Predicting the optimal STR profile amplification set up from Quantifiler™ Trio data

Samples collected for forensic case work may be of varying quality and quantity. The sample DNA is often quantified prior to short tandem repeats (STR) profile analysis with methods such as Quantifiler™Trio (QFT). The QFT measures the quantity of DNA as well as an internal PCR control (IPC) and a degradation index (DI).The aim of this study was to use IPC and DI measurements to identify samples, which would benefit from a modified PCR amplification set-up when generating the STR profiles. The sample quality of 6287 single source case work samples were categorized as 'Good’, ‘Partly degraded’, ‘Highly degraded’, ‘Inhibited’ and ‘Degraded and Inhibited’ based on the peak height ratios in the electropherogram data. The DI and IPC were correlated with the assigned quality categories of the samples. Samples categorized into the degraded and/or inhibited categories were found to have statistically significantly different DI and IPC compared to samples categorized as ‘Good’. This indicates that the additional information gained from the QFT can be useful to identify degraded and/or inhibited samples prior to the STR-profile analysis. Future work will re-evaluate the criteria of inclusion in the sample quality groups and implement multi source samples.     

"Biological identikit": Development of a SNPs-panel for the analysis of forensic DNA phenotyping and ancestry

Personal identification in mass disasters and in crimes is essential for humanitarian, ethical and legal reasons. In these contexts, when individuals cannot be identified by standard forensic DNA analysis, the Forensic DNA Phenotyping and the analysis of the biogeographical ancestry could help. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of a new panel of 891 SNPs in predicting phenotypic traits and biogeographical origin to create a “biological identikit”. In addition to fresh biological material, old evidence found at the crime scene or extracted and long-term stored DNA were tested with 41 SNPs for phenotyping and 850 SNPs for ancestry. All the SNPs were successfully incorporated into a single two-step multiplex PCR reaction using the IonAmpliSeq ™ Library Plus and applied for massive parallel sequencing with the Ion S5 platform using up to 0.05 ng/µL of DNA. The analysis of the results was carried out with an in-house predictive algorithm and consulting 20 population databases. By comparing the results obtained with identikit or video-photographic surveys, it was possible to predict phenotype and ancestry with an accuracy greater than 90%. While these new markers cannot identify a specific individual, they can be a valuable investigative tool.     

NAFTA本田汽车原产地规则案再探——兼论对中国区域合作的启示

北美自由贸易区在本田汽车原产地认定方面,强调了在像汽车这种由很多重要部件和次要部件经常在多数国家中组装而成的产品原产地问题的重要性。本田案件提出的根本问题在计算中如何衡量非本土材料在组件的本地含量,加工成本是否可以囊括在当地含量之内,进而通过重新定义的净成本方法解决该问题。该案对中国区域合作中海关在原产地认定方面也具有...     

近十年绑架案件侦查研究综述

绑架犯罪是严重危害人身安全的暴力犯罪,历来是我国司法机关重点控制、打击的对象。进入新世纪后,在2002年到2003年前后,绑架案件的数量激增,造成了严重的社会影响。关于如何认识绑架案件、如何进行处置以及如何进行侦查等问题,学者们开展了大量研究工作。尤其在刑法修正案(七)对关于绑架犯罪部分进行修改后,又为绑架案件侦查带来了新的研究内容。     

语言描述视野中的刑事诉讼——论刑事法律文书对案件事实的还原描述

刑事诉讼过程是一个语言角力的过程,公安机关在写作刑事法律文书时应该做到对案件事实进行还原描述,所描述的事实才有可能得到诉讼各方的认同。研究案件事实的形态及其这种形态对语言描述的影响、研究影响事实还原描述的各种因素以及对这些因素的消解方式,使刑事法律文书对案件事实的描述更接近事实的原生态,是公安机关参与刑事诉讼的重要内容。消极的叙事目的主导刑事法律文书的叙事是事实还原描述的基本原则。     

骗取出口退税犯罪案件的特点及侦查对策

骗取出口退税犯罪是我国税制改革以后出现的一种新的犯罪类型。这类犯罪案件本身所具有的一些特点决定了侦查工作的艰难性。为侦破案件 ,打击涉税犯罪 ,挽回国家损失 ,我们必须有针对性地采取一些有效的侦查对策。     

《左传》隐公记事的叙事立场

《左传》记事始于隐公的问题是经学研究的重要话题。古代经学家多通过“始隐说”将《春秋》说成是兴王之作。但是《左传》隐公记事却表达了不同立场。《左传》隐公记事虽然表现出尊王倾向，但突出的却是天下无王为势所必然。《左传》隐公记事对隐公的描写并未显示出后世经学家所说的“王鲁”迹象，对郑庄公的肯定态度则显示了《左传》认同霸主政治的思想倾向。《春秋》兴王说也是一家之言。     

互联网对英国陪审制的挑战初探——以福蕾尔案为例

2011年英国公民福蕾尔在担任一件毒品案件审判的陪审团成员时因违法使用互联网接洽被告、搜索被告信息而被控藐视法庭罪，成为英国第一个因在案件审理期间滥用互联网被判刑的陪审员。该事件发生后轰动了英国司法界，互联网对英国陪审系统带来的冲击开始被关注，成为英国陪审制发展上的一个新难题。，分析互联网对英国陪审制的挑战及其原因，找到英国陪审制的出路，正确借鉴其成功经验为我国的司法审判制度改革所用尤为重要     

Australian Rural Local Governments and Environmental Sustainability: An Evaluation of Progress

Local government is often characterised as being well-placed to enact a successful agenda for environmental sustainability because of its closeness to both people and the environment. The purpose of this article is to examine the extent to which this assumption is correct in terms of local government environmental policies and programs in rural Australia. Using case studies with eight local government authorities in Queensland and New South Wales, the article documents three different positions on a continuum of environmental engagement. These are 'disengaged', 'moving towards engagement' and 'engaged'. The article concludes by arguing that the resource constraints facing rural local councils limit their capacity to engage with environmental management.     

Estrangement and Retreat: the Cultural Connotation of Liu Yong's Ci about Business Trip

Liu Yong’s Ci about business trip typically reveals the contradiction of his cultural identity. Due to the particular viewpoint of life experience narrated by himself rather than being a spokesman or lyrics writer, his Ci about business trip demonstrates the complication of his own inner world, becoming a direct manifestation of his life experience of dilemma. On the theme of nostalgia and patriotism, his Ci shows a tendency towards classic tradition; however it emphasizes features such as estrangement from politics ontology and abandoning political personality of literati and officialdom in feudal China. The nature of his cultural identity is to highlight the individual sensibility and pursue the life with emotion and love. Retrospection of ole lover, missing and admiring the beauty constitute the important factors to compensate the frustration of losing homeland when drifting and wandering when he travels; in the meantime, it also shows the retreating consciousness of being addicted to sensibility and incapable of establishing life values.