Strain,Crime, and Contingencies

Hypotheses from General Strain theory are addressed using data from a random sample of adults in Raleigh, NC. Analyses examine three issues: (1) whether strain predicts self‐projected criminal behavior; controlling for past self‐reported crime; (2) whether negative emotions mediate the relationship between strain and projected crime; and (3) whether social support and criminal peers serve as contingencies or mediators for strain in predicting criminality. Results are generally consistent with previous studies focusing on youth. Three of four measures of strain are found to predict the crime measures. However, that relationship is not mediated by negative emotion and the measures of social support and criminal peers do not act as contingencies or mediators. The results suggest that strain may not operate through negative emotions and that theoretical refinement is needed to identify which potential contingencies are likely to be operating under various circumstances.     

The Effects of Juvenile Transfer to Criminal Court on Incarceration Decisions

The present study examined the effects of institutional pressures on homeland security preparedness among law enforcement agencies in Illinois. The data come from the Illinois Homeland Security Survey (IHSS). Specifically, the study employed three theories to explain homeland security preparedness: contingency theory, resource dependence theory, and institutional theory. We hypothesized that institutional pressures will lead to isomorphism as agencies attempt to conform to institutional expectations about appropriate activities in a homeland security era. To evaluate these theories and their impact on homeland security practices, the authors used confirmatory factor analysis. The IHSS data lend strong support to the application of organizational theory as a lens through which homeland security preparedness can be understood. Institutional pressures, such as professional and government publications, training, professional associations, and the actions of peer agencies, significantly influenced municipal and county agencies in Illinois. Funding, while often thought important to encourage preparedness, was not a significant predictor. The results of this analysis advance our understanding of homeland security preparedness via institutional theory by suggesting that the larger environment is salient.     

委托理财协议中的保底条款效力之追问

保底条款是委托理财协议中最重要的条款,它不仅决定了这种投资方式的存在与否,同时亦是委托理财失败诉争时当事双方相持不下的根本原因。对于该条款的效力认定,目前的法律与司法实践并没有提供能真正能起到指导与评价作用的答案。因此,从合同的私法性、社会法性及保底条款与其它条款的勾连角度来追问保底条款的效力问题是合理与适法判决的关键所在。     

复合扩增mtDNA-HVI和Cyt b片段鉴定混合血痕种属

目的探讨mtDNA-HVI和Cyt b片段复合扩增法鉴定人与动物混合血痕种属的应用价值。方法用chelex-100法从人、牛、猪、狗、兔、鱼、鸡和鼠血痕中提取DNA,复合扩增mtDNA-HVI片段和Cyt b片段,琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测。结果人类在mtDNA-HVI区和Cyt b区分别出现279bp和358bp各一条带,且279bp条带亮于358bp;动物均只有358bp一条带。人与7种动物血痕的检测灵敏度均为3.13ng。检测人与动物混合DNA,灵敏度仍为3.13ng,但358bp条带亮于279bp条带。结论当358bp带明显强于279bp带时,提示检材为人与动物的混合。     

DNA含量变化与死亡时间推断的研究进展

在法医学实践中,死亡经历时间的推断具有重要的实践价值,但其准确推断却一直是法医学实践的难题,因而也一直是法医学研究的热点。法医DNA技术是近年来发展起来的在分子水平进行死亡时间推断的新技术、新方法,同传统方法相比,具有很大的优势,本文对该技术提出的背景、发展、优缺点以及发展前景进行综述,着重对DNA含量变化与其相关性的研究进展进行讨论。     

Chelex-100法提取滤纸血痕DNA影响因素的比较

目的改进滤纸血痕DNA提取方法,建立更简便、廉价,适合当前DNA建库需要的提取方法。方法将752份滤纸血痕分成四组,分别按照四种不同的Chelex-100法进行DNA提取并进行比较研究;63份新鲜血痕分别按照两种方法提取并进行对比研究。结果对于陈旧滤纸血痕,四种提取方法的检测成功率无显著差异(P>0.05);对于新鲜血痕,两种提取方法的检测成功率有显著差异(P<0.05)。结论对于建库陈旧滤纸血痕样本的DNA提取可采用不加纯水处理,直接加入Chelex-100的方法进行。     

