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Fulltext A standardized dataset for conservation prioritization of songbirds to support CITES

Juergens J, Bruslund S, Staerk J, Oegelund Nielsen R, Shepherd CR, Leupen B, et al.

Data Brief, 2021 Jun;36:107093.
PMID: 34041313 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2021.107093

In this article we present a standardized dataset on 6659 songbirds (Passeriformes) highlighting information relevant to species conservation prioritization with a main focus to support the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Data were collected from both scientific and grey literature as well as several online databases. The data are structured into six knowledge categories: Conventions and Treaties, Human Use, Extinction Risk, Management Opportunities, Biological Information, and Intrinsic Values. The Conventions and Treaties category includes the listings for two international conventions, CITES and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), as well as EU listings for the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations and the EU Birds Directive. The Human Use category contains information on both regulated trade collected from the CITES Trade Database and the United States' Law Enforcement Management Information System (LEMIS), and highly aggregated data on seizures which we obtained from TRAFFIC, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and two data sources on traditional medicine. We also present, for the first time, the complete Songbirds in Trade Database (SiTDB), a trade database curated by taxon expert S. Bruslund based on expert knowledge, literature review, market surveys and sale announcements. Data on the types of human use, including traditional medicine are also provided. The knowledge area on Extinction Risk contains data on the species' IUCN Red List status, the Alliance for Zero Extinction Trigger Species status, site and population at the site, the species' IUCN Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment, and the listing of priority species at the Asian Songbird Crisis Summit. In the Management Opportunities category, we gathered data on ex-situ management from Species360 zoo holdings as well as species management plans from the European and North American Zoo Associations (EAZA and AZA, respectively). Biological Information includes data on body mass, clutch size, diet, availability of data from the IUCN Red List on habitat systems, extent of occurrence, generation length, migration pattern, distribution, and biological data from the Demographic Species Knowledge Index, number of occurrences recorded by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) as well as genomic data from the Bird 10 000K Genomes (B10K) project, Vertebrate Genome Project (VGP) and GenBank. Information on invasive species is also part of this knowledge area. The Intrinsic Value category refers to two measures of the species' intrinsic value, namely Ecological and Evolutionary Distinctiveness. In order to make these knowledge areas comparable, we standardized data following the taxonomy of the Handbook of the Birds of the World and Birdlife (Version 4, 2019). The data enable a broad spectrum of analyses and will be useful to scientists for further research and to policymakers, zoos and other conservation stakeholders for future prioritization decisions.

Matched MeSH terms: Crime
Fulltext Cannabis and amphetamine use among adolescents in five Asian countries

Peltzer K, Pengpid S

Cent Asian J Glob Health, 2017;6(1):288.
PMID: 30881756 DOI: 10.5195/cajgh.2017.288

Introduction: There has been a global increase in illicit drug use among young people. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of lifetime cannabis and amphetamine use, as well as to explore factors associated with substance use among adolescents in five Asian countries: Iraq, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mongolia, and Vietnam.
Methods: 38,941 school children (mean age 15.4 years, SD=1.5) completed the cross-sectional Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS). Topics covered in the questionnaire included cannabis and amphetamine use. Personal, parental, and environmental attributes were explored as predictors of cannabis and amphetamine use. Logistic regression was used to assess the contribution of potential predictors on lifetime cannabis and lifetime amphetamine use.
Results: Overall, the prevalence of lifetime cannabis use was 0.9% and lifetime amphetamine use was 1.0% among research participants. Cannabis use was influenced by male gender (Kuwait, Mongolia), parental smoking habits (Kuwait, Iraq), and current cigarette smoking in all countries. Amphetamine use was associated with suicidal ideation (Kuwait, Malaysia, Vietnam), school truancy (Malaysia, Mongolia, Vietnam), being a victim of physical assault (Kuwait, Mongolia), bullying victimization (Iraq, Malaysia, Vietnam), as well as anxiety and current cigarette use in all countries.
Conclusions: Our preliminary results show the importance of personal attributes such as mental distress and environmental stressors on lifetime cannabis and lifetime amphetamine use. Future prospective studies are needed to identify causal relationships among personal attributes, parental attributes, environmental stressors, and illicit substance use.
Study name: Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS)

Matched MeSH terms: Crime Victims
Forensic timber identification: a case study of a CITES listed species, Gonystylus bancanus (Thymelaeaceae)

Ng KKS, Lee SL, Tnah LH, Nurul-Farhanah Z, Ng CH, Lee CT, et al.

