If Brain Scans Really Detected Deception,Who Would Volunteer to be Scanned?

Abstract: Recent neuroimaging studies investigating the neural correlates of deception among healthy people, have raised the possibility that such methods may eventually be applied during legal proceedings. Were this so, who would volunteer to be scanned? We report a “natural experiment” casting some light upon this question. Following broadcast of a television series describing our team’s investigative neuroimaging of deception in 2007, we received unsolicited (public) correspondence for 12 months. Using a customized template to examine this material, three independent assessors unanimously rated 30 of an initial 56 communications as unequivocally constituting requests for a “scan” (to demonstrate their author’s “innocence”). Compared with the rest, these index communications were more likely to originate from incarcerated males, who were also more likely to engage in further correspondence. Hence, in conclusion, if neuroimaging were to become an acceptable means of demonstrating innocence then incarcerated males may well constitute those volunteering for such investigation.     

A just soldier's dilemma: facing a war that does not meet jus ad bellum criteria

In our challenging times individuals in military services may find themselves in the position of being called to contribute to a war whose overall justice they personally find morally suspect, or about which they have moral qualms. The right course of action in this situation can be a serious dilemma. Applying the principle of double effect to this dilemma recognizes essential state responsibility for war, but does not discount the soldier's personal moral responsibilities or individual will. This novel application of the principle of double effect treats damage produced by participating in a questionable war as a side-effect of pursuing other—clearly justifiable—intentions. The just war tradition already uses the principle of double effect when weighing the permissibility of individuals' acts in war, such as choosing bombing targets. The proposal here is to evaluate the decision to contribute to the war effort at all. This adaptation of the classic just war principle of double effect can be used to justify some—but not all—individual participation when a war's state-level justification is suspect.     

Challenging DNA: Assessment of a range of genotyping approaches for highly degraded forensic samples

It is common in forensic casework to encounter highly degraded DNA samples from a variety of sources. In this category bone and teeth samples are often the principal source of evidential material for criminal investigations or identification of long-deceased individuals. In these circumstances standard STRs are prone to fail due to their long amplicon sizes (since DNA becomes progressively more fragmented as it degrades). To successfully resolve such cases alternative markers can be used and until recently the only other tool available was mitochondrial DNA, which despite being more resistant to degradation, is much less informative. A rapidly developing approach to analyzing degraded DNA is the typing of loci from short-amplicon PCR products based on markers such as mini-STRs and autosomal SNPs. We have performed an analysis of several cases with naturally degraded DNA using established STRs plus mini-STRs and autosomal SNPs in order to make an objective comparison of the performance of each method using challenging DNA. The main aim was to establish the benefits and drawbacks of each marker set to help the practitioner choose the DNA analysis method most suited to the circumstances of each case.     

Mediators or partners? Practitioner perspectives on partnership

Partnership has become a key word in the jargon of international development. This article presents the results of research into the perspectives of Cambodian and Filipino NGO workers on their funding relationships. Largely confirming the negative literature about partnership, practitioners generally expressed a view that their relationships with funders are not consistent with the rhetoric of power sharing and collaboration that often accompanies discussions of the subject. In spite of this, practitioners articulated a desire for collaborative relationships with Northern organisations, ideally with a greater focus on the local context and personal relationships. Practitioners believe that an important part of their role is mediating development in order to make it more relevant and responsive.     

Single sperm cell isolation by micromanipulation for human identification in sexual assault

This study proposes a new alternative solution in preferential extraction methods or microdissection to isolate and analyse single sperm cells in case of sexual assault. After the transfer of swabs in liquid culture medium, perpetrator's spermatozoas can be physically separated from victim's epithelial cells by using classical techniques of micromanipulation as ICSI (IntraCytoplasmic Spermatozoa Injection), usually applied for IVF (In vitro Fertilization).     

Two arch criteria of the ilium for sex determination of immature skeletal remains: A test of their accuracy and an assessment of intra- and inter-observer error

Although the assignment of sex to immature skeletal remains is considered problematic, some traits have been considered useful for both forensic and bioarchaeological applications. One such trait is the arch criterion found in subadult ilia, which is defined relative to the greater sciatic notch-auricular surface area. In adults, the composite arch has also been described in relation to this area and has proven relatively successful in sex determination. This study offers an examination of the accuracy of the arch criterion and the composite arch in determining the sex of subadult skeletal remains, and an assessment of intra- and inter-observer scoring error. A sample of 97 skeletons of known sex and age (<15 years) from the Lisbon collection (Portugal) were selected and the traits were scored by three observers on orthogonal photos of each ilium. In general the agreement within (67.7–88.5%) and between (50.5–76.3%) examiners was poor and overall accuracy (26.7–52.6%) did not meet the expectations of that reported in previous studies. The authors suggest that this derives from great variation in morphology, difficulties in interpreting criteria and possibly a lack of association between the expression of the traits and sex. Careful examination of sex-related morphology in the immature skeleton and additional blind tests of so-called useful traits should continue to be carried out.