DNA Preservation in Skeletal Elements from the World Trade Center Disaster: Recommendations for Mass Fatality Management*,†

Abstract: The World Trade Center (WTC) victim identification effort highlights taphonomic influences on the degradation of DNA from victims of mass fatality incidents. This study uses a subset of the WTC‐Human Remains Database to evaluate differential preservation of DNA by skeletal element. Recovery location, sex, and victim type (civilian, firefighter, or plane passenger) do not appear to influence DNA preservation. Results indicate that more intact elements, as well as elements encased in soft tissue, produced slightly higher identification rates than more fragmented remains. DNA identification rates by element type conform to previous findings, with higher rates generally found in denser, weight‐bearing bones. However, smaller bones including patellae, metatarsals, and foot phalanges yielded rates comparable to both femora and tibiae. These elements can be easily sampled with a disposable scalpel, and thus reduce potential DNA contamination. These findings have implications for DNA sampling guidelines in future mass fatality incidents.     

The Development and Evaluation of Radiological Decontamination Procedures for Documents,Document Inks,and Latent Fingermarks on Porous Surfaces*†

Abstract: Criminal acts such as an attack utilizing a radiological dispersal device (RDD or dirty bomb), the manufacture of such a device, or the illicit trafficking of radioactive materials would warrant a criminal investigation. This could involve the collection, transportation, and analysis of radiologically contaminated trace evidence. But are law enforcement agencies and forensic scientists capable of dealing with this? This research investigates the decontamination efficacy of two decontamination techniques (chemical and physical) designed for the removal of radiological material from documents of forensic importance. The impact that these procedures have on the development of latent fingermarks and the forensic analysis of the inks on these documents is also studied. It was found that slight changes in the color and chemical composition of a variety of document inks and a destruction of fingermark ridges occurred after chemical decontamination. Physical decontamination had no impact on these parameters.     

Public support for state surveillance

This study examines citizens’ support for state surveillance, contingent upon factors related to policy design and the context of implementation. While most people want to live in a secure environment, we argue in this study that the support of policies to reach this goal depends on their necessity, extensiveness and reliability. Results from survey experiments in four European countries show that citizens are ready to approve the introduction of far-reaching state surveillance that includes measures of facial recognition and motion detection. Public support is further enhanced if these measures are to be targeted at potential criminals, rather than at all citizens (i.e., policy extensiveness), as well as if a safety threat is salient (i.e., policy necessity). Concerns about data security reduce support (i.e., policy reliability). While these conditions matter for the support of specific policies, they do not influence how trustworthy citizens consider government and other political authorities to be.     

核安全全球治理:历史、现实与挑战

核安全风险超越国界,可能跨越地区,甚至影响全球,因而核安全的治理必然是全球治理。各国对核安全风险的评估、核安全意识的养成是一个演进的过程,与此同步的是核安全全球治理。核安全全球治理经历了冷战、冷战结束和九一一事件以来的三个发展阶段,治理的主要内容随着国际安全形势的变化而调整。冷战期间的核安全全球治理主要体现为建立国际原子能机构以管理核能的和平利用,防范无核国家以发展民用核能为由发展核武器,签署和履行与核安全密切相关的国际公约、培育核安全的意识;冷战结束初期,国际原子能机构强化了保障监督能力,多边出口管制机制加强了对涉核物项出口的管控,国家间展开了实质性的核安全合作;九一一恐怖袭击之后,核安全全球治理呈现加速度的趋势,国际社会日益形成核安全共识,全球性制度建设加速,多边合作加强。经过多年努力,核安全全球治理的制度建设取得了显著成就,双边和多边国际合作得到实质性推动,但核安全全球治理仍然面临如何有效减少核材料存量、如何推动相关国家切实履行国家责任等挑战。     

Shooting Alone: The Pre‐Attack Experiences and Behaviors of U.S. Solo Mass Murderers

This paper outlines the sociodemographic, developmental, antecedent attack, attack preparation, and commission properties of 115 mass murderers between 1990 and 2014. The results indicate that mass murderer attacks are usually the culmination of a complex mix of personal, political, and social drivers that crystalize at the same time to drive the individual down the path of violent action. We specifically focus upon areas related to prior criminal engagement, leakage, and attack location familiarity. Whether the violence comes to fruition is usually a combination of the availability and vulnerability of suitable targets that suit the heady mix of personal and political grievances and the individual's capability to engage in an attack from both a psychological and technical capability standpoint. Many individual cases share a mixture of unfortunate personal life circumstances coupled with an intensification of beliefs/grievances that later developed into the idea to engage in violence.     

"基地"组织:一种价值符号

"9*11"事件后,"基地"组织已由原来的线式管理整合为模块化管理,"基地"的本质是一种意识形态,象征着全球恐怖袭击中的一种领导作用.     

国际恐怖主义发展趋势及反恐怖国际合作

当今国际恐怖主义的发展呈现出恐怖组织多元化趋势,恐怖分子使用高科技、生物化学作为恐怖活动武器的危险剧增,恐怖分子越来越多地将无辜平民作为打击的目标。面对恐怖主义的现实威胁,国际合作是打击恐怖主义的有效途径。国际社会必须完善反恐怖国际合作机制,切断恐怖主义的资金供给渠道,加强国际司法合作,促进恐怖主义犯罪的“非政治化”进程。     

恐怖主义犯罪的界定及刑事立法展望

恐怖主义犯罪是当今国际社会普遍关注的"焦点问题"之一。恐怖主义犯罪惩治应坚持法律制裁、预防和控制相结合,遵循国际法原则,加强集体安全合作观念。我国应制定专门的反恐法,增设罪名,注意法律之间的协调配合,构建严密的反恐法律体系。     

国际反恐立法模式与我国反恐法律构建

用法律的手段来应对恐怖主义的威胁,是国际社会面对恐怖主义犯罪的共同选择,综观国际反恐立法,目前主要有三种基本模式:分散型立法模式、专门型立法模式和综合型立法模式。我国当前反恐立法单一,缺乏系统性和完备性,配套立法还不完善,在未来难以有效地同恐怖主义犯罪作斗争。因此,制定我国的反恐基本法与反恐配套法,构建”以反恐法为基本法、各单行法为配套法,以反恐基本法为主导、诸法配合”的立法格局,是我国未来反恐立法的现实选择。     

我国恐怖主义定义研究综述

恐怖主义的定义存在诸多分歧,定义评析方法就有分类评析法、补充评析法、综合评析法、列举典型定义逐一评析法;典型的定义也有犯罪说、意识形态说、思潮与犯罪双重属性说、特别政治暴力形态说、恐怖体系说、非恐怖统治论、国家恐怖主义论、二元定义论、定义体系论这九种;对恐怖主义相关概念的界定也存在某些不同看法.