Forensic Sci Int Genet, 2016 07;23:197-209.
PMID: 27213560 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2016.05.002

Illegal logging and smuggling of Gonystylus bancanus (Thymelaeaceae) poses a serious threat to this fragile valuable peat swamp timber species. Using G. bancanus as a case study, DNA markers were used to develop identification databases at the species, population and individual level. The species level database for Gonystylus comprised of an rDNA (ITS2) and two cpDNA (trnH-psbA and trnL) markers based on a 20 Gonystylus species database. When concatenated, taxonomic species recognition was achieved with a resolution of 90% (18 out of the 20 species). In addition, based on 17 natural populations of G. bancanus throughout West (Peninsular Malaysia) and East (Sabah and Sarawak) Malaysia, population and individual identification databases were developed using cpDNA and STR markers respectively. A haplotype distribution map for Malaysia was generated using six cpDNA markers, resulting in 12 unique multilocus haplotypes, from 24 informative intraspecific variable sites. These unique haplotypes suggest a clear genetic structuring of West and East regions. A simulation procedure based on the composition of the samples was used to test whether a suspected sample conformed to a given regional origin. Overall, the observed type I and II errors of the databases showed good concordance with the predicted 5% threshold which indicates that the databases were useful in revealing provenance and establishing conformity of samples from West and East Malaysia. Sixteen STRs were used to develop the DNA profiling databases for individual identification. Bayesian clustering analyses divided the 17 populations into two main genetic clusters, corresponding to the regions of West and East Malaysia. Population substructuring (K=2) was observed within each region. After removal of bias resulting from sampling effects and population subdivision, conservativeness tests showed that the West and East Malaysia databases were conservative. This suggests that both databases can be used independently for random match probability estimation within respective regions. The reliability of the databases was further determined by independent self-assignment tests based on the likelihood of each individual's multilocus genotype occurring in each identified population, genetic cluster and region with an average percentage of correctly assigned individuals of 54.80%, 99.60% and 100% respectively. Thus, after appropriate validation, the genetic identification databases developed for G. bancanus in this study could support forensic applications and help safeguard this valuable species into the future.

Matched MeSH terms: Crime
"Clutching a knifeblade": human rights and development from Asian women's perspective

Sancho-liao N

Focus Gend, 1993 Jun;1(2):31-6.
PMID: 12345217
Matched MeSH terms: Crime
Fulltext Assessment of autosomal and male DNA extracted from casework samples using Casework Direct Kit, Custom and Maxwell 16 System DNA IQ Casework Pro Kit for autosomal-STR and Y-STR profiling

Hakim HM, Khan HO, Ismail SA, Ayob S, Lalung J, Kofi EA, et al.

Sci Rep, 2019 10 10;9(1):14558.
PMID: 31601905 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51154-4

Short repetitive regions in autosomal and Y chromosomes known as short tandem repeats (STRs) are currently used for DNA profiling in crime investigations. However, DNA profiling requires a sufficient quality and quantity of DNA template, which is often not obtained from trace evidence or degraded biological samples collected at the scene of a crime. Here, we assessed autosomal and male DNA components extracted from crime scene and mock casework samples using the Casework Direct Kit, Custom and compared the results against those obtained by extraction of matching samples using well-established Maxwell 16 System DNA IQ Casework Pro Kit. The quantity and quality of extracted DNA obtained using both Casework Direct Kit, Custom and Maxwell 16 System DNA IQ Casework Pro Kit were analyzed using PowerQuant Systems followed by autosomal and Y-chromosome STR profiling using GlobalFiler Express PCR Amplification Kit and PowerPlex Y23 System, respectively. Our results showed that the Casework Direct Kit and Maxwell 16 DNA IQ Casework Pro Kit have more or less equal capacity to extract inhibitor free DNA, but that the latter produces slightly better quality and more DNA template and subsequently higher numbers of STR allele calls for autosomal and Y-STR analyses. Nonetheless, the Casework Direct Kit, Custom is the quicker and cheaper option for extraction of good, clean DNA from high content material and might best be used for extraction of reference samples. Such reference DNA samples typically come from buccal swabs or freshly drawn blood. So, in general, they can confidently be expected to have a high nucleic acid content and to be inhibitor-free.

