Dissecting the Finnish male uniformity: The value of additional Y-STR loci

The forensic use of Y-chromosomal markers can be hampered by reduced diversity and geographical subdivision in some populations. In Finland both of these confounding factors are well documented, but it is also shown that increase of data could resolve or at least alleviate these problems. In order to increase the forensic usability of Y-chromosomal data in Finland, we have here evaluated the diversity at a number of additional Y-STRs. A seven Y-STR locus panel (“FY7”: DYS449, DYS460, DYS505, DYS522, DYS576, DYS612 and DYS627) was found to reveal higher diversity levels among Finns than the substantially larger commercial multiplexes commonly in use. The Y-STR data augmented with the FY7 panel shows substantially higher discrimination capacity and lower levels of geographical structure among Finns. Amplifiable in one multiplex, this set of loci offers an informative and easy-to-use supplementary for the commercial Y-STR kits.     

未成年人刑事责任年龄查证若干问题初探

犯罪嫌疑人刑事责任年龄的审查与确定,直接关系到对犯罪嫌疑人是否追究刑事责任,是否从轻或减轻处罚,以及是否适用死刑等问题。在对证明犯罪嫌疑人刑事责任年龄的证据种类作出分析,并探讨司法实践中未成年犯罪嫌疑人刑事责任年龄认定困难的主要原因的基础上,提出审查认定未成年犯罪嫌疑人刑事责任年龄的对策。     

多维度视野下的马克思主义时代化命题解析

马克思主义作为人类先进思想文化的结晶,是时代的产物。马克思主义之所以生命力强大,就在于与时代同行。马克思主义时代化是马克思主义主动适应实践要求而决定的,既是马克思主义发展历史经验的深刻总结,也是在批判、扬弃各种错误思潮的基础上发展起来的。时代主题和时代发展是推进马克思主义时代化的客观动力和外在条件,马克思主义只有与本国实际情况相结合,才能真正显示马克思主义时代化的光芒。     

Beneficiaries of federal housing programs: A data reconnaissance

Abstract

This article reports on a reconnaissance of information systems containing data on the beneficiaries of direct and indirect federal housing expenditures. It covers data in the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, Veterans Affairs, and the Treasury; the Resolution Trust Corporation; financial regulatory agencies; and secondary mortgage market actors.

Data varied widely across agencies in availability, accessibility, and quality. Data are more systematically collected for low‐income beneficiaries of housing programs than for the more affluent beneficiaries of indirect housing expenditures. The systems need improvements in data quality and coverage and database format, though they have improved recently. Many research topics can be explored with new and underused data systems: the characteristics of beneficiaries of rural housing programs, urban rental housing programs, low‐income homeownership programs, and mortgage guarantee and insurance programs. But the lack of information on the systems themselves makes data difficult to locate and access.     

青少年活体年龄推断的方法比较

目的探讨准确推断青少年活体年龄的方法。方法对233名青少年活体年龄鉴定案所涉及的案件性质、作案距鉴定的间隔时间、自报年龄与鉴定年龄差距等进行归类、分析,并就其中130名骨骺尚未完全愈合的男性青少年的年龄,用多元回归方程法、CHN计分法和本文作者设计的综合法分别进行推断,统计前两个方法与综合法的符合率。结果 归类分析显示:本组资料,刑事案件当事人的涉案性质,抢劫、抢夺的占72.10％;作案距鉴定的间隔时间小于6个月的占75.10％;自报年龄小于鉴定年龄的占60.73％。用多元回归方程法、CHN计分法鉴定年龄与综合法鉴定年龄的符合率分别为90.77％与83.08％。结论活体年龄鉴定应在作案后尽早进行;用多元回归方程法鉴定18岁左右的年龄较CHN计分法准确,采用综合法鉴定年龄可能更好。     

Understanding Sexual Harassment a Little Better Reed and Bull Information Systems Ltd v. Stedman

This case note reviews the guidelines issued by Morison J. in the Employment Appeal Tribunal at the end of the decision in Reed and Bull Information Systems Ltd v. Stedman [1999] I.R.L.R.299. The author argues that while the judge’s decision is to be welcomed in adopting an approach more sympathetic to victims of sexual harassment, it also raises a number of problems by placing a burden on the victim to place the harasser on notice that she does not welcome his conduct. The guidelines are likely to be usefully applied in any jurisdiction that has rules forbidding sexual harassment. The author considers the guidelines from both a practical and a doctrinal angle and indicates that the right to be free from sexual harassment is one that the courts are reluctant to protect like other civil rights. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

实践、时代和历史主动性——《江泽民文选》所展示的理性品格

解放思想、实事求是、与时俱进是贯穿《江泽民文选》的活的灵魂。理解《江泽民文选》,应透彻领悟这种马克思主义的理论品格。要把握好三个关键范畴:实践,这是理论的生命之基;时代,这是理论的创新之源;历史主动性,这是理论智慧的无尽动力。     

Perceived Discrimination and the Well-being of Immigrant Adolescents

This study draws on the social-discount and social-rejection hypotheses to examine the effect of perceived discrimination on immigrant youths’ depressive moods, self-efficacy, and preferences for in-group socialization experiences. Data from a panel study of immigrant young adolescents (aged 12–18) who came to Israel from countries of the former Soviet Union during the preceding 6 years was used (n = 732). The average age of participants was 15.5 years; and 50% were boys. Partial support emerged for the social-rejection hypothesis: perceived discrimination increases depressive moods and reduces self-esteem. Yet increased perceived discrimination did not increase the preference for in-group socialization. Perceived discrimination seems to be detrimental to individuals’ psychological well-being but apparently does not hinder social integration.

Is There an Emerging Age Gap in US Politics?

There is evidence of a realignment among voters entering the electorate in recent years, with younger voters deviating from older voters in their ideological and partisan preferences. Younger voters today tend to be more liberal and more supportive of Democratic candidates than other age groups. Younger Americans are generally favor a more activist government, as demonstrated by their views on equality, the role of government, health care, and spending for public schools and child care. The leftward movement of younger Americans ideologically is also the result of the increasing political emphasis on cultural issues. Younger Americans as a group are less religious and less conservative on social issues than other age cohorts. They put less emphasis on traditional values and are more tolerant than other age groups on social issues such as gay rights. Older voters, on the other hand, tend to be more conservative on policy issues and less supportive of Democrats than they used to be. At the state level, the partisan polarization in the United States is even greater among younger Americans than it is for the nation as a whole. This suggests that if younger Americans follow other generations in keeping the same partisan voting patterns throughout their life, the blue states will become bluer and the red states redder.

就业歧视的经济法解决机制分析

体现国家意志渗透市场理念的经济法,是以市场与政府的互动结构作为自身分析和解决社会经济问题的通常机制,而就业歧视问题体现了市场调节失灵和政府管制缺陷的两难境地,其形成机理与经济法的基本机理具有相通之处,运用经济法的这一解决机制来解决就业歧视问题无疑是一个很好的方案。