to identify development and characteristic patterns, both temporary and permanent, production criteria for various branches of the food industry. The application of this method made it possible to trace formation of the alcohol industry inRussiaand identify critical historical events that influenced its development. The article presents and analyzes statistical data on the production of the main types of alcoholic beverages industry since 1913.

THE USE OF A PIPE CUTTER AS AN INSTRUMENT OF CRIMINAL OFFENSE AT THE TIME OF THEFT OF CABLE AND WIRING PRODUCTS: FEATURES OF IDENTIFICATION RESEARCH

The article deals with a widespread modern device for plumbing work - a pipe cutter for polypropylene pipes, as an adapted instrument of crime in theft of cable and wire products, primarily a telephone cable. The main attention is focused on the following aspects of the problem: design features of a pipe cutter with a ratchet mechanism, in the context of solving identification issues; systematization of traces that the pipe cutter leaves on the surfaces of the constituent elements of the telephone cable; problematic in the study of cut traces on a telephone cable. The structure of the pipe cutter is considered in detail, with an indication of its main parts. In accordance with the design features, the type of the considered tool is determined, relative to the existing modern forensic classification. The features are generalized and systematized that leave the components of the pipe cutter, the complex of which allows you to identify tools of this type in research without a comparative sample. The main stages of the mechanism of trace formation are modeled, understanding of which makes it possible to trace the areas of the contacting surfaces of the tool. A visual diagram of the phased movement of the pipe cutter blade has been drawn up, which illustrates the mechanism of the formation of certain general and particular features in the cut marks, including simplifying the solution of identification problems. The article considers the possibility of compiling an information retrieval model of a crime instrument, as well as the effectiveness of its use in operational search activities and the investigation of crimes related to theft of a telephone cable. The main problematic points identified in practice, in comparative traceological studies of the cut traces left by the pipe cutter, are generalized and explained, among which the most common are a relatively short identification period, the instability of the trace formation mechanism and the limited surface area of the telephone cable elements, on which informative traces remain.

The significance of the criminal-law and criminalistic concepts of crime in the detection and investigation

The relevance of work is due to a comprehensive study of the meaning of the criminal-law and criminalistic concepts of crime in the detection and investigation. The purpose of work is to analyze the criminal-law and criminalistic concepts of crime as systems, as well as to consider their main elements. The implementation of this purpose is achieved by using the laws of dialectics, formal logic and using of general scientific and private scientific research methods. We examine such criminal-law and criminalistic categories as crime, elements and body of crime, criminal activity, and mechanism of committing a crime. We define and study their specific ele-ments, in particular, in the criminal law concept of a crime, such legal catego-ries as “elements of a crime” and “body of crime” are considered. The crimi-nalistic concept of crime is characterized by the criminal activity of the sub-ject, which is investigated through such categories as mechanism of crime, method of committing a crime, situation, mechanism of trace formation, identity of perpetrator, tools and means of crime. We consider the relation-ship of studied characteristics and their significance in solving problems of detection and investigating crimes. We conclude that the comparison of ele-ments of criminal-law and criminalistic concepts of crime allows us to assert that in both cases different elements are considered in importance for them, but in the end they determine one thing – the body of crime.

Regarding the Issue on Multidisciplinary Forensic Examinations to Establish the Fact of Contact Interaction

The authors of the article analyze theoretical developments on the status of multidisciplinary forensic examinations. Attention is paid to the analysis of the state of legal and methodological support in the appointment and conduct of multidisciplinary forensic examinations. On the example of multidisciplinary forensic examination on the establishment of the fact and circumstances of objects contact interaction, the authors have demonstrated the insufficiency of methodological support in this area and have substantiated the need to develop common and individual methods. Attention is drawn to availability of a practical need for widespread use of multidisciplinary forensic examinations within investigative and judicial practice. Opinions of scholars concerning the expediency and scientific substantiation of carrying out multidisciplinary forensic examinations for establishing the fact and circumstances of contact interaction are analyzed. The lack of a full legislative and methodological regulation in this area leads to difficulties in forensic expert practice and requires additional coverage and processing. Discussion in the scientific community as to the main aspects of determining the fact of contact interaction of objects has been going on for a long time. Some scholars strongly suggest that while interaction of two or more objects, several individual independent identification tasks are being resolved and the absence of at least one individualizing feature does not provide grounds for drawing a firm conclusion on the fact of contact interaction. We adhere to a different opinion of scholars and believe that a trace reflects both a particular property of a specific contact area and many interconnected properties of all objects in contact, and most important: the mechanism of trace formation. In the course of establishment of sufficient, unique set of generic (group) features and features of the contact mechanism, the individual complex allowing us to establish the fact of contact interaction of objects is formed.

