Survey of crowbar and household paints in burglary cases-population studies, transfer and interpretation

Experimental data useful for the interpretation of paint evidence recovered during burglary cases were obtained. A population study was carried out on 41 blue crowbars seized on suspects in Switzerland and 37 blue paints traces found at burglary scenes. Paint traces were also searched on the blades of 207 crowbars seized by the police in Switzerland and 24 white traces were analysed: these paints were analysed using infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) in order to estimate relative frequencies of each paint type. Simulated contacts were carried out between crowbars and painted wood in order to study the phenomenon of transfer and to evaluate the amount of paint transferred: a total of 198 simulations were carried out including individual, successive and cross transfer. The paint properties such as the chemical composition and its age influenced the amount of paint transferred. Cross transfer from the tool paint to the wood and vice versa was regularly observed. Moreover, secondary transfer of paint coming from the preceding wooden surfaces was also systematically observed: this could establish links between several burglary scenes and a suspected tool. A scenario of a burglary case involving the cross transfer between tool and household paints is proposed as a numerical example: the evaluation of such case was formalised using likelihood ratios based on the experimental data obtained.     

Population data for the AmpFl STR Identifiler PCR Amplification Kit in China Han in Jilin Province, China

Allele frequencies for the fifteen short tandem repeats (STR) loci D3S1358, vWA, FGA, D8S1179, D21S11, D18S51, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820, D19S433, THO1, D16S539, CSF1PO, TPOX, D2S1338 (AmpFl STR Identifiler PCR Amplification Kit, Applied Biosystems) were determined in a population sample of unrelated China Han in Jilin Province, China. Statistical analyses were performed using Powerstats version 1.2 and GEP-ISFGWG. The results showed that all the loci met Hardy-Weinberg expectation.     

The prevalence of MDMA/MDA in both hair and urine in drug users

The prevalence and age distribution of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) in hair samples by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) were studied. The recoveries obtained from hair were 97% and 99% for MDMA and MDA, respectively. The inter- and intra-assay precision and accuracy were determined. Out of 791 hair samples, 44 (5.6 %) contained MDMA and/or MDA. Out of these 44 subjects, urinalyses from 35 were negative for both MDMA and MDA, while only 9 were positive. We also evaluated concentrations of MDMA and MDA, and the metabolite-to-parent drug ratios. This study showed that the abuse of MDMA or MDA was found principally among young adults and male abusers. We found the epidemiology of ecstasy users in Korea between March 2002 and April 2003.     

Estimating the probability of identity in a random dog population using 15 highly polymorphic canine STR markers

Dog DNA-profiling is becoming an important supplementary technology for the investigation of accident and crime, as dogs are intensely integrated in human social life. We investigated 15 highly polymorphic canine STR markers and two sex-related markers of 131 randomly selected dogs from the area around Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria, which were co-amplified in three PCR multiplex reactions (ZUBECA6, FH2132, FH2087Ua, ZUBECA4, WILMSTF, PEZ15, PEZ6, FH2611, FH2087Ub, FH2054, PEZ12, PEZ2, FH2010, FH2079 and VWF.X). Linkage testing for our set of marker suggested no evidence for linkage between the loci. Heterozygosity (HET), polymorphism information content (PIC) and the probability of identity (P((ID)theoretical), P((ID)unbiased), P((ID)sib)) were calculated for each marker. The HET((exp))-values of the 15 markers lie between 0.6 (VWF.X) and 0.9 (ZUBECA6), P((ID)sib)-values were found to range between 0.49 (VWF.X) and 0.28 (ZUBECA6). Moreover, the P((ID)sib) was computed for sets of loci by sequentially adding single loci to estimate the information content and the usefulness of the selected marker sets for the identification of dogs. The estimated P((ID)sib) value of all 15 markers amounted to 8.5 x 10(-8). The presented estimations turned out to be a helpful approach for a reasonable choice of markers for the individualisation of dogs.     

Morphology of second and third instars of Chrysomya villeneuvi Patton (Diptera: Calliphoridae), a fly species of forensic importance

The morphology of the second and third instars of Chrysomya villeneuvi Patton, a fly species of forensic importance, was presented by use of light microscopy. Both instars were of hairy appearance, bearing elongated tubercles along the abdominal and caudal segments. The anterior spiracle had 13-15 papillae. Minute dark spots were observed to thoroughly cover the tubercle's surface, with 4-6 strong dark tips. Regarding the third instar, the intersegmental spines between the prothorax and mesothorax were heavily pigmented. The posterior spiracle had a thick and heavily pigmented incomplete peritreme. The surface and tip of the tubercles was covered with heavily pigmented sharp spines. The integument of the body was covered with numerous distinct net-like patches. A comparison with another well-known hairy maggot, Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart), was discussed.     

在荷兰东印度公司以前居住印度尼西亚的中国人

印度尼西亞和中國的關係由來已經很久。根据在松巴哇發現的一个东山時代(大約公元前五百年左右)的青銅鼓和在青銅鼓上装飾着一个人騎着馬、穿着韃靼人的服装的圖画來看,有理由,而且有足够的理由推測,印度尼西亞和中國的關係自从史前時代就已經廣泛地開始建立了(參看雅加達博物館史前文物第3364号和樊得賀編(Dth.van der Hoop)的“史前文物珍藏目錄”第213頁)。明顯的事实是印度尼西亞最古老的歷史,那就是从公元初開始的歷史,是从中國得來的(參看克倫納斐(W.P.Groen Veldt)著的馬來羣島和馬六甲的記載”一書)。伯希和(Paul Pelliot)也这样推測,卽在那个時期,印变尼西亞和中     

《回忆》一书的几个章节(续二)

宇宙纪元的十月一战后新的一代苏联人进入了宇宙时代的生活。青年人有时很难想象,四分之一世纪以前,既没有卫星,没有宇航员,也没有到月球、火星、金星的飞行。而仅仅有对这类飞行的幻想,许多世纪以来人类能抱有的幻想。有一位诗人说得很正确:“我们来到世上,为的是把神话变成事实……”正是我国人民开始了宇宙世纪的读数。当地球上的亿万人知道发射了第一颗人造地球卫星的那一天,那个时刻才初次触及宇宙     

我在越南的古拉格

黎文德是法籍越南人,越南南方解放前曾在阮文绍军队中任上校。胡志明市诞生后,他为其日耳曼籍的表兄弟非利浦·弗朗希尼管理大陆酒店,不久该酒店移交新政府,他就被关押在再教育营。原文是黎文德叙述其在再教育营的前后经历。现摘译部份内容以供参考。     

瑞典离婚法的改革

<正> 长期以来,社会非宗教化的不断发展和妇女外出工作数字的上升,无疑是离婚法改变的主要原因。瑞典对这个问题表现出非常的匆促态度,是由于它的激进政府对该项试验具有较大的兴趣。在十六世纪,瑞典正式从罗马天主教转变到路德教。从那时起,连续几个世纪,改革家马丁·路德的思想对瑞典婚姻立法有很大的影响。据根路德的意见,离婚的两个理由是通奸或遗弃。在1863年,如果当事人是一个基督教徒和一个犹太人,允许不采用宗教仪式的婚姻;在1908年,也允许其他人不采用宗教仪式的婚姻。但是绝大多数婚姻仍然是宗教婚姻。所以,瑞典的传统是,婚姻通常应延续到配偶一方死亡为止。即使离婚的数字在近年来上升很快,但大多数婚姻仍延续到配偶一方死亡为止。