Opinion 1/15 of the Grand Chamber dated 26 July 2017 about the agreement on Passenger Name Record data between the EU and Canada

On 26 July 2017, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Justice rendered its seminal Opinion 1/15 about the agreement on Passenger Name Record data between the EU and Canada. The Grand Chamber considered that the decision of the Council about the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the agreement between the EU and Canada about the transfer and processing of PNR data must be based jointly on Article 16(2) about the protection of personal data and Article 87(2)(a) about police co-operation among member states in criminal matters, but not on Article 82(1)(d) about judicial co-operation in criminal matters in the EU of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. The Grand Chamber also considered that the agreement is incompatible with Article 7 on the right to respect for private life, Article 8 on the right to the protection of personal data, Article 21 on non-discrimination and Article 52(1) on the principle of proportionality of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU since it does not preclude the transfer, use and retention of sensitive data. In addition to the requirement to exclude such data, the Grand Chamber listed seven requirements that the agreement must include, specify, limit or guarantee to be compatible with the Charter.The opinion of the Grand Chamber has far-reaching implications for the agreement on PNR data between the EU and Canada. It has also far-reaching implications for international agreements on PNR data between the EU and other third states. Last, it has far-reaching implications for Directive 681 of 27 April 2016 on PNR data.     

Nuclear diplomacy as niche diplomacy: South Africa's post-apartheid relations with the International Atomic Energy Agency

Since the termination of its nuclear weapons programme, commenced in 1989 and verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) in 1993, successive South African governments have consistently advocated the country's commitment to nuclear non-proliferation. South Africa has secured a niche role through norm construction and state identity for itself through its nuclear diplomacy with the IAEA. The article explores aspects of South Africa's nuclear diplomacy with the IAEA as an example of niche diplomacy. Therefore, it traces South Africa's diplomatic relations with the IAEA, starting with the IAEA's verification process and the implementation of a Safeguards Agreement (1989–1994) through the conversion of South Africa's research nuclear reactor (1991–2005); South Africa's position on greater representation for developing countries on the IAEA's Board of Governors; its ambition to be elected to the position of IAEA Director General (2008–2009); and its refusal to support the establishment of a nuclear fuel bank in Russia under the IAEA's auspices (2009–2010).     

偏执型精神分裂症患者GRIN1基因-855G/C与-1140G/A位点的遗传多态性

目的探讨GRIN1基因启动子区两个单核苷酸多态性位点-855 G/C、-1140 G/A遗传多态性与偏执型精神分裂症的相关性及法医学意义。方法采用PCR限制性片段长度多态性(restriction fragment length polymorphism,RFLP)结合PAGE法对中国北方汉族183例健康无关个体和172例偏执型精神分裂症患者GRIN1基因5′端的-855 G/C和-1140 G/A位点多态性进行检测,采用χ2检验人群中基因型分布是否符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡定律,并比较两组人群中基因型和等位基因频率分布的差异。结果两组群体基因型分布符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡定律。-855 G/C位点基因型分布在对照组女性和实验组女性间的差异具有统计学意义(P0.05),-1140 G/A位点基因型和等位基因频率分布在对照组和实验组间及两组女性间差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论 GRIN1基因启动子区-1140 G/A位点单核苷酸多态性可能与精神分裂症存在相关性;精神分裂症发生的遗传学因素可能存在性别倾向,可为精神分裂症的司法鉴定提供参考。     

Heroin addictions in Italians: Evaluation of OPRM1 genetic variants by case–control association study

The opportunities to analyse the genetic variations related to the risk of addiction are of interest to forensics, who beside their involvement in drugs-related fatalities may also be required to assess driving and working ability as well as permanent invalidity due to drugs-related conditions. Several genetic variants have been shown to be associated with heroin addiction. The most investigated gene is OPMR1 that encode the μ-opioid receptor. The purpose of this study was to examine the contribution of genetics variants in OPRM1 to the susceptibility to addiction.     

大鼠弥漫性轴索损伤后Homer1蛋白表达的研究

目的:观察大鼠弥漫性轴索损伤(DAI)后Homer1蛋白的表达规律。方法:将45只SD大鼠随机分为对照组及DAI组,后者按DAI后处死大鼠的时间不同分为30min、1h、3h、6h、12h、24h、72h、7d组。建立大鼠DAI动物模型,运用免疫组织化学技术及图像分析方法观察脑组织Homer1蛋白的表达。结果:损伤后30min,Homer1蛋白染色阳性细胞数增多,染色增强(P<0.05),随着损伤时间的延长,阳性细胞数及阳性表达范围逐渐扩大,于伤后24h达到高峰(P<0.01),随后逐渐下降。对照组可见少量Homer1蛋白表达。结论:Homer1蛋白是大鼠DAI后的灵敏指标,在不同时间段表达具有时序性变化规律,对于早期诊断DAI及损伤时间的推断具有一定的参考价值。     

Concordance Between the AmpFℓSTR® MiniFiler™ and AmpFℓSTR® Identifiler® PCR Amplification Kits in the Kuwaiti Population

Abstract:  The AmpFℓSTR^® MiniFiler™ polymerase chain reaction amplification kit, developed and supplied by Applied Biosystems, complements the AmpFℓSTR^® Identifiler^® polymerase chain reaction amplification kit (Applied Biosystems, Warrington, U.K.) by improving the success rate when profiling DNA that is degraded or contains inhibitors. Before applying the MiniFiler™ kit to casework, the profiles from 200 unrelated Kuwaitis were compared to Identifiler^® profiles. Concordance was observed for 99.875% (1598 of 1600) of the compared STR loci. The two discordant profiles displayed allelic dropout: one at the D13S317 locus due to nonamplification of allele 10 in the MiniFiler™ profile, and one at the D18S51 locus due to nonamplification of allele 18 in the Identifiler^® profile.     

Validation of the AMPFℓSTR® MiniFilerTM PCR Amplification Kit for Use in Forensic Casework*

Abstract: The AmpF?STR^® MiniFiler^TM PCR Amplification Kit is designed to genotype degraded and/or inhibited DNA samples when the AmpF?STR^® Identifiler^TM PCR Amplification Kit is incapable of generating a complete genetic profile. Validation experiments, following the SWGDAM guidelines, were designed to evaluate the performance of MiniFiler. Data obtained demonstrated that MiniFiler, when used in conjunction with Identifiler, provided an increased ability to obtain genetic profiles from challenged samples. The optimum template range was found to be between 0.2 and 0.6 ng, with 0.3 ng yielding the best results. Full concordance was achieved between the MiniFiler kit and Identifiler kit except in a single case of a null allele at locus D21S11. Numerous instances of severe heterozygous peak imbalance (<50%) were observed in single source samples amplified within the optimum range of input DNA suggesting that caution be taken when attempting to deduce component genotypes in a mixture.     

Niederlassungsbewilligungen aus humanitären Gründen: Antragsrecht des betroffenen Einzelnen verfassungsrechtlich erforderlich

§11 Abs3 NAG schafftkeine M?glichkeit der Antragstellung auf Erteilung eines humanit?ren Aufenthaltstitels. Auf Grund der Art 8 iVm 13 MRK und aus rechtsstaatlichen Erw?gungen muss neben einer Erteilung von Amts wegen auch ein Antragsrecht des in seinen subjektiven Rechten Betroffenen auf Erteilung eines humanit?ren Aufenthaltstitels vorgesehen sein.