朝贡体系下古代东亚秩序形成与维系的内在逻辑——批判地借鉴英国学派的分析方法

古代东亚秩序的形成与维系,同历史悠久的朝贡体系有着直接的关系。因此,要有效揭示古代东亚秩序的内在逻辑,应当批判地借鉴以历史主义见长的英国学派的分析方法,探讨朝贡体系的运行机制和内在本质。在古代,中国与朝鲜长时段的朝贡体系实质上是一种由中国主导并以其特有文化为基础、周边诸政权普遍认可和积极参与的特殊国际制度。就中国而言,完全独立的政治体制、自给自足的经济结构、等级制的世界观,使其对外部的需求仅限于其他政权对其至高无上地位的承认及其对相关制度安排的服从。而对周边诸政权来说,只有与实力超强的中国建立朝贡关系,它们才能获得合法性和安全保障,并取得与中国贸易的机会,从而实现生存与发展两大目标。由此可以得出如下结论:在缺乏文化共识的前提下,由地区强国主导,可以促成某种功能性的国际制度,使地区秩序得以维护,并在交往过程中反向促成文化认同。这一结论修正了英国学派关于共有文化与国际制度的关系的观点。     

The effect of household corrosive substances on latent fingermark development in the context of deliberate corrosive substance attacks

Corrosive substance attacks (CSA) are a prevalent issue in the UK with 525 offenses involving a corrosive substance reported to the police in the year ending March 2022. Easy availability, low cost, and concealability in public are common reasons for choosing a corrosive substance as a weapon. The Metropolitan Police revealed that 68% of 1849 CSA cases resulted in no suspect identified or evidential difficulties. There is limited research into the effect of corrosive substances on latent fingermarks. This study aimed to determine the potential for fingermarks to be recovered from surfaces exposed to a household corrosive substance within the context of a deliberate CSA. Natural and sebaceous-loaded fingermarks were exposed to Domestos bleach, Harpic limescale remover (hydrochloric acid-based) and lemon juice. Harpic limescale remover had the most detrimental effect, with only 7.1% of fingermarks (n = 378) exposed being identifiable (defined as sufficient clear ridge detail for identification) after enhancement, followed by bleach with only 10.3% of fingermarks (n = 378) identifiable. Lemon juice had the least detrimental effect on fingermarks, with 40.5% fingermarks (n = 378) identifiable compared to 53.4% for the controls (not exposed to any substance; n = 378). Throughout the study, fewer natural fingermarks were identifiable after exposure to corrosive substances compared to sebaceous fingermarks which was as expected. Overall, this study demonstrated that there is potential to recover latent fingermarks, depending on their composition, following exposure to a household corrosive substance. This area warrants further research to establish best practice to maximize the potential to recover identifiable fingermarks.     

Radiograms of the paranasal sinuses as a principle of identifying catastrophe victims and unknown skeletons

The paper is devoted to the identification on the base of X-ray of frontal sinuses. These sinuses, developed in puberty doesn't change its shape during aging. Differentiation of the size and shape of sinuses is remarkable and probably is one of the individual features of the man. The system of classification of sinuses is proposed, basing on the area size, shape and symmetry. In the current everyday practice all X-ray radiograms are destroyed after five years of storage in Poland. For identification purpose all radiograms of sinuses and A-P punctures of skull should be stored in radiology departments, and arranged according to proposed classification system. The case is presented, in which the pictures of skull were the base of successful identification of skeleton.     

平衡、融合与引导——试析新世界秩序构建中的中国作用

频繁的世界危机凸显出全球化时代下国际问题不可阻挡的跨国溢出与无序的世界治理秩序之间的深刻矛盾。从能源到气候变化问题,从大规模杀伤性武器的扩散到传染性疾病的防治,从国际金融系统的稳定到跨国宏观经济协调,政治、经济、安全问题复杂交织,世界越来越陷入动荡不安之中。当前处于世界新秩序重构的重要转型时期,中国不断增加的国家实力、声望和影响力赋予其在世界新秩序的构建中举足轻重的地位。本文旨在阐述中国在新秩序构建中的力量平衡、制度融合与理念引导作用。     

National determinants of international preferences in post-communist Europe: The case of Slovakia in the European Union

This paper shows that the dominant theory of European integration, the liberal inter-governmentalism, contains several assumptions about the process and character of national preference formation that may not be fully met in the post-communist EU member states. It argues that the primacy of economic and societal interests in influencing positions of national governments should not be taken for granted. Using Slovakia as an example, it demonstrates the autonomy of political and bureaucratic actors and importance of their preferences. It is also argued that ideational and exogenous factors should not be left out in constructing a realistic framework of national preference formation.     