Matched MeSH terms: Crime
A geographical traceability system for Merbau (Intsia palembanica Miq.), an important timber species from peninsular Malaysia

Ng CH, Ng KKS, Lee SL, Tnah LH, Lee CT, Zakaria NF

Forensic Sci Int Genet, 2020 01;44:102188.
PMID: 31648150 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2019.102188

To inform product users about the origin of timber, the implementation of a traceability system is necessary for the forestry industry. In this study, we developed a comprehensive genetic database for the important tropical timber species Merbau, Intsia palembanica, to trace its geographic origin within peninsular Malaysia. A total of 1373 individual trees representing 39 geographically distinct populations of I. palembanica were sampled throughout peninsular Malaysia. We analyzed the samples using a combination of four chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) markers and 14 short tandem repeat (STR) markers to establish both cpDNA haplotype and STR allele frequency databases. A haplotype map was generated through cpDNA sequencing for population identification, resulting in six unique haplotypes based on 10 informative intraspecifically variable sites. Subsequently, an STR allele frequency database was developed from 14 STRs allowing individual identification. Bayesian cluster analysis divided the individuals into two genetic clusters corresponding to the northern and southern regions of peninsular Malaysia. Tests of conservativeness showed that the databases were conservative after the adjustment of the θ values to 0.2000 and 0.2900 for the northern (f = 0.0163) and southern (f = 0.0285) regions, respectively. Using self-assignment tests, we observed that individuals were correctly assigned to populations at rates of 40.54-94.12% and to the identified regions at rates of 79.80-80.62%. Both the cpDNA and STR markers appear to be useful for tracking Merbau timber originating from peninsular Malaysia. The use of these forensic tools in addition to the existing paper-based timber tracking system will help to verify the legality of the origin of I. palembanica and to combat illegal logging issues associated with the species.

Matched MeSH terms: Crime
Fulltext Quality of life and tendency to aggression among relapsed and first time substance abusers: a comparative assessment study

Angela Shalini Muneeswaran, Sohayla M. Attalla, Eva Tan Lee Yin

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2020;16(101):19-23.
MyJurnal

Introduction: Drug abuse is a prevalent issue in Malaysia, and a constant struggle to eradicate even among substance abusers who have received prior rehabilitation. Drug abuse has also been known to affect the quality of life of an individual, due to the stigma it carries. This research emphasized on studying the life quality of relapsed and first-time substance abusers in rehabilitation centres including their tendency towards aggression. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the current inpatients in Cure & Care Rehabilitation Centres (CCRC) in Peninsular Malaysia. Primary data was acquired using a self-administered questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic (Part A), quality of life (Part B) and aggression related questions (Part C). 417 individuals were selected through purposive sampling from five different centres. A statistical analysis was conducted using independent t-test, single linear re- gression and Kruskal-Wallis using SPSS version 25.0. Results: An analysis of the data presented no significant asso- ciation between quality of life and tendency of aggression among relapsed and first time substance abusers (p>0.05). Based on the analysis and the outcome, age influences the level of aggression (p=0.018) while quality of life is af- fected by education level (p=0.017). Marital status is a factor that affects both the level of aggression (p=0.015) and quality of life (p=0.043). Conclusion: The findings may contribute to law enforcements in reducing violent crimes committed by drug abusers and rehabilitation efforts by rehabilitation centres, by establishing demographic profiles in relation to quality of life and aggression.

