Microwave processing and ethanol-based fixation in forensic pathology

An ethanol-based fixative (FineFIX) has been used, together with rapid microwave-stimulated processing, in postmortem material, resulting in a rapid fixation and processing of the tissues with morphology, histochemical stains, and immunocytochemistry comparable to formalin-fixed material. Furthermore, this alternative fixation gives better DNA recovery in higher amounts if compared with DNA extracted from formalin-fixed tissue, particularly advantageous in forensic pathology.     

A quantitative differentiation method for plastic bags by infrared spectroscopy, thickness measurement and differential scanning calorimetry for tracing the source of illegal drugs

Fifty shopping bags, commonly encountered in the packaging of drug doses, were characterized by thickness measurements, infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. By these very straightforward and inexpensive techniques, without sample preparation, nearly all the considered samples could be discriminated. Ninety-seven percent of the possible pairs of white, apparently similar dull polymer films were differentiated. The rather large degree of variability existing in grocery bags, even though they are mass produced, was shown, confirming that these items can be useful in tracing the source of illicit drug doses.     

Basic research and the success of federal lab-industry partnerships

This paper examines the role that basic research plays in the strategies pursued by industry in their interactions with federal labs. It draws on questionnaire-based data of 229 federal laboratory-industry joint R&D projects with 219 companies and 27 laboratories. The study documents the relative importance of basic research in the success of the interactions by comparing the incidence of basic research on several indicators of success. The study shows that, even though projects involving basic research tend to have higher costs, they also have a high percentage of product outputs in the short term. Typical high payoff strategies for partnership were those in which the company performed several technical roles and the federal laboratory was more narrowly focused. The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the National Science Foundation, Research on Science and Technology Program, Contract No. 9220125. The views expressed here are the authors' and do not necessarily reflect those of the National Science Foundation or any other institution.     

论行政法的宪政基础——对行政法与宪法之间关系的再认识

在对行政法与宪法之间关系的认识上,我国行政法学界的主流观点存在一定的片面性。事实上,行政法与宪法具有作为公法的同一性;两者之间也存在作为部门法的差异性;最为重要的是,“宪政国家是行政法的前提”,行政法必须构建在宪政基础之上——行政权的合法性来自于其在宪政结构中的地位与职能、宪政控制行政法治的性质与方向、宪政决定并塑造行政法的风貌与品格。中国行政法同样需要具备宪政基础。     

Male amelogenin dropouts: phylogenetic context, origins and implications

Several commercial PCR multiplex kits incorporate the amelogenin locus for the purpose of human gender identification. Consequently, erroneous results in the electropherogram profile of this locus can carry important forensic implications. In this study, dropout of the amelogenin Y allele was detected in 5 out of 77 phenotypically normal Kathmandu males using the AmpFlSTR Identifiler kit. A battery of male-specific markers including SNPs, STRs, STSs, and a minisatellite were amplified for the five amelogenin null samples in order to delineate the breakpoints of the deletions as well as assess the overall integrity of the Y-chromosome. This study represents the first to examine the haplogroup affiliation of the AMGY deletions. The analyses performed suggest a single origin for the five deletions as indicated by their allocation to a specific Y-haplogroup (J2b2-M241), related Y-STR haplotypes and identical regional localization of breakpoints. The age estimated from the microsatellite variation for the amelogenin deletions (if they are associated by descent) is approximately 6.5+/-3.3 ky, younger than the previously reported related age of the M241 haplogroup representatives (13-14 ky). Our data in combination with previous publications suggest a concentration of afflicted individuals in the Indian subcontinent, possibly as a result of common ancestry. The elevated incidence of the amelogenin dropout in these populations accentuates the need to utilize other loci for gender determination in order to obtain an accurate set of inclusion criteria in forensic casework.     

《公安信息系统应用》课程与警察院校计算机基础教学改革

目前,大学各专业的专业课与公共基础课在课时安排上面临较大冲突,计算机课程要如何安排才能培养学生的计算思维能力,满足不同专业学生共同面对的信息化时代的需求,是我们需要深入思考与讨论的问题。我们针对公安"二学位"学生的计算机应用水平较大差异的特点,对计算机基础课程《公安信息系统应用》从教学内容、教学大纲、教学方法与手段上进行了一系列改革探讨,为警察院校计算机基础教学改革提供新的思路。     

农用地质量是由哪些要素构成的?——农用地分等规程解读

农用地的基本功能是为社会提供农产品,其质量可以用产量水平进行度量.该文解读了《农用地分等规程》采用定量方法综合评定农用地的质量所涉及“天”、“地”、“生”、“人”四个方面因素.“天”的因素是宏观的,是决定一个地区耕地自然质量的首要条件,其连续变化的特点,是耕地等别序列全国可比性的自然基础.“地”的因素是区域性和地方性的,决定着耕地自然属性特征的多样性,也是导致耕地自然质量差异显著、评价因素复杂的主要原因.“生”的因素是耕地形成有效产出的关键,作物品种的差异不仅影响耕地的产量,更影响农产品的品质.“人”是开发、利用和改造耕地的关键因素,具有巨大的建设能力或破坏力量.最后,该文认为遵循因地制宜、合理利用的原则,通过土地整治,提高耕地质量,将是中国耕地保护与生产能力建设的重要途径.     

Benefiting from Public Sector Innovation: The Moderating Role of Customer and Learning Orientation

This article examines whether the payoff from engaging in innovation‐generating activities is contingent on an organization's level of customer and learning orientation. The authors suggest that innovative activity is associated with higher public service quality when the level of customer and learning orientation within the focal organization is high. They test this hypothesis by drawing on a novel panel data set covering all public nonspecialist hospital organizations in England. Using dynamic panel data estimation techniques, the authors find strong support for a direct relationship between innovative activity and public service quality and for a moderating role of both customer and learning orientation. These findings call for a contingency perspective on public sector innovation and highlight some of the boundary conditions that need to be in place if public service organizations are to benefit fully from their innovative activities.