Model for the prediction of mechanical asphyxia as the cause of death based on four biological indexes in human cardiac tissue

Determination of mechanical asphyxia as the cause of death has always been difficult for forensic pathologists, particularly when signs of asphyxia are not obvious on the body. Currently, depending on only physical examination of corpses, pathologists must be cautious when making cause-of-death appraisals. In a previous study, four biomarkers—dual-specificity phosphatase 1 (DUSP1), potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily J member 2 (KCNJ2), miR-122, and miR-3185—were screened in human cardiac tissue from cadavers that died from mechanical asphyxia compared with those that died from craniocerebral injury, hemorrhagic shock, or other causes. Expression of the markers correlated with death from mechanical asphyxia regardless of age, environmental temperature, and postmortem interval. However, a single biological index is not an accurate basis for the identification of the cause of death. In this study, receiver operating characteristic curves of the ΔCq values of the four indexes were generated. The diagnostic accuracy of the indexes was judged according to their area under the curve (DUSP1: 0.773, KCNJ2: 0.775, miR-122: 0.667, and miR-3185: 0.801). Finally, a nomogram was generated, and single blind experiment was conducted to verify the cause of death of mechanical asphyxia.     

Changing Attitudes about the Weak: Social and Legal Conditions for Animal Protection in China

ABSTRACT

The foundation of current legal protection for animals in China is based on the principle of “rational utilization.” This utilitarian attitude supports the exploitation of animals through the legal means of resource management. However, through a process of public education and the construction of recent legislation, attitudes toward animals are rapidly changing in China. After the introduction of the concept of animal welfare in China in 1989, preliminary socioeconomic events such as early laboratory animal science, animal cruelty reports, pet ownership, engagement in international trade, and the severe acute respiratory syndrom (SARS) epidemic helped spur a trend away from a purely utilitarian attitude toward more positive associations with animals among members of the Chinese public. This phenomenon will be analyzed through the actions of non-governmental organizations, the media, academia, and international business to influence education and the development of legislation to promote animal protection practices. In addition, recent events will be used to illustrate political realities in China that impede the full promotion of animal welfare protection.     

乡村振兴战略下新疆城乡商贸物流融合水平测度与融合路径设计

城乡商贸与城乡物流融合发展有助于支撑乡村振兴战略的实现。本文分别构建了城乡商贸与城乡物流融合水平测度模型、路径分析模型,以测度融合水平、设计融合路径。研究表明:新疆城乡商贸和城乡物流子系统有序度整体呈现上升趋势,而复合系统融合度存在"协调-不协调"交替的特征;新疆城乡商贸与城乡物流总体上处于初级融合阶段,需要解决业务一体、空间集聚问题;乌鲁木齐市城乡商贸与城乡物流处于"业务分离、空间集聚"的中级融合阶段,需要通过"融合-分散型"→"融合-集聚型"的融合发展路径解决业务融合问题,具体措施包括鼓励商贸企业扩大物流业务外包、培育城乡商贸物流龙头企业、深入推进共同配送项目等方面。     

论民法基本原则之立法表达

民法基本原则是以实现民法既定任务和特定功能为目的的基本法律思想,非为裁判规范,但<德国民法典>之后的大陆法各国民法典均对之有明确表述,并超越了学说就<法国民法典>总结出来的三大原则,使之到达抽象程度更强、概括范围更大的高度.在我国<民法通则>规定的民法基本原则的基础之上,民法典官方草案及主要学者建议稿对于民法基本原则采用了有所差异的不同表达,但将"平等"、"意思自治"、"诚实信用"、"公序良俗"和"权利不得滥用"确定为我国民法基本原则,较为妥当.     

试论群体性事件中警察与媒体的关系建设

公安机关在群体性事件预防和处置过程当中,公共关系策略的运用发挥了重要的作用。媒体作为公安机关与公众之间联系的桥梁和纽带,其作用更加不容忽视。因此,我国公安机关有必要以科学的发展观为指导,以构建和谐社会为目标,积极探索在群体性事件当中警察与媒体的"双赢"关系建设。     

构建有效的权力监督制约机制

权力监督与制约是完善现代宪政与建设社会主义民主政治的一项重要举措。根据理论联系实际的原则,注重理论性与实践性的统一,抓好权力监督与制约的机制建设,对于权力的有效监督与制约以及当代和谐社会政治文明的建设均有重要的借鉴意义。     

计算机犯罪现场中的取证技术及应用

科学有效地应用计算机取证技术是侦办计算机犯罪案件的关键。计算机取证也称为计算机法医学,是把计算机运行环境看作是犯罪现场,运用相关的辨析技术,对计算机犯罪行为进行法医式的解剖,从而搜寻确认罪犯及犯罪证据,并据此提起诉讼。从理论上讲,计算机取证人员能否找到犯罪证据取决于有关犯罪证据是否被覆盖。但从海量的数据里面寻找蛛丝马迹是一件非常费时费力的工作,侦查人员必须具备相应的专业技能,并按照科学合理的步骤来实施计算机犯罪现场中的取证工作。     

Histopathological findings of cardiac conduction system of 150 Finns

One hundred and fifty heart specimens were collected from the cases submitted for autopsy in the Department of Forensic Medicine in the University of Turku in March-May 1995 and May-July 1996, respectively. The cardiac conduction system (CCS) of these hearts were examined in order to find out the histopathological changes in the CCS of Finnish persons and their forensic pathological significance. There were 94 males and 56 females. Almost all age groups were included. The results revealed that in most of the persons the fibrous tissue and fatty tissue in the CCS increased with aging. In about half of the persons, there was deposition of calcium in the central fibrous body, pars membranacea, and the top of the musculature in the interventricular septum. In seven cases, the atrioventricular node (AVN), His bundle (HB) or bundle branches (RBB, LBB) were compressed by the calcium deposition. Hemorrhage, inflammation, amyloidosis, tumor, fatty infiltration and developmental malformations were observed in 31 cases. Twenty-eight cases died of myocardial infarct, among them, no involvement of the CCS could be observed. The authors concluded that routine examination of the CCS is helpful for revealing diseases of the CCS and improving the quality of forensic pathological diagnosis.     

Interests,Power and China's Difficult Game in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)—an organization interpreted in various ways—officially announced that it intended to ensure regional security by countering international terrorism, ethnic separatism and religious extremism. This article discerns the motivations of the SCO members, arguing that they have their respective, albeit occasionally mutual, interests and priorities. There is generally asymmetry of interests—the principal reason why the SCO's strategic situation is largely a suasion game between China and the members—with China demonstrating a greater interest in the SCO; moreover, the power asymmetry between China and the Central Asian members and the power equality between China and Russia further complicates the situation. This sophisticated relationship implies that despite some measurable results, the SCO faces tremendous challenges in becoming a well-established regional organization.     

刑事诉讼制度的地方性试点改革

地方司法机关围绕刑事诉讼制度进行的试点改革,其兴起并趋于活跃不是偶然的,而是中国特有的刑事司法环境所形塑出来的多种因素与多重机制综合作用的结果。由于这些试点改革由地方司法机关主导,所以,它们在具体的实施中表现出了一些体现中国司法管理与司法制度的运行特点。实践中各种类型的试点改革共享类似的制度逻辑,具有共通的内在特质。它们最大的价值在于可以充当全国层面刑事诉讼制度改革的"实验室",为刑事诉讼立法提供实证依据与经验素材。作为一种高度技术化的法律改革活动,地方司法机关的试点改革存在诸多必须为我们所正视的技术缺陷。未来应该突破价值论的意识形态藩篱,采取有针对性的弥补措施,促进地方司法机关试点改革的发展。