A Thesis submitted to The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine. / Previous studies suggest that dietary patterns that promote acidosis may have a negative effect on bone density, whereas a more alkaline‐based profile would be associated with better bone health. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess, in omnivores, vegetarians, and vegans bone mineral density using Dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and compare it to their acid‐base status as indicated by urinary pH, Potential Renal Acid Load (PRAL) and serum anion gap. Our hypothesis was that plant‐based diets would be associated with a more alkaline acid‐base profile than omnivorous diets, and thus have a higher bone mineral density. Methods: We conducted a cross‐sectional study where we compared plant based vs. omnivorous diets. Eighty‐two subjects were enrolled in the study (27 omnivores, 27 vegetarians, and 28 vegans). Subjects were asked to fill out a medical history form and a 24‐ hour diet recall, and to complete a 24‐hour urine collection. After a few weeks, subjects returned to the test site to complete a DEXA scan. Acid base‐balance and bone health were determined using PRAL, urine pH, and anion gap as biomarkers for pH, and DEXA as an indicator of bone density. Our results showed that bone mineral density did not differ significantly between groups, although lacto‐ovo and vegan diets were more alkaline compared to meat based diets (6.5  0.4, 6.7  0.4, and 6.2  0.4 pH respectively, p = 0.003). Protein intake was found to be reduced by ~30% in individuals adhering to a lacto‐ovarian or vegan diet; yet protein was only associated with bone mineral density in those following vegan diets. Conversely, urinary pH was associated with bone mineral density only in those following a meat‐based diet. The significance of this study is that it provides knowledge in the area of osteoporosis prevention and perhaps specific recommendations based on diet groups: increased fruit and vegetable intake for those with high meat consumption, to improve the acid‐base homeostasis, and increased plant protein intake for individuals who follow a plant-based diet.

This study has a twofold purpose in that it attempts to identify how knowledgeable investigators are about the collection and use of DNA in relation to the building of a criminal case, and to establish how optimally DNA as evidence is utilised. The study has revealed several shortcomings which render the use of DNA evidence inadmissible in criminal proceedings. The researcher also analysed other aspects relating to DNA evidence, namely: identification, individualisation, criminal investigation, forensic investigation, and objectives of criminal investigation. For criminal investigators to be successful in their investigation of cases involving DNA, it is imperative for them to have a clear understanding of the basic concepts surrounding DNA investigations and the value of DNA evidence. It is submitted that, because of a lack of knowledge in DNA-related investigations by detectives, a lack of training in DNA-related cases and delays in the collection of DNA evidence, valuable evidence is often lost and/or contaminated. This causes such evidence to become inadmissible in criminal proceedings, and has a negative impact on the conviction rate for such crimes. / Preface in English and Afrikaans / Hierdie studie het ’n tweevoudige doel in die poging om te identifiseer hoe kundig ondersoekers is aangaande die insameling en gebruik van DNA in terme van die bou van ’n kriminele saak en die vasstel van hoe DNA optimal [sic] as bewys gebruik kan word. Die studie het getoon dat daar verskeie tekortkominge is wat teweeg gebring het dat die gebruik van DNA bewys onaanvaarbaar was in kriminele prosedure. Die navorser het ook ander aspekte geanaliseer aangaande DNA bewyse, naamlik: identifikasie, individualisering van onderwerpe tydens ondersoek, kriminele ondersoek, forensiese ondersoek, en die aspekte van kri-minele ondersoeke. Vir die kriminele ondersoekers om suksesvol te wees in hulle ondersoek van sake waarby DNA betrokke is, is dit vir hulle van kardinale belang om ’n suiwere begrip van die basiese konsep rondom DNA ondersoeke en die waarde van DNA bewyse te hê. Dit is voortgebring dat, as gevolg van die tekort aan kennis in DNA ondersoeke, asook opleiding van DNA-sake by die speurders, en vertraging in die versameling van DNA bewysstukke, waardevolle bewyse is telkens verlore of gekontamineer. Dit veroorsaak dat sulke bewyse verwerp word in kriminele prosesse, en het ’n negatiewe impak op die vonnis statestieke [sic] vir sulke misdade. / Criminology / M.Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

