Effects of Aluminum Foil Packaging on Elemental Analysis of Bone,

Burned skeletal material is often very fragile and at high risk for fragmentation during packaging and transportation. One method that has been suggested to protect bones in these cases is to carefully wrap them in aluminum foil. Traces of aluminum, however, are known to transfer from foil packaging materials to food products. If such transfer occurs between aluminum foil and bones, it could interfere with subsequent chemical, elemental and isotopic analyses, which are becoming more common in forensic anthropological investigations. This study examined aluminum levels in bones prior to and following the use of aluminum foil packaging and storage for a 6‐week period. Results indicate no significant change in the detected levels of aluminum (p > 0.05), even when packaged in compromised foil and exposed to elevated temperatures. Aluminum foil can therefore continue to be recommended as a packaging medium without affecting subsequent chemical examinations.     

Opening Pandora’s Box: How Does Defendant Race Influence Plea Bargaining?

Minority overrepresentation in the criminal justice system has long been an important topic of research and policy debate. In New York City, recent changes in the Rockefeller Drug Laws and the controversy around police stop-and-frisk practices have placed an even greater emphasis on the need for studying the possible impact of defendants’ race and ethnicity on criminal justice outcomes. Relatively little contemporary research, though, examines plea-bargaining outcomes. Using unique data on misdemeanor marijuana cases, this study examines the impact of defendants’ race on prosecutors’ decisions to make (a) plea offers for a lesser charge and (b) sentence offers for non-custodial punishments. Preliminary findings indicated that black defendants were less likely to receive reduced charge offers, and both black and Latino defendants were more likely to receive custodial sentence offers. However, these disparities were largely explained by legal factors, evidence, arrest circumstances, and court actor characteristics, though black defendants were still more likely to receive custodial sentence offers after including these controls. No differences were found between white and Asian defendants. Implications for research and prosecutorial practices are discussed.     

超滤管在陈旧生物检材中的应用

目的探讨millipore超滤管滤过方法对陈旧生物检材DNA分型检验的应用价值。方法将23份陈旧血样分别剪取同样合适大小的血片3组,标为A、B、C组,磁珠法提取DNA,分别用80μL、80μL、20μL洗脱液洗脱得到模板DNA,其中A、C组模板直接扩增,B组用millipore超滤管滤过浓缩后扩增。PCR产物用AB3130x L基因分析仪检测,Gene Mapper ID V3.2软件进行自动分型。所得实验数据用SPSS软件分析处理。结果 A组没有1例样本扩出全部STR基因座,B组有18例样本扩出全部STR基因座,C组有11个样本扩出全部STR基因座。结论应用millipore超滤管滤过方法可以明显提高陈旧生物检材的DNA分型成功率。     

mRNA在体液斑迹鉴定与组织来源推断中的应用

体液斑迹鉴定及其组织来源推断一直是法医学研究的重要方向之一,其传统的检验方法存在诸如假阳性率高、检材易破坏等缺陷,亟需更高效的确证实验。高度分化的体细胞表达特异的m RNA分子,可推断其来源:外周血、月经血、精液、唾液、阴道分泌物、接触斑等,且灵敏度、特异度及保存时间相对较为理想,是未来用于体液斑迹鉴别的理想遗传标记。本文对m RNA在体液斑迹鉴定和组织来源推断方面的应用及其前景进行综述。     

母血浆中胎儿游离核酸与无创性产前亲子鉴定

近年来,涉及胎儿亲权鉴定的案例逐渐增多。传统胎儿产前亲权鉴定常需有创性取样,故存在一定的风险。母血浆中胎儿游离核酸的发现,给无创性产前亲权鉴定带来了新的契机。本文主要就母血浆中胎儿游离核酸及其在无创性产前亲权鉴定中的应用价值和前景进行简要介绍。     