Matched MeSH terms: Crime
Fulltext Adolescent health problems and adolescent friendly health clinic from adolescents’ perspective (Besut and Kuala Terengganu): a qualitative research

Hassan N, A. Rahman K, Aris Kasah M, Jusoh M

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2002;2(2):9-14.
MyJurnal

A qualitative research was carried out in Besut and Kuala Terengganu to identyy adolescents’ health problems and needs jiom adolescent perspective, and to establish a priority area in the development of Adolescent Health Clinic in the district. A total of 61 adolescents were selected and divided into four groups and stratified according to age, 13-15 years old and 16 - 17 years old. Generally all participants wished to live in an environment free hom negative health risk factors. The obstacles they perceived were mainly related to lack of care or too much control by their parents. Some of them perceived that their parents in general had inadequate knowledge and skills on parenting. Among local behavioural problems mentioned were loafing, running away from home, vandalism, school absenteeism, aggressive behaviour, substance abuse, pre-marital sexual activities, "bohsia", “bohjan" and even involvement in crimes. More than hah' agreed that counselling service is important for adolescents, and it should be made available in the community preferably outside the schools. They perceived an adolescent friendly health clinic concept as an important concept that should be introduced. To them adolescent friendly health clinic is a clinic run by professionals who are knowledgeable, caring, good listeners, non—judgemental, and who exercise confidentiality. The clinic preferably should be situated in a location which is away from the present health facilities to avoid the image of a place for sick people. Clinic hours preferably during weekends, should provide appropriate technologies and situated in a comfortable ambience. Adolescent participation in the clinic was also mentioned as an important entity for adolescent friendly health services.

Matched MeSH terms: Crime
Fulltext Clinical and developmental characteristics of sex offenders in Malaysian prisons

Manveen, K.S., Pillai, S.K., Muhsin, M., Salwina, W., Aili, H.H.

Malaysian Journal of Psychiatry, 2012;21(1):0-0.
MyJurnal

The population of incarcerated sex offenders in Malaysia is steadily growing. Objective: This is a descriptive study to look at what clinical and developmental characteristic are present amongst the sex offenders in Malaysia, which could be possible mitigating factors. Methods: Data was collected from offenders located in 3 prisons where the offenders are held. Results: a total of 147 prisoners participated in the study. Slightly more than half of the victims were below the age of 18, of which 10% were below the age of 12. Three quarters of offenders were thirty years and older, while 12% were below 18 years. However their problems begun much earlier in their life with 50% of the offenders reporting that they had difficulties in their
primary support group, resulting in them feeling their families were less expressive, their parents were distant and unsupportive.29% of the offenders had not lived with their parents from the age of 16. More than half of the offenders reported academic, behavior and developmental difficulties; they reported losing interest in their studies and were struggling during their schooling days. 43% had history of aggressive behaviour during their adolescent years and 76% had peers who often indulged in risky behaviors. 85% of the offenders were Muslim. 40% made the criteria of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder and conduct disorder while a quarter were diagnosed with having personality disorder. Slightly more than half of the offenders had alcohol and drug-related problems, 36% had history of previous crimes, mainly drug and theft offence. Conclusion: The findings show that the sex offenders are indeed a heterogeneous group with pervasive familial, behaviour, academic and social problems which are possible risk that can be identified early in the lives of offenders.

Matched MeSH terms: Crime
Fulltext Potential use of human hair shaft keratin peptide signatures to distinguish gender and ethnicity

Mohamed Nasir N, Hiji J, Jayapalan JJ, Hashim OH

PeerJ, 2020;8:e8248.
PMID: 32030317 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8248