Microscopical discrimination of human head hairs sharing a mitochondrial haplogroup

In forensic analyses, determining the level of consensus among examiners for hair comparison conclusions and ancestry identifications is important for assessing the scientific validity of microscopical hair examinations. Here, we present data from an interlaboratory study on the accuracy of microscopical hair comparisons among a subset of experienced hair examiners currently analyzing hair in forensic laboratories across the United States. We examined how well microscopical analysis of hair can reliably be used to differentiate hair samples, many of which were macroscopically similar. Using cut hair samples, many sharing similar macroscopic and microscopic features, collected from individuals who share the same mitochondrial haplogroup as an indication of genetic relatedness, we tested multiple aspects that could impact hair comparisons. This research tested the extent to which morphological features related to ancestry and hair length influence conclusions. Microscopical hair examinations yielded accurate assessments of inclusion/exclusion relative to the reference samples among 85% of the pairwise comparisons. We found shorter hairs had reduced levels of accuracy and hairs from populations examiners were not familiar with may have impacted their ability to resolve features. The reliability of ancestry determinations is not yet clear, but we found indications that the existing categories are only somewhat related to current ethnic and genetic variation. Our results provide support for the continued utility of microscopical comparison of hairs within forensic laboratories and to advocate for a combined analytical approach using both microscopical analysis and mtDNA data on all forensic analyses of hair.     

Quantification of psilocin in human whole blood using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS)

There has been burgeoning interest in psilocybin-use for the treatment of various neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. Psilocybin is mistakenly perceived as the principal pharmacologically active compound due to its high concentrations found in magic mushrooms; however, it is the prodrug of psilocin. Despite the expanding body of clinical research seeking to understand the pharmacodynamic/pharmacokinetic properties of psilocin, and its role in inducing dramatic changes to cognitive function, there has not been a corresponding increase in the development of sensitive analytical methods that can quantify psilocin in different biological fluids. Existing analytical methods have been developed using plasma, serum, and urine as the matrix of choice, but with the unknown blood-to-plasma ratio of psilocin, any pharmacokinetic conclusions drawn solely on plasma data may be misleading. Thus, the main objective of this study is to develop the first analytical method that utilizes SPE and LC–MS/MS to quantify psilocin in human whole blood. The SPE procedure yielded a high recovery efficiency (≥89%) with minimal matrix effects. The method was validated according to ANSI/ASB 036 guidelines. Linearity was between 0.7–200 ng/mL and encompassed previously reported ranges found in plasma/serum. Bias, within- and between-run precision for all quality controls met ANSI/ASB 036 acceptability criteria. Endogenous/exogenous interferences and carryover were negligible. Psilocin stability was assessed at 4°C over 48 h and was considered stable. Although a proof-of-concept study will need to be performed to characterize the method, this analytical workflow was able to detect and quantify psilocin in human whole blood at low limits of quantification.     

Assessment of body fluid identification and DNA profiling after exposure to tropical weather conditions

Despite current advances in body fluid identification, there are few studies evaluating the effect of environmental conditions. The present work assessed the detection of body fluids, blood, semen, and saliva, through lateral flow immunochromatographic (LFI) tests, exposed to tropical weather conditions over time, also evaluating the possibility of obtaining STR (short tandem repeat) profiles and identifying mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) polymorphisms. Blood, semen, saliva samples, and mixtures of these fluids were deposited on polyester clothes and exposed to open-air tropical weather conditions for 1 month. The test versions from LFI (SERATEC®, Germany) Lab and crime scene (CS) used for the detection – one per each body fluid type – demonstrated that it is possible to identify body fluids and their mixtures up to 14 days after deposition. At 30 days, blood and semen were detected but not saliva. Full STR profiles were obtained from 14-day-old blood samples, and partial profiles were obtained from the remaining samples. It was possible to sequence mtDNA in the samples previously analyzed for STR profiling, and haplogroups could be assigned. In conclusion, this study demonstrated for the first time the possibility of body fluid identification and DNA profiling after exposure to tropical weather conditions for 1 month and also demonstrated the value of mtDNA analysis for compromised biological evidence.