Resolution of small-scale commingling: a case report from the Vietnam War

A case is reported that involves the commingled skeletal remains of two individuals who died in a helicopter crash in 1969 during the Vietnam War. The incomplete portions of two bodies were initially recovered soon after the crash. These portions were identified by personnel at a U.S. Army Mortuary in Saigon and were returned to the next-of-kin. While searching for scrap metal in 2002, a Vietnamese citizen unexpectedly discovered human remains and personal effects interspersed with buried aircraft wreckage. The personal effects correlated with the individuals who died in the 1969 incident. These newly discovered remains and artifacts were subsequently received at the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii (CILHI) for analysis. As part of the CILHI analysis it was necessary to segregate the commingled remains into specific individuals for identification purposes. Details regarding various sorting techniques are described that provide a solid framework for systematically dealing with small-scale commingling. The sorting techniques used in the resolution of this case consist of visual pair-matching, articulation, process of elimination, osteometric comparison, and taphonomy. These techniques, when used in conjunction with each other, provided a solid basis for the individualization of most skeletal elements.     

Watch for those fragments of evidence: the use of an automatic timepiece to help correlate a helicopter crash site from the Vietnam War

This case study illustrates the use of the date function on an automatic wristwatch to help identify a Vietnam War helicopter crash site. The location of a crash incident can sometimes be uncertain because of inadequate or inaccurate wartime records and the passage of time. Artifacts recovered from a prospective crash scene are regularly used to correlate the loss incident. In this case study, a recovered automatic watch displayed a date 2 days later than the reported loss incident. Although the date conflicts with the aircraft crash incident report, it is observed that a fully wound automatic watch continues to work for c. 2 days after movement of the watch ceases. Thus, the watch's date in fact correlates with the aircraft crash incident report. It is noted that automatic watches may also be used to date scenes of crime.     

Obligation-based bribes in Vietnam: A view from the norm of reciprocity

Crime, Law and Social Change - Studies of bribery have been heavily influenced by the cost/benefit calculation, leaving social relationship of the involved parties under-explored. We propose the...     

CCTV伊拉克战争报道刍评

本文及时总结了中央电视台此次伊拉克战争报道所呈现出的及时性、多样性、客观性等特点及不足之处,并在此基础上进行了理性思考,就媒体应付突发性事件提出了一些初步建议。     

Radiographic identification using the clavicle of an individual missing from the Vietnam conflict

A case is reported in which radiographic comparison of a clavicle was used to establish the identification of a civilian missing from the Vietnam conflict. While the use of radiographic comparison of skeletal features is not a newly developed technique for personal identification purposes, this case outlines a unique set of circumstances surrounding the disappearance of an individual during the Vietnam conflict and his eventual identification. A radiographic comparison of a right clavicle was critical in the identification process of this individual almost 34 years after he was reported missing. The use of digital technology for radiographic comparison greatly facilitated the process.     

略论抗战时期宁沪地区城市经济环境的恶化

1937－1945年的日本侵华战争阻碍了中国城市近代化的历程。在中国经济重心的宁沪地区，城市工商经济发生了前所未有的重大变化。由于日寇的侵略和掠夺，该地区城市经济环境趋于恶化。而中国民族工商资本家则于夹缝中求生存，充分利用一切机会和空间寻求发展，形成了日军侵华的不完全毁灭性，为抗战胜利后中国经济的复苏创造了条件。     

Identification process in mass graves from the Spanish Civil War II

The identification process of a mass grave from the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) is presented. The presumed location of the grave, as well as the presumed number and identities of the persons buried in the grave were obtained exclusively from witnesses' and relatives' testimonies. In agreement with the testimonies, the grave was located at the indicated location and five skeletons were exhumed. Also in agreement with the testimonies, the osteological and DNA study led investigators to propose the identification of two kin groups, a father and his son and a pair of brothers. But the genetic study did not support the identification of a fifth man presumed to have been buried in the grave. The differences and similarities between this case and another case reported earlier are discussed.     

