Social explanations for job insecurity: Group influences on causal attributions

Job insecurity—a concern about the future existence of the job—is one of those unexpected events which lead to a search for causal explanations. This paper pays attention to the social nature of these attributions. The social character of the causal attribution process investigated here appears from the kind of attributions that employees make and the degree in which causal attributions are influenced by social ideas shared by colleagues and other groups. We research these social explanations for job insecurity on the basis of the results of a survey of job insecurity and causal attributions among 311 employees in the Netherlands.     

Blaming the victim: Belief in control or belief in justice?

The attribution of responsibility to victims of bad fate (“blaming the victim”) is discussed under the perspective of Just World Theory (Lerner, 1980) and the Defensive Attribution Hypothesis (Walster, 1966; Shaver, 1970). Whereas Just World Theory suggests that the belief in a just world is the decisive motive of increased attributions of responsibility, the Defensive Attribution Hypothesis assumes that these attributions are motivated by the need to believe in internal locus of control. Research evidence shows both motives as conceptually linked and empirically correlated. The central question is whether belief in a just world and belief in internal control are facets of the same latent variable or empirically distinguishable constructs, and whether they contribute independently to attributions of responsibility and blame to victims of misfortune. Results of a questionnaire study assessing opinions about cancer and cancer victims are reported. There is evidence from factor analyses that the two motives are indeed distinguishable constructs. The correlation patterns and the results of multiple regression analyses show that both motives are meaningfully related to attributions of responsibility. Moreover, it is suggested that belief in a just world is not a homogeneous construct. Belief in immanent justice according to which present misfortune is seen as a consequence of prior faults and sins is differentiated from belief in ultimate justice according to which one can be sure that present misfortune will be compensated in the long run. Whereas belief in immanent justice is the most important predictor for attributions of responsibility, the suggested emotional consequences of such attributions, like belief in invulnerability or confidence in coping, can be predicted by belief in internal control and belief in ultimate justice. Finally, suggestions are made to extend Just World Theory to clarify the function of justice motives in the person's search for meaning in his or her life.     

HRP标记探针MVR分型法在法医学上的应用

采用辣根酶标记寡核管酸探针数字编码小卫星MS可变重复序列（HRP标记探针MVR方法）,检验微量生物材料。结果表明,相当于5μl血液的血痕、单根有毛囊的毛发以及相当于4μl唾液的斑迹均获得了清晰易读的MVR图谱,灵敏度达1ng。将此方法应用于检案实践取得了较好的效果。MVR－PCR技术在法医学个人识别和亲子鉴定方面极有应用前景。     

DYS448基因座分型缺失分析

目的调查分析DYS448基因座分型缺失,为法医学提供有意义的数据。方法收集中国汉族5487名无关男性个体血样,其中4479份样本用Y-filerTM试剂盒,1008份样本应用Yfiler PlusTM试剂盒进行复合扩增,所有样本应用AGCU Y-24试剂盒复核;统计DYS448基因座出现基因分型缺失的概率。结果在5487名无关个体的Y-STR数据中,观察到35个个体的35种单倍型中DYS448基因座分型出现缺失,其中2个样本在其它基因座位同时出现多谱带。结论 DYS448基因座分型缺失率为0.637%,在Y-STR数据库与父系鉴定应用中应予以关注。     

Identifiler^TM系统在亲子鉴定中的突变观察和分析

目的观察和分析IdentifilerTM系统15个短串联重复序列(STR)位点在亲子鉴定中的突变现象。方法用IdentifilerTM试剂盒检测2712例亲子鉴定案例。结果在2362例认定亲子关系的案例中,观察到51例中有1个STR位点发生突变。突变的位点包括D8S1179、D21S11、D7S820、CSF1PO、D3S1358、D13S317、D16S539、D2S1338、D19S433、vWA、D18S51、D5S818和FGA。其中以D21S11位点突变率最高(0.369%);突变的等位基因来自父亲36次,来自母亲7次,无法确定9次。结论STR位点突变是较为常见的现象,采用IdentifilerTM系统进行亲子鉴定,遇到1～2个STR位点不符合遗传规律时,有必要增加突变率低、稳定性好的STR位点进行复核。     