烧骨组织形态变化及DNA技术在个体识别中的应用

烧骨在火灾、焚尸、交通、爆炸等案件和事故的检材中具有特殊的地位。通过对不同条件焚烧下烧骨组织形态及DNA变化规律的研究,可为法医实践中烧骨的种属鉴定、性别及年龄判定提供准确的依据和标准,同时可利用残存的基因位点对烧骨残块进行个体识别和同一认定。烧骨DNA的提取方法及检测技术也在不断探索和改进。本文对烧骨在形态学、组织学和分子生物学水平研究进展以及烧骨评测的方法、技术进行概述,旨在为法医实践及进一步研究提供新的方法和思路。     

小鼠骨骼肌细胞核DNA降解与死亡时间的关系

目的　监测小鼠死后骨骼肌核内DNA降解的情况 ,探讨死后细胞核DNA降解的一般规律。方法　建立小鼠死亡模型 ,在死后 72h内 ,以 12h的间隔取骨骼肌样本进行单细胞凝胶电泳 ,在荧光显微镜下测量彗星图像 ,并作统计学分析。结果　机体死后 ,骨骼肌细胞在电泳图像上出现了明显的彗星形拖尾 ,L/W比值随死亡时间而逐渐增大 ,二者呈一定的线性关系。结论　单细胞凝胶电泳技术可以应用于早期死亡时间推断。     

Mitochondrial DNA amplification success rate as a function of hair morphology

This study examines the amplification success rate of mitochondrial DNA from human head hair with respect to their potential for forensic application. Mitochondrial DNA was isolated using a Chelex-based extraction method and amplified using the LINEAR ARRAY duplex PCR system. The particular focus of this study was to characterize the morphological features of human head hair in order to further the understanding of the factors that influence amplification success rate in hair tissue using the LINEAR ARRAY duplex PCR system. 2554 head hairs from 132 individuals representing four population groups were amplified. The hair samples were characterized as follows: 1251 were identified microscopically as telogen hairs and 1303 were classified as hairs without roots (removed before extraction). Amplification success was assessed as a function of several independent variables: morphological characteristics; telogen root versus no root; donor age; scalp origin; use of cosmetic hair treatments; and race of the donor. The results show that a positive correlation exists between amplification success and the presence of a telogen root. Combining the amplification success with either the original or optimized protocol, telogen hairs result in an overall success rate of 77.5% compared with 65% for hairs with no roots. Controlling for telogen hairs, the findings indicate that the overall success rate is independent of cosmetic hair treatments; medulla structure; shaft length, diameter, and volume; and scalp origin. Conversely, the age of the donor, the race of the donor, and hair pigmentation all contribute to a variation in amplification success rate.     

Y-STRs in forensic medicine: DNA analysis in semen samples of azoospermic individuals

ABSTRACT: The incidence of rape has increased, especially in metropolitan areas, such as the city of São Paulo. In Brazil, studies about it have shown that the majority of this type of crime is committed by the relatives and persons close to the victim. This has made the crime more difficult to be denounced, as only 10% of the cases are reported to competent police authorities. Usually, cytological exams are carried out in sex crime investigations. The difficulty in showing the presence of spermatozoa is frequent, but it does not exclude the presence of male DNA. The absence of spermatozoa in material collected from rape victims can be due to several factors, including the fact that the agressor suffers from azoospermia. This condition can be the result of a successful vasectomy. As the majority of DNA in the ejaculation sample is from spermatozoa, there is much less DNA to be analyzed. This study presents the application of Y‐STRs (DYS19, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, and DYS393) in DNA analysis of sperm samples from 105 vasectomized men. The study demonstrated a great variation in DNA concentration. DNA extraction and amplification was possible in all sperm samples even in the absence of spermatozoa. The same profile was observed, for each individual, from DNA extracted from blood, pre‐ and postvasectomy semen samples. The use of markers specific for Y chromosome in sex crime cases, especially in the absence of spermatozoa, is very important, mainly because in most situations there is a small quantity of the agressor's DNA in the medium and a large quantity of the victim's DNA.