Background: Most human hairs collected at old crime scenes do not contain nuclear DNA and are therefore of less value for forensic investigations. In the present study, hair shaft proteins were extracted from 40 healthy subjects between the ages of 21 to 40 years and profiled using gel electrophoresis-based proteomics to determine if they can be used to distinguish gender and ethnicity.
Methods: Extraction of the human hair shaft proteins was performed using a newly developed alkaline solubilisation method. The extracts were profiled by 2-dimensional electrophoresis and resolved protein spots were identified by mass spectrometry and queried against the human hair database. The study was then followed-up by immunoblotting of the identified hair shaft keratin of interest using commercially available antibodies.
Results: Separation of the human hair shaft proteins by 2-dimensional electrophoresis generated improved and highly resolved profiles. Comparing the hair shaft protein profiles of 10 female with 10 male subjects and their identification by mass spectrometry and query of the human hair database showed significant altered abundance of truncated/processed type-II keratin peptides K81 (two spots), K83 (one spot) and K86 (three spots). The 2-dimensional electrophoresis profiling of 30 hair shaft samples taken from women of similar age range but from three distinctive ethnic subpopulations in Malaysia further showed significant altered abundance of one type-I and four type-II truncated/processed keratin peptides including K33b, K81, K83 and K86 (2 spots) between at least two of the ethnic groups. When a followed-up immunoblotting experiment was performed to detect the relative expression of the K86 peptides using commercialised antibodies, similar trends of expression were obtained. The present data, when taken together, demonstrated the potential use of keratin peptide signatures of the human hair shaft to distinguish gender and ethnicity although this needs to be further substantiated in a larger scale study.

Matched MeSH terms: Crime
Fulltext Prevalence of Postconcussion Syndrome after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Young Adults from a Single Neurosurgical Center in East Coast of Malaysia

Balakrishnan B, Rus RM, Chan KH, Martin AG, Awang MS

Asian J Neurosurg, 2019 4 3;14(1):201-205.
PMID: 30937035 DOI: 10.4103/ajns.AJNS_49_18

Context: Postconcussion syndrome (PCS) is a set of symptoms occurred after a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). Aims: This study aims to determine the prevalence of PCS in a young adult population from a single Neurological Centre in Malaysia's East Coast and to evaluate the factors associated with PCS in MTBI patients.
Settings and Design: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in a Neurological Centre at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia, from January 2016 to December 2016.
Subjects and Methods: A total of 209 patients; 133 males and 76 females, in the age range of 16-84 years, were randomly recruited for this study. All the selected patients were subjected to the checklist for diagnosis of PCS as per International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th edition classification at a 2-week interval.
Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive statistic and Multivariable Logistic Regression Model were used for frequency and percentage analyses of categorical variables, using SPSS version 23.0.
Results: Only 20 patients were identified with PCS. There were more female (70%) patients with PCS than the male (30%) patients. The prevalence of PCS for 2 weeks, 3 and 6 months since injuries were 9.6%, 8.1%, and 8.1% respectively. Majority (80%) of the patients were found to have PCS due to road traffic accidents, while the remaining were attributed to assault (15%), and falls (5%). Among the sample population, 25% were smokers, while 10% of them had either skull fracture or premorbidity.
Conclusion: Less than 10% of patients with MTBI had PCS after 6 months' following trauma. None of the variables tested were significant factors for the development of PCS symptoms.

Matched MeSH terms: Crime Victims
The rise of methamphetamine in Southeast and East Asia

McKetin R, Kozel N, Douglas J, Ali R, Vicknasingam B, Lund J, et al.

Drug Alcohol Rev, 2008 May;27(3):220-8.
PMID: 18368602 DOI: 10.1080/09595230801923710

Southeast and East Asia has become a global hub for methamphetamine production and trafficking over the past decade. This paper describes the rise of methamphetamine supply and to what extent use of the drug is occurring in the region.

Matched MeSH terms: Crime/statistics & numerical data
Death by 'ice': fatal methamphetamine intoxication of a body packer case detected by postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) and validated by autopsy

Bin Abdul Rashid SN, Rahim AS, Thali MJ, Flach PM

Forensic Sci Med Pathol, 2013 Mar;9(1):82-7.
PMID: 23404531 DOI: 10.1007/s12024-012-9395-1

Fatal acute methamphetamine (MA) poisoning in cases of internal drug trafficking is rarely described in the literature. This case study reports an MA 'body packer' who died from fatal methamphetamine intoxication due to leaking drug packages in the alimentary tract. The deceased was examined by postmortem computed tomography (PMCT), and the results were correlated to subsequent autopsy and toxicological findings. The deceased was arrested by the police when he was found disoriented in the city of Kuala Lumpur. He was transferred to the emergency department on suspicion of drug abuse. The initial drug screening was reactive for amphetamines. Shortly after admission to the hospital, he died despite rigorous resuscitation attempts. The postmortem plain chest and abdominal radiographs revealed multiple suspicious opacities in the gastrointestinal tract attributable to body packages. An unenhanced whole body PMCT revealed twenty-five drug packages, twenty-four in the stomach and one in the transverse colon. At least two were disintegrating, and therefore leaking. The autopsy findings were consistent with the PMCT results. Toxicology confirmed the diagnosis of fatal methamphetamine intoxication.