武汉汉族群体3个多拷贝Y-STR基因座的遗传多态性

目的提供DYS385、DYS459和DYS464基因座的群体遗传学资料。方法用荧光标记引物及ABI 3100型基因分析仪对武汉地区176名汉族男性无关个体的DYS385、DYS459和DYS464 3个多拷贝Y-STR基因座进行分型。结果在DYS385和DYS459基因座的个体,可观察到1~2个不同长度的扩增产物;DYS464基因座个体,可观察到1~4个不同长度的扩增产物。DYS385基因座检出14个等位基因及47种单倍型,DYS459检出4个等位基因及7种单倍型,DYS464检出9个等位基因及51种单倍型,其单倍型多样性分别为0.9591、0.6047和0.9560。3个基因座构成的联合单倍型共有133种,其多样性值达0.9909。结论3个多拷贝Y-STR基因座均为高多态性的遗传标记,联合应用具有较高的个体分辨能力。     

中国28个省/区汉族人群41个STR基因座多态性数据分析

目的调查分析中国28个省/区汉族人群41个STR基因座的遗传多态性,为相关研究和鉴定提供全面科学的基础数据。方法收集28个省/区汉族9 126名无关个体血样本,采用Global FilerTM、AGCU EX-22和AGCU 21+13种试剂盒,进行41个STR基因座分型,统计各基因座等位基因分布和遗传学参数,并对各数据之间进行差异性检验。结果中国28个省/区汉族人群41个基因座分别检出8~76个等位基因,各基因型分布经正和检验,除SE33等7个基因座外,均符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡定律。遗传学参数分析显示,41个基因座中SE33等21个属高鉴别力、高杂合度、高信息量,其余20个属中等高度多态性基因座。部分省份等位基因频率分布数据之间有显著性差异(P0.05),各省与全国综合数据之间则无差异(P0.05)。结论本文调查结果证实41个STR基因座均具有较强的个体识别能力,获得的数据可为法医学应用和筛选适合中国汉族人群基因座等研究和实践提供科学的基础数据。     

牛四核苷酸STR基因座的筛选和多态性分析

目的筛选阴影带出现率低且多态性较高的牛四核苷酸STR基因座。方法用Tandem repeats finder软件搜索牛基因组中的四核苷酸重复STR序列片段,用Primer Premier 5.0软件设计引物,然后扩增、电泳,筛选出符合要求的STR基因座,并对100份无关黄牛个体血样进行STR基因座分型。结果共筛选出6个具有多态性的牛四核苷酸重复STR基因座（B006、B007、B008、B022、B025、B026）,其100份无关黄牛个体血样的累积个体识别率和累积非父排除概率分别为0.99995和0.859591。结论本研究筛选出的6个四核苷酸STR基因座阴影带出现率低且多态性较高,可用于牛的个体识别和亲子鉴定的研究。     

Distribution of Chemical Phenotypes (Chemotypes) in European Agricultural Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Cultivars

In Europe, more than 50 approved cultivars of fiber hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) are in agricultural production. Their content of psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is legally restricted to <0.2% (%w/w in the dry, mature inflorescences). Cannabis strains with much higher THC contents are also grown, illegally or under license for drug production. Differentiation between these two groups relies on biochemical quantification of cannabinoid contents in mature floral material. For nonflowering material or tissue devoid of cannabinoids, the genetic prediction of the chemical phenotype (chemotype) provides a suitable method of distinction. Three discrete chemotypes, depending on the ratio of THC and the noneuphoric cannabidiol (CBD), can be distinguished: a “THC-predominant” type, a “CBD-predominant” type, and an intermediate chemotype. We present a systematic genetic prediction of chemotypes of 62 agricultural hemp cultivars grown in Europe. The survey reveals the presence of up to 35% B_T allele-carrying individuals (representing either a THC-predominant or an intermediate chemotype) in some cultivars—which is unexpected considering the legal THC limit of 0.2% THC. The fact that 100% of the seized drug-type seeds in this study revealed at least one B_T allele, reflects that plant breeding efforts have resulted in a fixation of the B_T allele in recreational Cannabis. To guarantee a sincere forensic application based on a genetic chemotype prediction, we recommend not to classify material of unknown origin if the samples size is below nine genetically independent individuals.