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Research with materials from natural ingredients is carried out in the hope that it can be used as an alternative medicine for synthetic drugs. Many plants exist in Indonesia, as drugs, one of which is antibiotics. Landep plants (Barleria prionitis L.) specifically on the leaves contain flavonoids and alkaloids that are needed as antibiotics. This study discusses the benefits of extracts and various fractions used for active substances that are requested as antibiotics. The solvents used include ethanol, hexane, ethyl acetate, ether, and chloroform. The process of extracting active substances using maceration and extraction and fractionation using the liquid-liquid principle. The optimal solvent that can search for antibiotic combinations on landep leaves is ethanol, whose composition at a concentration of 20%, the ethanol fraction produces the largest inhibition zone diameter, which is 24.03 mm. The results of the optimal fraction were carried out by testing the Minimum Inhibitory Level (MIC) and obtained content that could inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus with a concentration of 0.625%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of clandestine laboratories discovered in Serbia and in the neighboring countries, and the amount of confiscated synthetic drugs and precursors exceed all previous seizures in the criminal scene. Nevertheless, there is still not enough attention given to these types of drugs, unlike other "natural" drugs. From a criminalistic point of view, but also from the aspect of safety and environmental protection, it is necessary to know the method of discovering and dismantling clandestine labs for the manufacture of drugs and to standardize security measures at the scene of the criminal event. When entering the laboratories, the police must take into account the risks that exist on the spot due to the presence of various chemicals that are often poisonous and flammable. Various vapors can cause damage to the eyes, the skin, the nervous and respiratory system, while some substances often cause explosions in reaction with the air or other chemicals. The paper is particularly concerned with the police procedures at the crime scene, with particular reference to the sources of material evidence, because in practice it has become evident that personal evidence is rare and unreliable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production and smuggling of drugs in the Balkan region represents the most dominant and most profitable type of organized crime, in which the largest number of organized crime groups (OCGs) are involved. As regards drug smuggling, the Central Balkan countries, including the Republic of Macedonia, are transit countries. Certain quantities remain in their territories for the purpose of consumption or storage, and marijuana and synthetic drugs are illegally produced for the needs of the local market. The drug market is dynamic, as a result of the fact that most of the routes used by the OCGs are also used for the smuggling of other types of products. One of the main factors favoring the presence and development of serious and organized crime in the Balkan region is the region's geographic position on the crossroads between Europe and the Middle and Far East. The assessment of the drug trafficking threat is an enlarged and compiled overview of the drug trafficking situation, trends and routes, including data on the markets and demands, with the focus on the Balkan region. OCGs dealing with drug trafficking have become more flexible, adaptable, open to international cooperation, with business-like approach, often multi-crime oriented, and, what is extremely important, better prepared to adapt their criminal activities to the obstacles posed by police actions. The organized criminal groups are often involved in other forms of crimes, and many of them are involved in trafficking of more than one type. Drugs trafficked and smuggled by OCGs are cocaine, heroin, marijuana and synthetic drugs. The criminal activities of an OCG depend to a large extent on its structure, and the capability to adapt that structure to the specifics of the criminal markets and to the need for cooperation with other OCGs. For this purpose, mainly through an analysis of the reports of drug seizures and available data from official sources and statistics of this type of crime for the research period (2014-2016), a conclusion will be drawn on the drugs situation in the Balkan region with a wideranging overview, and early warnings about the new trends and threats in the region will be reiterated in order to facilitate the prevention and suppression of these criminal phenomena. The assessment provides clear data and information on the main characteristics of this type of crime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with a research project with the aim of developing, constructing and testing a mobile, autonomous analytical system enabling detection of illicit synthetic drug laboratories and locations of narcotic cannabis plantations. The text presents the project =s significance with regard to filling an identified gap in combating organised drug crime by way of providing an innovative system for detection, chemical analysis and precise location of illicit drug laboratories and narcotic cannabis plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pricing of substances on the drug market plays a particular role in influencing the behavior of its participants. The primary tendencies in the development of the drug market are driven by the interest of drug dealers in receiving an excess profit. The manipulation of retail prices permits the organizers of the narcotics market to effect an orientation of price-sensitive consumers towards new and potentially more harmful substances. At the same time, in order to increase the maximum net profit, they have been able to improve their established channels for the sale of drugs. In this connection, the question concerning the evaluation of the influence of the price factor on changes in volumes and the variety of available psychoactive substances becomes increasingly relevant. The influence of the retail price, total profit and profitability of criminal businesses on the turnover of phytogenetic cannabinoids, opiates, some synthetic drugs defined in terms of psychostimulators and "smoking mixes" - and also legal substances - is assessed on data pertaining to the Russian Federation. A conclusion is drawn concerning the dominant influence of organizers of the illegal drug market on changes in its diverse makeup by means of price factors used to direct the consumer to a choice of less expensive synthetic substances, which are conditionally categorized as detailed above. Effective measures to reduce the currently legal narcotics market segment should consist of a ban on the circulation of new, potentially harmful substances and, in order to slow the growth in the number of consumers, to lower the definition of a significant amount of a psychoactive substance for the purposes of Articles 228, 228.1, 229 and 229.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation to the size of the nominal consumable single dose. For a major decline in demand for psychoactive drugs it is necessary to continue work on the creation of a national system for the rehabilitation and re-socialization of drug users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With advances in life science research and our understanding of the world around us comes the potential for the use of this knowledge not for the benefit but for the harm of our public health. Life science research with significant potential to be modified and used for malevolent purposes has been termed dual use research of concern (DURC). As a first step in protecting our biosecurity, governmental and professional scientific associations have stressed the need for the education of our scientific community on DURC. In this paper, we present the results of a pilot survey examining the current state of awareness, training and educational efforts in the area of DURC on our university campuses. Based on the survey data, only a small percentage of our faculty are knowledgeable in the area of DURC with the vast majority having received no formal training in the area nor do they provide training for their students. Challenges and recommendations for improving education of the scientific community in DURC are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]