Matched MeSH terms: Crime*
Infanticide and illegal infant abandonment in Malaysia

Razali S, Kirkman M, Ahmad SH, Fisher J

Child Abuse Negl, 2014 Oct;38(10):1715-24.
PMID: 25048164 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.06.008

Infant abandonment and infanticide are poorly understood in Malaysia. The information available in the public arena comes predominantly from anecdotal sources. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and characteristics of infanticide and illegal infant abandonment in Malaysia and to estimate annual rates for the most recent decade. Summaries of data about infanticide and illegal infant abandonment were gathered from police records; the annual number of live births was ascertained from the national registry. The estimated inferred infanticide rates for Malaysia were compared with the infanticide rates among countries of very high, high, medium, and low rankings on the Human Development, Gender Inequality, and Gini indices. From 1999 to 2011, 1,069 cases of illegal infant abandonment were recorded and 1,147 people were arrested as suspected perpetrators. The estimated inferred infanticide rate fluctuated between 4.82 and 9.11 per 100,000 live births, a moderate rate relative to the infanticide rates of other countries. There are substantial missing data, with details undocumented for about 78-87% of cases and suspected perpetrators. Of the documented cases, it appeared that more boys than girls were victims and that suspected perpetrators were predominantly Malays who were women, usually mothers of the victim; the possibility of arrest bias must be acknowledged. Economic and social inequality, particularly gender inequality, might contribute to the phenomena of infanticide and abandonment. Strategies to reduce rates of infanticide and illegal infant abandonment in Malaysia will require strengthening of the surveillance system and attention to the gender-based inequalities that underpin human development.

Matched MeSH terms: Crime/statistics & numerical data
Maternal smoking during pregnancy and self-reported delinquency by offspring

Ellis L, Widmayer A, Das S

Crim Behav Ment Health, 2012 Dec;22(5):325-35.
PMID: 22696101 DOI: 10.1002/cbm.1828

BACKGROUND: Several studies have reported significant positive correlations between smoking during pregnancy by mothers and the involvement of their offspring in criminal/delinquent behaviour later in life, but these findings have been described as modest and the criminality based on official conviction statistics.
AIMS: We sought to verify this relationship and probe for more details on the basis of self-reported offending among college students.
METHODS: Independently completed questionnaires were collected from 6332 students and their mothers. The students provided information about their delinquent acts, if any, according to eight categories. Their mothers provided retrospective reports of their smoking habits, if any, during pregnancy.
FINDINGS: Mothers who recalled having smoked during pregnancy were significantly more likely than non-smoking mothers to have offspring who self-reported engaging in some types of delinquency. This relationship was more evident for female offspring than for male offspring and was most pronounced for illegal drug use by the offspring. There was, however, no relationship between offspring offending and estimated number of cigarettes smoked by mothers, month of pregnancy when smoked or consistency of smoking throughout pregnancy.
CONCLUSION: Overall, our study confirms that maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with offspring involvement in delinquency, but the lack of critical timing or dose-response relationships between maternal smoking and later offspring delinquency cast doubt on the possibility that the associations are due to teratogenic effects of tobacco smoke.
Study site: college students at 20 US and two Canadian universities

Matched MeSH terms: Crime/statistics & numerical data
Smoking behaviour and associated factors of illicit cigarette consumption in a border province of southern Thailand

Ketchoo C, Sangthong R, Chongsuvivatwong V, Geater A, McNeil E

Tob Control, 2013 Jul;22(4):255-60.
PMID: 22174006 DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2011-050008

BACKGROUND:
Illicit cigarette consumption has increased worldwide. It is important to understand this problem thoroughly.

