A dedicated automated system for extraction, quantification and STR amplification of forensic evidence samples

Forensic DNA analysis is a multi-step process involving extraction of DNA, quantification of human DNA in the extract, amplification using multiplex STR systems, separation of products, and data analysis. The backlog of forensic casework is increasing worldwide. Automation is one significant way to alleviate the bottleneck of sample processing in forensic labs. The HID EVOlution™ Combination System described here is a robust, reliable sample processing platform, easily adapted to forensic laboratory workflows. Using a variety of forensic sample types including: blood stained FTA paper, cotton fabric and denim, dried blood spiked with known PCR inhibitors, saliva on cotton swabs, and semen stains, we found that yields of human DNA and STR profiles obtained with AmpFlSTR^® Idenitfiler^® kits were complete, highly reproducible, and equivalent to results obtained using the manual PrepFiler™ reagent extraction method. Automated operation was clean, and no cross-contamination was detected between extraction blanks and interspersed high DNA content samples.     

Capitalizing on Criminal Accomplices: Considering the Relationship between Co-offending and Illegal Earnings

This study investigates whether co-offending offers an avenue towards criminal success. Specifically, it considers if current and prior co-offending experience is related to the probability of reporting illegal earnings as well as the amount of these earnings. Using data from the Pathways to Desistance Study, we estimated fixed-and random-effects models to test whether co-offending experience is related to self-reported illegal earnings. The models also estimated whether “historical” co-offending experience predicted current illegal earnings. Across both modeling strategies, current and historical co-offending predicted the probability of reporting non-zero illegal earnings, net of offending frequency and controls. There is minimal evidence of a relationship between co-offending experience and the amount of illegal earnings, however. These findings lead us to conclude that access to a relatively common criminal connection—the co-offender—offers tangible benefits to adolescent offenders, primarily by affecting their ability to translate criminal opportunities into monetary gain.     

Aktuarielle und beihilfenrechtliche Analyse staatlicher Mithaftung in der Katastrophenversicherung

Die in den letzten Jahren sich häufenden Katastrophenereignisse durch Terroranschläge oder Naturgewalt haben ein bislang in der Versicherungswirtschaft nicht kalkuliertes Ausmaß an Schäden verursacht. Alle bisherigen aktuariellen Modelle zur Schadenberechnung stoßen an ihre Grenzen. Aufgrund der nahezu unmöglichen Einschätzung der Schadeneintrittswahrscheinlichkeit und des nicht fassbaren Kumulrisikos ist in naher Zukunft eine reine privatwirtschaftliche Lösung in der Katastrophenversicherung nicht zu erwarten. Angesichts der besonderen Bedeutung des Versicherungsschutzes als Produktionsfaktor in der Volkswirtschaft ist ein staatliches Eingreifen erforderlich und wünschenswert. Im vorliegenden Aufsatz wird zunächst überprüft, wie die Versicherbarkeit von Katastrophenrisiken aus aktuarieller Sicht zu beurteilen ist. Anschließend wird der Frage nachgegangen, inwiefern eine staatliche Beteiligung an der Katastrophenversicherung im Einklang mit den europäischen Beihilfenvorschriften im Einklang steht.     

Support for the environment post-transition? Material concerns and policy tradeoffs

Though many individuals are aware of the need to address environmental concerns, fewer are willing to pay for climate action or think the environment should be a priority for government spending. One compelling reason is that they prioritize using scarce resources to address immediate material concerns. This is particularly likely for individuals facing absolute material scarcity or for those who think they are relatively economically worse off, especially in contexts characterized by rapid transformation and volatility in the levels and quality of social welfare provision. To test these expectations, we analyze survey data from formerly Communist economies, which today find themselves with vastly different fortunes. Empirical findings suggest that absolute and relative material scarcity affect opinions regarding government spending on, and the willingness to pay more for, environmental action. However, willingness to pay more for government public services, inclusive of anti-poverty initiatives, has an impact on willingness to pay more for climate action, but in counter-intuitive ways. Overall, the results appear to suggest that explicitly addressing and relating individual living standards and inequality with environmental concerns may expand support for climate action.     

Local Financial Development and Household Welfare in Vietnam: Evidence from a Panel Survey

We examine the impact of local financial development on household welfare in Vietnam. We employ household-level panel data for the periods 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2013 covering three provinces and measure local financial development at the district, sub-district and village levels. To account for potential endogeneity that could emanate from the fact that local economic development could spur local financial development, we employ a recently suggested method of identification through heteroscedasticity. Our results show that local financial development has a significantly positive effect on household annual income, consumption and consumption smoothing.     

借助汉越音、汉越词对越汉语词汇教学

一、越语与汉语的关系(一)越语与汉语的关系首先要说明越语和汉语是不同语系的两种语言,所以,我们在对越南学生进行汉语教学时不能采用同源教学法。关于越语的语源,最近越南境外的学者都普遍认为越语属于南亚语系(王力先生也接受这种观点),即与芒语(M uong)是同一个语言系统,是     

发扬传统友谊，加强商贸旅游合作

越南与中国在历史、文化方面存在许多相似之处,友好合作传统和兄弟情谊源远流长。在民族解放斗争中,两国互相支持。在今天的革新开放事业中,双方继续发扬传统友谊,不断加强全面合作。越南高平省和中国广西有多个通商口岸,其中的驮隆—水口口岸最为重要。近年来,高平和广西之间的经济往来日益发展。双方在商品进出口和旅游方面的交流也不断扩大。越南通过驮隆口岸进出口的商品量占到了高平和广西商品交流总量的3/4。双方近年来所交换的商品种类主要包括:越南出口的铁矿、锰矿、锌矿、农林产品以及其他商品;越南进口的商品有新鲜水果、焦煤、…     

When Faced with Income and Asset Shocks,Do Poor Rural Households in Vietnam Smooth Food Consumption or Assets?

Vietnamese rural households are exposed to severe covariate and idiosyncratic shocks. However, these households are remarkably resilient and have steadily increased real income and consumption over the survey period 2006 to 2012. To explain household strategies to cope with shocks we test three theoretical models: the Permanent Income Hypothesis (PIH), Complete Market Hypothesis (CMH), and Asset Smoothing Theory (AST). There is support for AST as households smooth productive assets rather than consumption; and for CMH as households smooth consumption against idiosyncratic, but not covariate shocks. There is no support for PIH.     

Appendix

Abstract

An unresolved controversy exists in development literature over the nature and function of the informal sector in urban areas of the Third World. The controversy revolves around the presumed relationship between the modern system of industrial production (often termed the “formal sector”) and that part of the urban economy operating outside it (the “informal sector”). The earlier view that the informal sector is a source of employment which can be realized if the linkages between the two sectors are improved through policies designed to regularize the informal sector, has been shown to be non-generalizable and even inaccurate. Increasingly, researchers have come to the conclusion that the modern industrial sector in the Third World is parasitic and detrimental to the development of the remainder of the urban economy. Their research implicitly or explicitly points out that a net transfer of value from the informal sector to the formal sector is occurring. The transfer is in the form of undervalued labor drawn from the informal sector, undervalued goods and services produced in the informal sector which are directly or indirectly consumed in the formal sector, and a transfer of the welfare burden to the informal sector. In the process, that segment of the population in a Third World city that earns a living primarily in the informal sector is moving toward a situation of increasing immiseration.