Deployment stressors of the Iraq War: insights from the mainstream media

A comprehensive understanding of the stressors of the Iraq War is needed to ensure appropriate postdeployment assessments and to inform empirical inquiries. Yet we are unaware of any published studies that address the range of stressors experienced by this cohort. Thus, in the present study, we report the results of an interpretive literature review of mainstream media reports published from the beginning of the Iraq War in March 2003 to March 2005. This literature revealed a combination of stressors associated with traditional combat, insurgency warfare, and peacekeeping operations. The increasing deployment of National Guard/Reservist personnel, older soldiers, and women highlights additional stressors associated with sexual harassment and assault, preparedness and training, and life and family disruptions. This is a cause for concern as war-zone stressors have been implicated in postdeployment health outcomes, including intimate partner violence and child maltreatment, immediate physical and mental health, and long-term adjustment.     

Narco-Terrorism: The Merger of the War on Drugs and the War on Terror

The aim of this article is to analyse the phenomena of narco-terrorism and the practical measures utilised to counter this threat. By adopting the model of the crime-terror continuum developed by Tamara Makarenko, the article will outline the similarities and dissimilarities of narcotics trafficking and terrorism in order to provide a more nuanced perspective on the concept of narco-terrorism. By doing so, the article will evaluate the kind of approach taken in combating the threat of narco-terrorism.     

Validation of the MiniFiler™ Kit in archaeological samples

We evaluate the usefulness of MiniFiler™ Kit in the field of ancient DNA. A set of samples belonging to different locations from Iberian Peninsula, with ages ranging from Neolithic to XVII century, was tested. Results could be replicated in only one burial site, probably due to the taphonomic conditions. Other cases could only produce partial or none genetic profiles.     

越南民商事管辖权制度探析

越南国会是越南最高权力机关和立法机关.越南法院分为三级:最高人民法院、地方人民法院和地区人民法院.对于"商事纠纷"的含义,在一些重要方面越南的规则与国际标准不同.<经济纠纷法>列举了经济法庭有权裁决的争议类型.包含"涉外因素"的经济案件,由越南经济法庭审理.地方(区)人民法院行使管辖权的依据是被告营业地或住所在法院管辖区内.管辖权的排除主要表现在以下方面:外交豁免与领事豁免、外国土地和管辖权选择协议.未决诉讼案件原则和不方便法院原则并没有得到越南法学家们的广泛承认.管辖权冲突问题由越南最高人民法院解决.     

路径依赖视角下中越两国权力监督改革比较

基于路径依赖的微观视角分析,中越两国在权力监督改革方面呈现出三个方面的异同。即,在正式规则方面,两国在改革的深层动力与实践取向上具有共同性,而在宪政制度、国家治理模式、法律规制等方面由于历史传统不同而表现出了差异性;在非正式规则方面,两国改革的共同障碍来源于权力崇拜与服从型政治文化的影响,而意识形态与文化信仰的差异则导致各色监督学说亲疏有别并使得两国权力监督改革表现出不同的变数;既得利益群体在体制变迁惯性推动力方面,其共同性表现为态度认知与风险成本使得内发式监督几无可能,而差异性则表现为由权力红利的积累速度、总量及对社会分配的影响而导致不同的改革难度与压力。从本质上看,中越两国权力监督改革能否成功,关键取决于执政党对改革是否保持有效的控制力。     

Exploring the Limits of the Judicialization of Urban Land Disputes in Vietnam

Economic and legal reforms have triggered waves of conflict over property rights and access to urban land in Vietnam. In this article I develop four epistemic case studies to explore the main precepts and practices that courts must negotiate to extend their authority over land disputes. Courts face a dilemma: Do they apply state laws that disregard community regulatory practices and risk losing social relevance, or apply community notions of situational justice that undermine rule formalism? I conclude that reforms designed to increase rule formalism in the courts may have the unintended consequence of reducing the capacity for judges to find lasting solutions to land disputes.