51个常染色体STR基因座在ITO法判断全同胞中的应用

目的探讨ITO法和判别函数法在全同胞鉴定中的应用价值。方法根据342对全同胞和3 900对无关个体的19、21、39、51个常染色STR基因座的分型结果,采用ITO法计算全同胞关系指数(FSI)。用SPSS软件Fisher判别分析法,分别建立lg FSI全同胞-无关个体的判别函数。结果每组全同胞对和无关个体对的lg FSI符合正态分布,具有显著性差异。在19、21、39、51个STR基因座,全同胞组判别函数分别为L同胞=1.666 6×lg FSI-5.208 0,L同胞=1.643 9×lg FSI-5.512 0,L同胞=1.569 4×lg FSI-8.076 4,L同胞=1.480 7×lg FSI-9.860 9;无关个体组分别为L无关=-1.346 1×lg FSI-3.638 5,L无关=-1.330 9×lg FSI-3.851 7,L无关=-1.319 2×lg FSI-5.910 2,L无关=-1.273 8×lg FSI-7.477 6。平均错判率分别为:1.361 9%、1.228 5%、0.438 6%和0.146 2%。结论 ITO判别函数法在全同胞-无关个体鉴定中具有很高的应用价值,且检测基因座越多,系统效能越高,并能降低错判风险。     

120例强奸案法医学回顾分析

强奸案的证据通常应具备暴力证据和性交证据,机械性损伤、使用药物和生物检材等是构成暴力证据和性交证据的重要组成部分。由于加害人实施强奸时手段的不同以及个体性行为的差异,损伤的类型、形态、部位及生物检材的种类、遗留部位、遗留客体也会呈现不同特征。如果不仔细地检查和提取,就会使这些物证灭失。本文通过对120例强奸案件的分析,总结了案件中损伤、药物、生物检材的发现、提取和检验的相关信息与技术细节问题,同时结合案情对案件发生的时段、地点、环境、区域、作案手段与方法、嫌疑人和受害人的职业特点等进行了讨论,希望对法医学鉴定工作和民警办理案件有所帮助。     

手部脱落细胞DNA转移及二次转移的实验研究

目的研究脱落细胞遗留者洗手时间及所接触客体类型对手部脱落细胞转移的影响,同时考察手部脱落细胞DNA是否能够发生二次转移。方法 9名志愿者在洗手后30min、2h、6h分别握持木柄螺丝刀、橡胶柄螺丝刀、胶木插头1min和佩戴粗纱手套15min,对上述物品进行DNA提取检测,同时进行手部脱落细胞的二次转移实验。结果从志愿者接触过的物品中能够获得的STR基因座数量随着接触者洗手后时间的延长而增加;在洗手后30min和2h的触摸实验中,4种客体检出的基因座数量存在统计学差异,从手套中检出的基因座数量多于从木柄和橡胶柄螺丝刀中检出的数量;从脱落细胞遗留状态较差者握持过的螺丝刀中,检出了与该物品没有直接接触的脱落细胞遗留状态较好者部分STR基因座。结论接触者最后一次洗手时间是影响脱落细胞DNA转移的一个重要因素,在接触性DNA的提取检测和结果解释过程中,对有可能发生的二次转移现象应予以高度注意。     

强奸案件证据标准与证明方法的实证分析

强奸案件的证据采信问题在司法实践中颇受争议,出现这种现象的主要原因在于其直接证据的稀缺。针对强奸案件的证据收集和运用中所存在一系列的疑难情形,司法机关不必追求证据之间无任何矛盾,而要从全案证据出发,采取"自由心证"与"相互印证"相结合的证明方法,并运用对质制度,做到完整证据链条支持下的内心确认即可。     

论律师法的修改及对刑事诉讼理念的影响

修改后的律师法,扩大了执业律师在刑事诉讼活动中的权利,从理论上解决了律师执业中"会见难"、"阅卷难"和"调查取证难"的三大难题.从立法机关的立法理念上来讲,这次律师法修改,是一种刑事诉讼理念上的进步,赋予了律师与司法机关在刑事诉讼中更加平等的权利,给予了律师以充分的法律信任,表明律师的政治地位和法律待遇在不断提高,他们将在刑事诉讼中发挥越来越大的作用.