FORENSIC DIVERGENCE AND CONVERGENCE IN THE PROMOTION AND VERIFICATION OF INVESTIGATIVE VERSIONS

В статье раскрываются особенности сущностного понимания криминалистической дивергенции и конвергенции в корреляции этих процессов (явлений) относительно выдвижения и проверки следственных версий. Целью исследования является введение данных терминов в криминалистику. Обращено внимание, что дивергентно-конвергентный подход к выдвижению и проверке версий позволяет экономить силы и средства при расследовании преступлений, а также своевременно, эффективно и с минимальными затратами достигать максимально возможного результата. Проявление дивергенции и конвергенции в криминалистике затрагивает как процесс следообразования, информационной фиксации, так и процесс работы по выявлению следов, относимой информации, фактических данных, то есть процесс доказывания и формирования доказательств по уголовному делу. Часть процессов, изучаемых криминалистикой, невозможно объяснить через призму сходства, различия, тождества или процесс идентификации. Как показывает практика, криминалистическая деятельность - это процесс динамичный. Работа по каждому криминальному событию является эксклюзивной в своем наполнении. Наибольшее время при раскрытии и расследовании преступлений тратится на живые, динамично развивающиеся и изменчивые действия. Это касается вопросов криминалистической техники, тактики проведения отдельных следственных действий, оперативно-тактических и криминалистических мероприятий, криминалистических комбинаций и методики расследования отдельных видов преступлений. Автором определены направления работы следователя по использованию дивергентно-конвергентного метода поиска и познания в криминалистике на основных направлениях криминалистической деятельности, производных от версионного процесса. The article reveals the features of the essential understanding of forensic divergence and convergence in the correlation of these processes(phenomena) with respect to the promotion and verification of investigative versions. The purpose of the study is to introduce these terms to criminology. Attention is drawn to the fact that the divergent-convergent approach to tracking and checking versions allows you to save time and money when investigating crimes, as well as to achieve the maximum possible result in a timely, efficient and cost-effective manner. The manifestation of divergence and convergence in criminology affects both the process of trace formation, information fixation, and the process of identifying traces, related information, and factual data, that is, the process of proving and forming evidence in a criminal case. Some of the processes studied by forensic science cannot be explained through the prism of similarities, differences, identities, or the identification process. As practice shows, forensic activity is a dynamic process. The work on each criminal event is exclusive in its content. Most of the time spent on solving and investigating crimes is spent on live, dynamically developing and changing actions. This applies to the issues of forensic techniques, tactics of individual investigative actions, operational-tactical and forensic measures, forensic combinations and methods of investigation of certain types of crimes. The author defines the directions of the investigator's work on the use of the divergent-convergent method of search and cognition in criminalistics in the main areas of forensic activity derived from the versioning process.

The actin-modulating protein synaptopodin mediates long-term survival of dendritic spines

Large spines are stable and important for memory trace formation. The majority of large spines also contains synaptopodin (SP), an actin-modulating and plasticity-related protein. Since SP stabilizes F-actin, we speculated that the presence of SP within large spines could explain their long lifetime. Indeed, using 2-photon time-lapse imaging of SP-transgenic granule cells in mouse organotypic tissue cultures we found that spines containing SP survived considerably longer than spines of equal size without SP. Of note, SP-positive (SP+) spines that underwent pruning first lost SP before disappearing. Whereas the survival time courses of SP+ spines followed conditional two-stage decay functions, SP-negative (SP-) spines and all spines of SP-deficient animals showed single-phase exponential decays. This was also the case following afferent denervation. These results implicate SP as a major regulator of long-term spine stability: SP clusters stabilize spines, and the presence of SP indicates spines of high stability.

EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH AS THE BASIS FOR DEVELOPING A METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING TRACE FORMATION MECHANISM

The article examines feasibility of conducting a series of experiments, results of which will serve as the basis for developing a method for establishing the mechanism of formation of plant origin stains on articles of clothing. Based on the analysis of special literature, the author introduces arguments for the need to develop such a methodology. In the course of experimental research, with the help of extras, circumstances of clothing contact with vegetation cover at various sites which can occur while crime commission have been simulated. The obtained data which will become the basis for creating a methodology for establishing a mechanism of grass layers’ formation on articles of clothing is obtained. A flowchart of dependence of the mechanism of stains formation on properties, states of interacting objects and nature of contact has been developed. During investigation of the mechanism of stains formation similar to grass stains, a multidisciplinary forensic trace evidence and botany forensic analyses should be initiated. After receiving research objects and materials review, the Expert Commission conducts external examination of provided physical evidence. For this purpose, clothes are laid out one by one on a laboratory bench, each item is described separately and photographed according to the rules of forensic photography. The next stage is the study by a forensic botanist of identified layers of plant origin in order to establish their nature. Then a trace evidence examiner conducts forensic trace evidence analysis of identified layers of grass stains. Based on the analysis of the complex of identified features and properties shown in the flowchart, the Expert Commission formulates the synthesizing part of the conclusion according to which the conclusion as to the mechanism of trace formation is drawn.