OBJECTIVES:
To investigate behaviours and factors associated with illicit cigarette consumption in southern Thailand.

DESIGN:
A survey and qualitative study were conducted in a border province in southern Thailand next to Malaysia. A modified snowballing technique was used to recruit 300 illicit and 150 non-illicit cigarette smokers. A questionnaire was used to interview subjects. Illicit cigarette packs were obtained in order to identify their characteristics. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was used for data analysis.

RESULTS:
Smoking of illicit cigarettes has become accepted in the communities. They were available in supermarkets and vendor shops. Friends and other illicit smokers known by illicit cigarette smokers were an important source of information for access to illicit cigarette products. The main factors associated with smoking illicit cigarettes, compared with smoking non-illicit cigarettes, were younger age, higher education and higher average monthly expenditure on cigarettes (most illicit smokers smoked illicit cigarettes (average price per packet = 33 THB (US$1.1), while most non-illicit smokers smoked hand-rolled cigarettes (average price per packet = 7 THB (US$0.2)) and knowledge of other illicit cigarette smokers. The low price of illicit cigarettes was the main reason for their use. Selling strategies included sale of singles, sale in shops and direct sale through social networking.

CONCLUSIONS:
Illicit cigarette consumption has become more acceptable especially among young adult smokers. Age and extent of social networks are important factors associated with smoking illicit cigarettes.

KEYWORDS:
Smoking behaviour; border province; cessation; cigarette consumption; global health; hand-rolled/RYO tobacco; health services; illegal tobacco products; illicit cigarette

Matched MeSH terms: Crime*
Fulltext Expediting the sampling, decalcification, and forensic DNA analysis of large elephant ivory seizures to aid investigations and prosecutions

Ewart KM, Lightson AL, Sitam FT, Rovie-Ryan JJ, Mather N, McEwing R

Forensic Sci Int Genet, 2020 01;44:102187.
PMID: 31670244 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2019.102187

The illegal ivory trade continues to drive elephant poaching. Large ivory seizures in Africa and Asia are still commonplace. Wildlife forensics is recognised as a key enforcement tool to combat this trade. However, the time and resources required to effectively test large ivory seizures is often prohibitive. This limits or delays testing, which may impede investigations and/or prosecutions. Typically, DNA analysis of an ivory seizure involves pairing and sorting the tusks, sampling the tusks, powdering the sample, decalcification, then DNA extraction. Here, we optimize the most time-consuming components of this process: sampling and decalcification. Firstly, using simulations, we demonstrate that tusks do not need to be paired to ensure an adequate number of unique elephants are sampled in a large seizure. Secondly, we determined that directly powdering the ivory using a Dremel drill with a high-speed cutter bit, instead of cutting the ivory with a circular saw and subsequently powdering the sample in liquid nitrogen with a freezer mill, produces comparable results. Finally, we optimized a rapid 2 -h decalcification protocol that produces comparable results to a standard 3-day protocol. We tested/optimised the protocols on 33 raw and worked ivory samples, and demonstrated their utility on a case study, successfully identifying 94% of samples taken from 123 tusks. Using these new rapid protocols, the entire sampling and DNA extraction process takes less than one day and requires less-expensive equipment. We expect that the implementation of these rapid protocols will promote more consistent and timely testing of ivory seizures suitable for enforcement action.

Matched MeSH terms: Crime/legislation & jurisprudence
The clandestine multiple graves in Malaysia: The first mass identification operation of human skeletal remains

Mohd Noor MS, Khoo LS, Zamaliana Alias WZ, Hasmi AH, Ibrahim MA, Mahmood MS

Forensic Sci Int, 2017 Sep;278:410.e1-410.e9.
PMID: 28698062 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.05.014

