Typing the 1.1 kb control region of human mitochondrial DNA in Japanese individuals

This study presents a reliable method that uses high-fidelity long-range PCR and optimized primers to assess polymorphism and to genotype human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). This method was used to analyze polymorphic sites in the human mtDNA control region, including hypervariable regions I, II, and III (HVI, HVII, and HVIII), from 124 unrelated Japanese individuals. In HVI, HVII, and HVIII, 80, 37, and 14 polymorphic sites were identified, respectively, excluding those in the homopolymeric cytosine stretch (C-stretch) regions. The region between HVI and HVII also contained 15 polymorphic sites. On the other hand, C-stretch length heteroplasmy in HVI or HVII was observed in 66 of 124 Japanese individuals (53%), which is much higher than in Caucasian populations. The variants in the C-stretch regions were characterized by counting the number of heteroplasmic peaks split from the single peak in homoplasmic sequences (i.e., 16244G and 16255G in HVI and 285G in HVII). Including the C-stretch length heteroplasmy, the 124 Japanese mtDNA samples were classified into 116 distinct haplotypes. The random match probability and the genetic diversity were estimated to be 0.95% and 0.998581, respectively, indicating that the method presented here has higher discrimination than the conventional method for mtDNA typing using HVI and HVII. [Correction added after publication 30 January 2007: in the preceding sentence random match probability and genetic diversity estimates were corrected from 0.95 and 0.998581%, respectively, to 0.95% and 0.998581, respectively.] The haplogroups and their frequencies observed in this study (i.e., D4; 13.7%, M7a1; 11.3%, D4a; 9.7% and M7b2; 8.9%) were similar to those observed in other studies of Japanese mtDNA polymorphism. The method described here is suitable for forensic applications, as shown by successful analysis of tissues from highly putrefied remains of an infant, which allowed maternal relationship to be determined via mtDNA haplotyping.     

Forensic mitochondrial DNA analysis of 116 casework skeletal samples

Between February 1999 and May 2005, 116 DNA extractions were completed on skeletal remains from routine casework. Overall, at least a partial mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) profile was obtained on 83.6% of samples. Skeletal remains fell into two general categories: (1) samples for body identifications submitted by law enforcement and (2) samples submitted to answer historical or family identity questions. Body identification cases were more likely to yield full mtDNA profiles, whereas historical cases were more likely to result in partial profiles. Overall, the ability to obtain a full or partial profile primarily reflects the difference in the average age and condition of the samples in these two categories and thus, difference in the quantity and quality of the DNA. Cremated remains were uniformly unsuccessful, whereas infant/fetal remains were uniformly successful. Heteroplasmy in skeletal remains was observed at a rate similar to that in hair ( approximately 10%). For body identification cases, skeletal remains had the same mtDNA profile as the accompanying reference sample in 50% of cases.     

论我国刑事证据规则的完善

证据规则是指确认证据的范围,调整和约束证明行为的法律规范的总称,是收集证据、采用证据、核实证据、运用证据时所必须遵循的准则。在诉讼活动中,证据规则可以规范诉讼各方的取证和举证行为。在根据证据认定事实时,证剧规则可以限制对证据的自由取舍。在我国刑事诉讼制度中,证据规则贫乏、内容粗糙,相关证据规范没能形成完整的证据制度体系。虽然,近年通过司法解释的方式补充规定了一些证据规则,但远不能满足司法实践的需要。因此,我们应该在充分考虑我国国情的基础上,借鉴外国立法经验,建立健全我国的刑事证据的取证、采证、查证、定案规则。     

我国西部地区宗教政策法律问题研究

我国西部地区民族问题复杂，宗教派别多，宗教政策得当与否关系到西部地区的发展甚至统一。我国自明清以来已经形成了系统的宗教政策，如何运用政策与法律妥善解决西部地区的宗教和民族问题仍是我们当代急需研究的一项重要课题。     

推进欠发达地区电子政务发展的几点思考

本文结合欠发达地区电子政务开发实际阐述了在这些地区发展电子政务过程中应该坚持的主要原则,以及在电子政务发展过程中存在的问题,并提出了在电子政务发展过程中应采取的对策。     

English Question or Union Question? Neither has Easy Answers

While devolution has provided a stronger political voice for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland since the late 1990s, it is only in the past few years that English public opinion appears to have become exercised by the lack of similar arrangements for England. The renewed debates over the character of the Union after the Scottish independence referendum reveal a desire for ‘fair treatment’ of England within a Union conceived as a partnership of equals. At the same time, numerous proposals have been made for devolution of power within England, reflecting long‐held concerns about the territorial hegemony of London. Solutions to the former issue include English votes for English laws and an English Parliament. Solutions to the latter include city‐regions, strengthened local government, the first of these appears to be the government's preferred route, in the light of the recent ‘Greater Manchester Agreement’. However, none of these ‘solutions’ can count on being implemented.     

Combination of Face Regions in Forensic Scenarios

This article presents an experimental analysis of the combination of different regions of the human face on various forensic scenarios to generate scientific knowledge useful for the forensic experts. Three scenarios of interest at different distances are considered comparing mugshot and CCTV face images using MORPH and SC face databases. One of the main findings is that inner facial regions combine better in mugshot and close CCTV scenarios and outer facial regions combine better in far CCTV scenarios. This means, that depending of the acquisition distance, the discriminative power of the facial regions change, having in some cases better performance than the full face. This effect can be exploited by considering the fusion of facial regions which results in a very significant improvement of the discriminative performance compared to just using the full face.     

现代区域文化建设探析

现代区域文化具有丰富的内涵及鲜明的时代特征。要通过构建现代区域文化识别系统、建立特色文化区域、发展现代区域文化产业、充分利用现代高新技术手段构建区域文化信息资源网络传输系统和促进优秀文化信息的共建共享等途径建设现代区域文化。     

论盗窃信用卡并使用行为的定性

我国刑法典第196条第3款规定,盗窃信用卡并使用的,以盗窃罪论处。对盗窃信用卡并使用的行为完全按盗窃罪论处是不妥当的,应具体案件具体分析,此行为可能按盗窃罪,或信用卡诈骗罪或诈骗罪处理,故建议删除该款规定。     

广东省次发达地区人才资源开发的问题与对策

广东要想率先基本实现社会主义现代化的战略目标,次发达地区必须加快发展步伐。然而,人才资源开发的滞后已成为广东省次发达地区发展的主要制约因素。因此,实施区域性的整体性人才资源开发,调整人才结构,乃是次发达地区冲破发展瓶颈的制胜之策。