The search for truth and freedom: ethical issues surrounding human cloning and stem cell research

The reality of cloning and stem cell research has provoked wonder, fear and anger. These developments have the potential fundamentally to alter humanity. But how well informed is the range of views being expressed? Is progress being threatened by understandable but uninformed fears? Or are scientists rushing toward an ethical abyss, so concerned with what they can do that they never stop to ask what they should do? This article identifies some of the fears and hopes surrounding cloning and stem cell research. It aims to provoke ethical debate in evaluating such research.     

我国消费信贷立法应借鉴澳大利亚《消费信贷法案》

随着我国金融市场管制的不断削弱,必将会显现出对加强消费信贷立法的需要。我国消费信用立法还很薄弱,澳大利亚《消费信贷法案》中特别体现保障消费者利益的立法精神,有利于信用经营者生存和发展的特别安排、消费信贷合同的担保与保证。信贷提供者、消费供应者及消费者之间关系的有关内容,可为我国消费信贷立法吸收和借鉴;我国应针对消费信贷中存在的主要问题,有步骤地适时合理地吸收和借鉴澳大利亚《消费信贷法案》。     

The effect of the method of burial on adipocere formation

A controlled laboratory experiment was conducted in order to investigate the effect of the method of burial (i.e. the presence of coffin and clothing) on the formation of adipocere. This study follows previous studies by the authors who have investigated the effect of physical conditions on the formation of adipocere present in a controlled burial environment. The study utilises infrared spectroscopy to provide a preliminary lipid profile of the remains following a 12 month decomposition period. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry was employed as a technique for determining the salts of fatty acids present in adipocere. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used as the confirmatory test for the identification and determination of the chemical composition of adipocere which formed in the controlled burial environments. The results suggest that coffins will retard the rate at which adipocere forms but that clothing enhances its formation. The results concur with previous observations on adipocere formation in burial environments.