The first ever mass identification operation of skeletal remains conducted for the clandestine graves in Malaysia consisted of 165 individuals unearthed from 28 human trafficking transit camps located in Wang Kelian, along the Thai-Malaysia border. A DVI response was triggered in which expert teams comprising of pathologists, anthropologists, odontologists, radiologists and DNA experts were gathered at the identified operation centre. The Department of Forensic Medicine, Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Star, Kedah, located approximately 75km away from Wang Kelian, was temporarily converted into a victim identification centre (VIC) as it is the nearest available forensic facility to the mass grave site. The mortuary operation was conducted over a period of 3 months from June to September 2015, and was divided into two phases; phase 1 involving the postmortem examination of the remains of 116 suspected individuals and for phase 2 the remains of 49 suspected individuals. The fact that the graves were of unknown individuals afforded the mass identification operation a sufficient duration of 2 weeks as preparatory phase enabling procedurals and daily victim identification workflow to be established, and the setting up of a temporary body storage for the designated mortuary. The temporary body storage has proven to be a significant factor in enabling the successful conclusion of the VIC operation to the final phase of temporary controlled burials. Recognition from two international observers, Mr. Andréas Patiño Umaña, from the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) and Prof. Noel Woodford from Victoria Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM) had proven the mortuary operation was in compliance to the international quality and standards. The overall victim identification and mortuary operation identified a number of significant challenges, in particular the management of commingled human remains as well as the compilation of postmortem data in the absence of antemortem data for future reconciliation. CF Index in this DVI operation is 9%, indicating the primary identifications in this operation were effective. Limitations and further improvements of the mass identification operation will be discussed. This paper details the planning, preparations and management of the mass identification operation on the exhumed human remains which was also a forensic humanitarian service for the dead with dignity and respect.

Matched MeSH terms: Crime Victims*
Fulltext Factors associated with online victimisation among Malaysian adolescents who use social networking sites: a cross-sectional study

Marret MJ, Choo WY

BMJ Open, 2017 06 30;7(6):e014959.
PMID: 28667209 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014959

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of online interpersonal victimisation and its association with patterns of social networking site (SNS) use, offline victimisation, offline perpetration and parental conflict among Malaysian adolescents using SNS.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study of students from randomly selected public secondary schools in the state of Negeri Sembilan was conducted using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire examined patterns of SNS use and included measures of online victimisation, online perpetration, offline victimisation and parental conflict. A response rate of 91% from a total of 1634 yielded a sample of 1487 students between 15 years and 16 years of age.

RESULTS: Ninety-two per cent of respondents had used at least one SNS. More than half of SNS users (52.2%) reported experiences of online victimisation over the past 12 months. Boys were significantly more likely to experience online harassment compared with girls (52.2% vs 43.3%, p<0.001). There were no significant gender differences in experiences of unwanted sexual solicitation. Adolescents who engaged in perpetration behaviours online had almost six times higher odds of reporting frequent online victimisation compared with online behaviours involving personal disclosure. There was a significant dose-response relationship between engagement in multiple types of online behaviour and the risk of frequent online victimisation. Both online and offline perpetrations were associated with an increased risk of victimisation. Those who were victimised offline or experienced parental conflict were twice as likely to report online victimisation.

CONCLUSION: Interventions to prevent online electronic aggression should target perpetration behaviour both online and offline. Youth should be equipped with skills in communication and decision-making in relationships that can be applied across a spectrum of contexts both online and offline.

Matched MeSH terms: Crime Victims/statistics & numerical data*
Post-disaster victimization: how survivors of disasters can continue to suffer after the event is over

Phua KL

New Solut, 2008;18(2):221-31.
PMID: 18511398 DOI: 10.2190/NS.18.2.k

When public health researchers study the health effects of disasters (whether "naturally-occurring," disasters due to failure of technology, or disasters due to terrorism), some aspects of the post-disaster situation of victims are often overlooked. Social science research has shown that the vast majority of people tend to behave altruistically during and after a disaster. Nevertheless, cases of victimization of survivors do occur. They can include post-disaster victimization of survivors by other individuals (including fellow survivors, opportunistic outsiders, and even unethical aid workers and rogue members of the police, armed forces or international organizations such as the United Nations), groups (such as organized criminal gangs) and institutions (through neglect, incompetence, bureaucratic inefficiency or through institutionalized discriminatory practices). In this article, various kinds of post-disaster victimization that can occur are discussed.

Matched MeSH terms: Crime*

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