The individuality of fibres used to provide forensic evidence--not all blue polyesters are the same.

Fibres used in forensic casework suffer from a disadvantage common to other forms of trace evidence--it is not possible to state with absolute certainty that they originate from a specific source. Target fibre studies, population studies and research on 'blocks of colour' have effectively demonstrated the polymorphism of textile fibres (particularly man-made ones) and have shown that when a fibre is believed to have a specific putative source, the chance that it has originated from a different source purely by coincidence is extremely remote. A study by Houck MM (Houck MM, Inter-comparison of unrelated fibre evidence. Forensic Science International 2003; 135: 146-149) has shown that no coincidental matching fibres were recovered from items of clothing examined in 20 unrelated crimes. The study involved over two million comparisons. This work goes a step further, and using the example of blue polyester fibres shows that even within a very narrow segment of the whole general fibre population, many examples of a specific colour/type of man-made fibre taken from random sources can be compared and the chance of any two being the same is very low. These studies should help to show the specificity and value of transferred fibres in providing forensic evidence.     

Doctors in Extremity

Book Reviews in This Article:
Robert Jay Lifton, The Nazi Doctors: Medical Killing and the Psychology of Genocide.
Eric Stovcr and Elena O. Nightingak, eds., The Breaking of Bodies and Minds: Torture, Psychiatric Abuse and the Health Professions.
Elliot S. Valenstein, Great and Desperate Cures: The Rise and Decline of Psychosurgery and Other Related Treatments for Mental Illness.     

Family Context and Childhood Adjustment Associated with Intrafamilial Unwanted Sexual Attention

Unwanted sexual attention (UWSA) encompasses unsolicited verbal comments, gestures, stares, and other noncontact behaviors made regarding one's sexuality and physical appearance. The present study examined the correlates and impact of such UWSA perpetrated toward girls by family members. The first objective of the study was to explore whether family climate is associated with intrafamilial UWSA. This included looking at three types of dysfunctional parenting styles (unaffectionate, unavailable, and patriarchal) as well as exploring the co-occurrence of UWSA by adult and child relatives. The second objective was to then measure the impact of such intrafamilial UWSA on childhood emotional health, after controlling for parenting style and the experience of more traditional forms of child sexual abuse (CSA). Of the 296 university women (mean age = 19) who participated in the study, 70% (N = 206) reported UWSA from a family member prior to age 18. Whereas each dysfunctional parenting style was related to presence of UWSA, a simultaneous multiple regression analysis indicated that two of the parenting styles, patriarchal and parental unavailability, also predicted frequency of nonphysical UWSA within the family. Presence of UWSA from a child relative was significantly correlated with presence of UWSA from an adult relative. Additionally, a hierarchical multiple regression, entering the three parenting styles simultaneously in the first step, childhood sexual abuse in the second step, and familial UWSA in the last step, indicated that the frequency of UWSA by family members significantly predicted poorer childhood mental health when controlling for the other variables. Overall, results indicate that while the specific parenting styles which co-occur with UWSA may be detrimental in their own right, the impact of UWSA on girls appears to be above and beyond that of either parenting styles or CSA. Clinical implications are discussed.     

大学图书馆电子化及其在互动教学中的作用

本文从当前高校传统图书馆建设的弊端分析入手,从高校网络建设的利弊分析和扬长避短、趋利避害着眼,论述了如何经济可行地在信息化社会将高校图书馆与高校网络建设有机地结合起来,适应信息社会潮流,开展互动式教学,提高办学层次,在市场经济和教育产业化条件下,创造规模效益式的办学优势。     

准联盟外交探析

准联盟外交是国家间在非正式安全合作协定基础上开展的安全合作,它具有隐蔽性、动态性和开放性等特点.此外交模式的运作不依靠盟约,而依靠领导人互访、口头承诺、非正式安全协定或对外援助.当获得外部战略资源与保持外交自主性在决策者心里达成一种平衡时,准联盟外交就会比联盟外交和中立外交更具吸引力.实证研究表明,无论是中立国家还是结盟国家都推行过准联盟外交,这为中国开展准联盟外交提供了理论依据.     

拥挤理论在超市结算区人群管理中的应用

通过确定超市结算区人体平均投影面积,给出了结算区最大容许人数。利用拥挤理论,根据不同时段下的人群到达率,得出了收款台最低开放台数,并据此对结算区内人群聚集风险进行了分析。在综合考虑结算区的最大容许人数、人群可忍受的平均等候时间及机器利用率的基础上,确定了各时段的收款台最佳开放数。从超市的自身效益、购物环境和聚集人群安全性出发,针对超市结算区的人群聚集风险提出了可行的减缓措施。     

Sino-U.S. Confrontation over Chávez Regime Imminent？

The controversial Chávez government has complicated Sino- U.S. relations. However, China's presence in Venezuela does not pose a threat to U.S. national security,and, in the near future, confrontation between China and the United States over Venezuela is unlikely.