Single source DNA profile recovery from single cells isolated from skin and fabric from touch DNA mixtures in mock physical assaults

The ability to obtain DNA profiles from trace biological evidence is routinely demonstrated with so-called ‘touch DNA evidence’, which is generally perceived to be the result of DNA obtained from shed skin cells transferred from a donor's hands to an object or person during direct physical contact. Current methods for the recovery of trace DNA employ swabs or adhesive tape to sample an area of interest. While of practical utility, such ‘blind-swabbing’ approaches will necessarily co-sample cellular material from the different individuals whose cells are present on the item, even though the individuals' cells are principally located in topographically dispersed, but distinct, locations on the item. Thus the act of swabbing itself artifactually creates some of the DNA mixtures encountered in touch DNA samples. In some instances involving transient contact between an assailant and victim, the victim's DNA may be found in such significant excess as to preclude the detection and typing of the perpetrator's DNA. In order to circumvent the challenges with standard recovery and analysis methods for touch DNA evidence, we reported previously the development of a ‘smart analysis’ single cell recovery and DNA analysis method that results in enhanced genetic analysis of touch DNA evidence. Here we use the smart single cell analysis method to recover probative single source profiles from individual and agglomerated cells from various touched objects and clothing items belonging to known donors. We then use the same approach for the detection of single source male donor DNA in simulated physical contact/assault mixture samples (i.e. male ‘assailant’ grabbing the wrist, neck or clothing from the female ‘victim’, or being in transient contact with bedding from the ‘victim’). DNA profiles attributable to the male or female known donors were obtained from 31% and 35% of the single and agglomerated bio-particles (putative cells) tested. The known male donor ‘assailant’ DNA profile was identified in the cell sampling from every mixture type tested. The results of this work demonstrate the efficacy of an alternative strategy to recover single source perpetrator DNA profiles in physical contact/assault cases involving trace perpetrator/victim cellular admixtures.     

Understanding of forensic expert reports by judges,defense lawyers and forensic professionals

Forensic scientists strongly advocate the use of likelihood ratios for expressing the diagnostic value of evidence in technical forensic reports. They call this the logically correct approach. The correct comprehension of such likelihood ratios by jurists, however, appears to be particularly problematic. The present research has empirically investigated this issue for defense lawyers and criminal judges. For comparative purposes forensic professionals, many of whom use the logically correct approach, were included in the study as well.

Using fictitious forensic reports, it was shown that proper understanding of likelihood ratios by jurists is quite poor, due mainly, but not exclusively, to the prosecutor's fallacy. Forensic professionals outperformed jurists to a large extent but made many mistakes themselves. It is further shown that participants’ self-expressed supposed level of understanding of logically correct conclusions is quite high and thus not justified by their levels of proper understanding. Suggestions for how to improve the situation are presented.     

Doing time after time: an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of reformed ex-prisoners' experiences of self-change,identity and career opportunities

Abstract

The study of desistance from crime has generated a wealth of research in the last few decades. Despite the many barriers ex-prisoners face when attempting to ‘go straight’ many successfully lead law-abiding lives. Two key features identified in criminal desistance are a shift to a pro-social identity and worthwhile employment or the development of a new career path. There is, however, little psychological knowledge available on reformed offenders' experiences of self-change. This study focuses on ex-prisoners' experiences of employment and career opportunities. Five male reformed offenders took part in semi-structured interviews. Data collected was subjected to an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Participants demonstrated that desistance involves a shift to a pro-social identity and that self-change was a positive experience. An important aspect to emerge was the conflict experienced by the label ‘ex-offender’, which had a contradictory influence on the men's sense of self.     

行政裁量基准的技术范式研究

"裁量基准运动"在实践中开展得如火如荼,理论研究也日渐深入,在防止裁量滥用、构建裁量治理模式方面确实起到了很大的作用。但是,裁量基准能否在实践中真正发挥自己应有的作用和效能,在很大程度上还取决于其制定过程中能否合理地考量各种技术因素。因此,将客观的技术标准植入主观的裁量过程,对影响裁量基准制定的因素予以量化,规划研究它们对于合理估量裁量因素的正义层级,以求改进裁量基准制定技术、保证个案正义将大有裨益。     

技术侦查证据应用的理论与实践

2012年刑事诉讼法修正案专门增加了技术侦查措施一节,并规定了通过技术侦查措施获取材料可以作为证据使用,但技术侦查证据应用的具体规则和制度,刑事诉讼法和相关司法解释并未明确。证据是刑事诉讼的核心,技术侦查证据的应用关系到技术侦查措施惩治犯罪功能的发挥,因此,立法应从证据收集、审查判断、应用程序等方面,进一步完善技术侦查证据应用制度。     

数字签名的技术与法律分析

数字签名的目的和作用主要是证明合同主体的真实身份、证明合同的保密性和完整性以及证明合同主体对合同的确认。而其证明力的有无及证明力的大小又是以技术作保障的,换言之,安全性是证明力的前提和基础,是法律承认其效力的基石。     

涉外经济犯罪若干侦查措施探析

涉外经济犯罪的侦查必须加强国际司法合作,适时采取诸如通缉、边控、境外缉捕等紧急性侦查措施,同时要加强技术防范,逐步建立高效的针对涉外经济犯罪的情报信息系统。     

加强中俄科技合作 促进我国西部开发——推荐30项中俄产业科技合作项目

加强对俄高科技产业合作已成为发展对俄经贸的一项重要战略内容、在可预见的未来．它将在中俄经贸关系中居先导地位。在我国实施西部大开发战略中．开展中俄产业科技大合作．必将有力地促进两国经济及经贸关系的大发展。为此．本文介绍了中国西部地区与俄罗斯的产业技术合作的历史与现实基础．提出了西部地区拟重点规划的３０项中俄产业科技合作项目以及西部大开发战略中的中俄产业科技合作方式。     

浙江省不同组织类型私营企业发展的比较研究

近几年来,浙江私营经济出现了从初级的传统市场经济向高级的现代市场经济演变的生动画面,企业制度的发展呈现出从个体作坊、家庭工商业逐步向现代公司制企业发展的鲜明特点;企业的产权结构从比较封闭单一逐步走向开放和多元化;企业领导层构成逐步社会化、职业化;家庭成员居多的现象逐步减少,管理人员与技术人员开始较多地参与企业高层决策;企业开始注重建立自己的销售网络,建立独立或合作的研究开发机构。     

宁前胡内生真菌的培养分离与鉴定

目的 对安徽道地药材白花前胡内生真菌进行培养分离与鉴定。方法 通过组织块法对宁前胡进行内生真菌的分离,采用形态学和分子生物学相结合的手段进行鉴定。结果 从宁前胡中共计分离得到41株内生真菌,分属于10属21种,分别为Fusarium、Penicillium、Aspergillus、Alternaria、Tricladium、Phoma、Collariella、Rhizoctonia、Colletotrichum、Trichoderma。分布最广的类群是镰孢霉属Fusarium sp.,其分离频率为29.27%;其次是青霉属Penicillium sp.和链格孢属Alternaria sp.,其分离频率均为19.51%,为其优势种属。结论 宁前胡中含有丰富的内生真菌资源,进一步开发利用宁前胡中内生真菌资源具有重要意义。