Is embryo research and preimplantation genetic diagnosis ethical?

The legal position in the UK on embryo research and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is outlined and contrasted with the position in other EU countries. The "gradualist" position of the UK on the moral status of the embryo is defended on the basis of an argument that precaution must be applied in proportion to the degree to which the embryo has developed to display components of agency, on the assumption that mortality is categorically binding and requires agents to be granted rights and that it cannot be known with certainty that the embryo is not an agent. The extent to which this argument, when combined with vicarious protections that the embryo should receive in order to protect the rights of other agents, limits embryo research and PGD, is discussed. It is concluded that the complexities that attend deliberation about the moral problems attending embryo research and PGD are such that the proper response to these problems is via the procedures of political democracy to achieve accountable answers rather than "correct" answers. This allows for a variety of judgements.     

Semi-automatic analysis of fire debris

Automated analysis of fire residues involves a strategy which deals with the wide variety of received criminalistic samples. Because of unknown concentration of accelerant in a sample and the wide range of flammable products, full attention from the analyst is required. Primary detection with a photoionisator resolves the first problem, determining the right method to use: the less responsive classical head-space determination or absorption on active charcoal tube, a better fitted method more adapted to low concentrations can thus be chosen. The latter method is suitable for automatic thermal desorption (ATD400), to avoid any risk of cross contamination. A PONA column (50 mx0.2 mm i.d.) allows the separation of volatile hydrocarbons from C(1) to C(15) and the update of a database. A specific second column is used for heavy hydrocarbons. Heavy products (C(13) to C(40)) were extracted from residues using a very small amount of pentane, concentrated to 1 ml at 50 degrees C and then placed on an automatic carousel. Comparison of flammables with referenced chromatograms provided expected identification, possibly using mass spectrometry. This analytical strategy belongs to the IRCGN quality program, resulting in analysis of 1500 samples per year by two technicians.     

美国对缅甸的政策

美国巩固在缅甸的政治地位的企图 由于缅甸处于有利的地理位置、它在东南亚国家中所起的政治影响以及蕴藏有富饶的自然资源(主要是战略资源),因此,它在美帝国主义的蓄谋侵略的计划中占据着重要的地位。 美国对缅甸感兴趣的首先在于军事战略和政治方面。关于这点,美国统治集团代表人物的演说以及美国的报刊屡屡谈及。美国国家计划协会委员哈     

现代泰国的经济概况

农业 泰国是一个落后的農业国,農业是其国民經济的主導部門:国内从事農业的人口占独立谋生人口的85％。侭管農業起着如此重要的作用,然而,它的内部结构却僅由两种商品——大米和橡胶的生产     

十九世紀最后廿五年馬来亚人民反对英国殖民主义者的起义

不久以前,苏聯的研究工作者已經開始編篡一系列东南亚國家的近代史;其中對这些國家的民族解放運动史研究較少。本文則試图探討一下十九世纪70—90年代在馬來亚反對英国殖民主义者的起义。①內容广泛的英國歷史編篡学在關于英國佔领馬     

柬埔寨的外国援助

西哈努克亲王最近从法国返国,西哈努克在法国逗留了将近七个星期,进行手术并作短期休息,众所周知,柬埔寨首相的奇異的经历和突出的个性:1955年3月西哈努克采取了史无前例的决定,放弃了王位的继承。自此以后,西哈努克亲王或者作为柬埔寨政府的首脑或者暂时退居于在野地位,都促进着柬埔寨的政治生活,並在东南亚地区执行不同路线的各个国家(亲美的国家如泰国、南越、甚至以及近几个月以来的老撾;亲共产主义国家如北越)之间,扮演着微妙的中立主义的战士和技师     

印度尼西亚财政政策及其影响

序言印度尼西亚的财政金融形势向来没有朝着好的方向发展,相反的,最近是更恶化了。这种情况是早为公众和政府所理解和承认的事实。还需要认真加以探讨的则是政府对财政困难的基本原因及其出路的意见。某些负责的政府官员和社会上的某些人士,更偏重于从货币流通量的发展情况这个角度来观察财政形势。用这种方法,他们甚至得出结论说:向来就是政府方面造成通货膨涨,所以国家预算必须压     

南越土地改革的进展

自从1954年7月日内瓦协定订立之后,南越吴庭艶政府把土地改革存在关键性的问题,下了绝大的决心,付诸实施,特别是在土地转移和定居这两个方面。在实施土改计划上,美国的经济和技术援助起了重要的作用。土改计划的初步阶段,现在将近完成,減租和稳定佃期的计划,现在正在继续施行,并普及到全国佃农的3/4,而土地转移计划预