Assessment of Maceration Techniques Used to Remove Soft Tissue from Bone in Cut Mark Analysis

Maceration techniques employed in forensics must be effective without compromising the bone's integrity and morphology, and prevent destruction of evidence. Techniques must also be fast, safe, easily obtainable and inexpensive; not all techniques currently employed are appropriate for forensic use. To evaluate the most suitable approach, seven techniques including current and new methodologies were applied to fresh, fleshed porcine ribs exhibiting cut marks. A sample size of 30 specimens per technique was examined under scanning electron microscopy at the cut mark and the surrounding uncompromised regions; a scoring system of effectiveness was applied. The previously unpublished microwave method fared best for bone and cut mark preservation. Sodium hypochlorite destroyed cut marks, and was deemed unsuitable for forensic analysis. No single technique fulfilled all criteria; however, this study provides a benchmark for forensic anthropologists to select the most appropriate method for their situation, while maintaining the high standards required by forensic science.     

论我国司法鉴定人出庭作证制度的完善

鉴定人出庭作证难是我国目前诉讼中面临的严峻问题。该问题的产生,既有意识的原因,也有体制原因;既有法律保障方面的原因,也有经济保障方面的原因。然而,鉴定人出庭作证是其合同义务和社会道义,更是法律义务。结合对普通法专家证人出庭作证的对比和分析,作者认为,单纯地强调鉴定人单方的责任是不够的,需要增强法律意识,提高鉴定质量,强调法律责任,加强法律保护,提高经济待遇。     

批判与超越:马克思主义和谐社会理论研究

马克思的和谐社会观作为科学的、全面的社会发展学说,关注的正是社会的经济、政治、文化诸种因素的综合而协调的发展,是人与自然的和睦相处,人与社会的全面进步,人的自由而全面的发展。     

论我国司法鉴定援助制度的构建

一、司法鉴定援助的缘由和价值援助,就是对弱势群体的救助。所谓弱势,就是低于一般水平或标准,比如智力的、文化的、行为能力的等等,不仅仅是经济的;所谓救助,也就是帮助、救济,同样,包括经济的、道义的,然而,就司法鉴定的援助方式,却更多的是法律意义上的帮助——证据支撑。与     

The detection of Y chromosomes in bloodstains--a reevaluation

A method has been described for detecting Y chromosomes in the leukocytes of human bloodstains prepared on a variety of substrates. The factors that influence the proportion of chromosomes exhibiting a Y spot (the Y cell index) in a bloodstain are considered, including the subjective nature of assessment of the Y chromosome fluorescence, the substrate, and the age of bloodstain. In contrast to previous workers no decay in Y cell index with the age of the stain was observed. The results of a blind trial involving stains derived from case work, where from other evidence there was no doubt as to the sex of the donor, are presented. Sixty-five percent of the male bloodstains were correctly identified and no females were wrongly reported as male.