The problem that was identified is that physical surveillance is not generally used by general detectives in the South African Police Service as a technique during their investigations. According to the researcher’s experience, this can be due to lack of understanding or experience or may stem from ignorance. A lack of training on the use of physical surveillance as a method to obtain information for the investigation process was also identified as a problem. This study therefore investigated the role and use of physical surveillance within the forensic investigation process. The focus of the research was on basic static (stationary), foot and vehicle surveillance as these types of surveillance are usually conducted in conjunction with each other. An empirical research design was used to conduct the research. A qualitative research approach enabled the researcher to obtain first-hand information from interviews with general detectives. Information was also obtained from a thorough literature study and from the researcher’s own experience on the topic. To conduct effective investigation, it is important for investigators to be familiar with the concept of physical surveillance, its elements, its influence and its values. A physical surveillance operation is a forensic tool used to gather evidence, to recover stolen property, and to identify and arrest the perpetrator. The use of physical surveillance during investigations serves the purpose of gathering evidence and information that can be used as intelligence. Successful forensic investigation requires skill and places extraordinary demands on detectives to utilise all available methods and techniques. The recognition of the use of physical surveillance as a method of evidence gathering is of outmost importance. The research has revealed that general detectives do not acknowledge the importance of physical surveillance as a method to obtain information for the investigation process. It is of vital importance that all detectives be properly trained with the necessary knowledge and skills to make use of this valuable investigative tool. / Police Practice / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

The aim of this research is to investigate how handwriting as an individualisation technique in fraud investigation can be used by police detectives, SARS investigators and forensic investigation specialists, who are responsible for the investigation and linking the perpetrator, with a view to criminal prosecution. A further intent was to share and introduce a number of important concepts, namely: criminal investigation, identification, individualisation, fraud, evidence and handwriting. The research will explain the sophisticated investigation techniques used to obtain sufficient information to prove the true facts in a court of law. Identification is the collective aspect of the set of characteristics by which an object is definitively recognisable or known, while the individual characteristics establish the individuality of a specific object. Many types of evidence may be used to link an individual with a crime scene, and associate that individual with the performed illegal handling. It also explained that during a cheque/document fraud investigation, it is in most cases the only link to information to trace, identify and individualise the perpetrator, and to obtain a handwriting specimen. It is also discussed how to eliminate a person being a writer of a document, and how to collect, package and mark a disputed document during the investigation. If the investigators use their knowledge of these concepts, it should enhance their investigative skills, and empower them to be become better equipped for the challenges they face in identifying, individualising and linking the perpetrators, in order to ensure successful prosecution and conviction. / Police Practice / M.Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

The last five decades have witnessed an increasing interest in the education-employment transition. In China, millions of university students graduate each year. Their employment has important impact on various aspects of the Chinese society. Additionally, university-work transition is related to the well-being of university graduates and their families. Therefore the university-work transition in China deserves more attention from scholars and practitioners. This thesis examines the determination of Chinese university graduates’ first job salaries. It investigates whether and how university graduates’ family background, on-campus performance (OCP) and gender are linked with their first job salaries. The thesis distinguishes three dimensions of graduates’ family background: Hukou status, parental CCP membership and income. It distinguishes three dimensions of graduates’ OCP: academic achievements, professional capability and political/ideological attainment. Information collected through interviews is used to interpret the statistical results. The results show that graduates’ first job salaries are significantly affected by their professional skills, political/ideological attainments and family income. Graduates’ gender, academic performance and family Hukou status have little impact on their first job salaries. Compared with the widely observed wage disparities among less educated workers caused by gender and Hukou status, this thesis provides evidence that higher education helps reduce the gender wage gap and rural-urban disparity in China. Analyses in the thesis are consistent with ‘state as equalizer’ and ‘market as equalizer’ theories. This thesis provides little evidence to support the marketized transition theory, as we find graduates’ first job salaries are still largely affected by their political/ideological attainments in university. Considering the unique context, the results suggest that some widely used human capital indicators and productivity signals are not applicable in the Chinese labour market. Practical implications are derived from the thesis.

A new spatially telescoping approach was proposed to improve measurement flexibility and account for hydrologic scale in field studies of groundwater-surface water (GW-SW) interaction. We applied this spatially telescoping approach in a study GW-SW interactions along Lucile Creek, Alaska. Catchment-scale data were used to screen areas of potentially significant GW-SW exchange, indicating groundwater contribution from a deeper regional aquifer along the middle to lower reaches of the stream. This initial assessment was tested using reach-scale estimates of groundwater contribution during base flow conditions. The reach-scale measurements indicated a large increase in discharge along the middle reaches of the stream accompanied by a shift in chemical composition towards a regional groundwater end member. Point measurements of vertical water fluxes were used to evaluate spatial and temporal variability of GW-SW exchange within representative reaches. The spatially telescoping approach identified locations of GW-SW exchange and improved interpretation of reach-scale and point-scale measurements.

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University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences / Department of Sociology

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In 1981, the United States Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling in Upjohn Co. v. United States. The decision made clear that the protections afforded by the attorneyclient privilege apply to internal corporate investigations. This piece examines the fundamental tenets of Upjohn, discusses some recent challenges to the applicability of privilege to materials gathered during internal investigations, and considers the manner in which the international nature of modern internal investigations adds complexity and uncertainty to the field.