Determination of postmortem interval from old skeletal remains by image analysis of luminol test results.

The luminol test is routinely used in forensic serology to locate blood traces and identify blood stains not visible to the naked eye; its sensitivity is reported as ranging from 1:100,000 to 1:5,000,000. To evaluate the possibility of correlating the postmortem interval with blood remnants in bone tissue, the luminol test was performed on 80 femurs with a known time of death, grouped in five classes. Powdered bone (30 mg) was recovered from compact tissue of the mid-shaft of each femur and was treated with 0.1 mL of Luminol solution (Sirchie Finger Print Laboratories, Inc.). The reactions were observed in a dark room and filmed by a TV camera equipped with a recording tape. An intense chemiluminescence was observed after a few seconds in all 20 femurs with a PMI ranging from 1 month to 3 years. On the 20 femurs with a PMI ranging from 10-15 years, a clear chemiluminescence was visible with the naked eye in 80% of the sample. Among the 20 femurs with a PMI ranging from 25 to 35 years, a weaker chemiluminescence appeared in 7 femurs (33% of the sample). In the 10 femurs with a PMI ranging from 50 to 60 years, a faint reaction was observed only in a single femur. In none of the ten femurs with a PMI over 80 years was chemiluminescence observed. The image of each reaction was computerized and analyzed for gray scale. The results of image analysis show a possible quantitative relationship between the PMI and luminol chemiluminescence in powdered bone.     

Y-chromosomal STR haplotypes in Sicily

Eight Y-chromosomal short tandem repeats (STRs)-DYS19, DYS389-I, DYS389-II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393 and DYS385-were typed in a population sample (n=255) of unrelated Sicilian males from nine different towns on the main island and from the island of Pantelleria.     

Does counterfeiting benefit genuine manufacturer? The role of production costs

A monopolist sells a luxury genuine product which can be illegally copied and sold by a competitive fringe of counterfeiters. Fines imposed on caught counterfeiters are pocketed by the genuine firm. We prove that if production costs are low, then the genuine manufacturer would lobbying for high penalties so that counterfeiters should be thrown out of the market. In this case, the presence of counterfeiters does not provide any benefit to the producer of the original product. Whenever the production cost is neither too high nor too low, the optimal fine guarantees a positive demand for the genuine product as well as for the fake; the genuine producer is better off than in a world without counterfeiters. If production costs are too high, the genuine firm has no more incentive to produce. Its remaining goal is to collect penalty money from counterfeiters. Again, the presence of counterfeiters provides a benefit to the genuine manufacturer. Finally, a comparison between full protection and null protection policies is performed.     

议会参与WTO事务问题初探

WTO直接影响到世界上大多数国家及各国人民的生活,这要求增强其透明度和民主,加大议会对WTO事务的参与和监督.对WTO的议会监督传统上指国内议会的监督,用以审查在WTO的谈判和承诺是否符合本国的利益和法律.此外还存在从国际层面通过国际议员会议对WTO事务展开监督和施加影响的第二种方式.有观点认为现有的这两种方式不足以对WTO展开有效的监督,需要在WTO框架内建立起多边议会监督机制.是否建立以及建立什么样的WTO议会机制,其根本判断价值和标准应该是能增强发展中国家对WTO事务和决策的参与,而不应该加剧不平衡,进一步向发达国家倾斜.在WTO框架下的多边议会监督机制的讨论刚刚开始,主要是组织形式和程序方面的问题,包括议会是否应是咨询性的,主要进行信息公布和交换,与国内议会的关系,与WTO秘书处的关系等观点和问题.在议会的监督作用等问题上已有共识.     

论中国共产党在农民教育中的主体地位

农民教育是实现农民现代化的有效途径,而中国共产党在农民教育中的主体地位对农民教育的成败至关重要。从理论、历史与现实多维角度来看,中国共产党是农民教育的主体,起关键作用。