Bilateral Asymmetry of Nutrient Foramen Position in Forearm Bones: Implications for its Use in Sorting Commingled Remains

Commingling is frequently encountered in cases examined by the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus, and pair‐matching is routinely used as a preliminary segregation method. Here we examine the degree of bilateral asymmetry in nutrient foramen position of the radius and ulna to determine whether nutrient foramen position may be useful in visual and/or ostetometric pair‐matching. Differences in nutrient foramen position between left‐right pairs from the same individual were compared with differences in nutrient foramen position between different individuals. Bilateral asymmetry in nutrient foramen position was found to be high, indicating that it is not a reliable trait for pair‐matching. Bilateral asymmetry and between‐person variation were found to differ between the two bones examined, suggesting that nutrient foramen position in other long bones should also be tested.     

Evaluating the Role of Race in Sentencing: An Entropy Weighting Analysis

The current study builds on prior research examining racial disparities in sentencing. Entropy weighting is introduced as a new method for estimating racial disparities that has several advantages over traditionally used methods. Entropy weighting is compared to regression and propensity score methods in estimating Black-White disparities in incarceration sentences. Although all methods find non-significant racial disparities in incarceration sentences, regression and propensity score methods underestimate disparities in incarceration sentence lengths. Entropy weighting provides comparable estimates to propensity score methods, but assures that the samples are identical on all covariates aside from race. The method offers researchers a useful and flexible approach for estimating racial disparities in criminal justice, and its use may lead to alternative conclusions about the size and presence of racial disparities in sentencing.     

Familial DNA searching- an emerging forensic investigative tool

In recent years, jurisdictions across the United States have expressed a growing interest in aiding criminal investigations through the use of familial DNA searching (FDS)- a forensic technique to identify family members through DNA databases. The National Survey of CODIS Laboratories surveyed U.S. CODIS laboratories about their perceptions, policies, and practices related to FDS. In total, 103 crime labs completed the survey (77% response rate). Labs in 11 states reported using FDS, while labs in 24 states reported using a similar-but distinct- practice of partial matching. Although the majority of labs had positive perceptions about the ability of FDS to assist investigations, labs also reported a number of concerns and challenges with implementing FDS. Respondents reported using either practice a limited amount with modest numbers of convictions resulting from both FDS and partial matching. The article reports on varying practices related to official policies, training, eligibility, the software search, lineage testing, requirements for releasing information, and subsequent investigative work. Finally, the article discusses what can be learned from this survey, accompanying limitations, and implications for decision-makers considering using FDS.     

Quantitative Determination of Cannabinoids in Cannabis and Cannabis Products Using Ultra‐High‐Performance Supercritical Fluid Chromatography and Diode Array/Mass Spectrometric Detection

Ultra‐high‐performance supercritical fluid chromatography (UHPSFC ) is an efficient analytical technique and has not been fully employed for the analysis of cannabis. Here, a novel method was developed for the analysis of 30 cannabis plant extracts and preparations using UHPSFC /PDA ‐MS . Nine of the most abundant cannabinoids, viz . CBD , ?⁸‐THC , THCV , ?⁹‐THC , CBN , CBG , THCA ‐A, CBDA , and CBGA , were quantitatively determined (RSD s < 6.9%). Unlike GC methods, no derivatization or decarboxylation was required prior to UHPSFC analysis. The UHPSFC chromatographic separation of cannabinoids displayed an inverse elution order compared to UHPLC . Combining with PDA ‐MS , this orthogonality is valuable for discrimination of cannabinoids in complex matrices. The developed method was validated, and the quantification results were compared with a standard UHPLC method. The RSD s of these two methods were within ±13.0%. Finally, chemometric analysis including principal component analysis (PCA ) and partial least squares‐discriminant analysis (PLS ‐DA ) were used to differentiate between cannabis samples.     

刑法方法理论的若干基本问题

刑法方法与具体问题相联系,属于刑法学研究的内容;刑法方法论与世界观相联系,一般地属于法理学研究的内容。每一种方法都有自己的功能,也有自己的局限性,仅仅使用一种方法是无法完整地研究刑法学的。在现代刑法理论的构建中,比较研究方法是值得我国学者特别重视的方法,体系性方法是最重要的方法之一,刑法理想对刑法方法的选择具有根本性的指引作用。从总体上说,综合的方法才是最好的刑法方法。     

日本诉因制度与我国公诉方式改革

诉因制度是日本刑事诉讼法借鉴大陆法系职权主义诉讼程序和英美法系对抗主义诉讼程序的一项独创。在刑事诉讼中,诉因制度有利于调整诉辩审三者之间的关系,保持公诉机关起诉的稳定性,防止司法权的滥用以及维护辩护方的合法权益,因而是值得我国在刑事司法改革的理论与实践中予以关注的。然而,对于诉因制度的具体内容,特别是诉因制度的涵义、运行规则和借鉴意义,我国学界的探讨并不多见,且远未形成一致而清晰的看法。诉因制度对我国刑事司法改革,特别是公诉方式改革具有借鉴意义。     

交通事故责任认定原则探讨

交通事故处理是公安机关交通管理部门的主要职责之一,对于违法行为人导致交通事故的责任应当作出定性、定量的结论,公安交通警察应当熟练地掌握交通事故责任认定的标准、认定的方法、事故责任的推定方法、事故责任认定的原则,才能对当事人的责任进行认定,以正确地执法。     

浅谈大学英语教学中学生的兴趣培养

大学英语课堂的真正活跃需要英语教师从培养学生兴趣入手,不断学习、探索、实践各种教学方法和技巧,提高自身综合素质,使英语教学成为富有情趣的活动。     

关于法治的理念、态度与方法--评陈金钊著《法治与法律方法》

近世以来,对法律不确定性的认识引发了对传统法治理论和法律方法论的广泛怀疑.在这种学术背景下,<法治与法律方法>对法治与法律方法问题进行了重新研究,以阐明维护法治的态度,指出法律理念、态度与方法对于法治的意义.虽然在此理论建构中可能还存在一些需要进一步研究的问题,但在当下中国的法学语境中,<法治与法律方法>从理论和实践两个层面对法治做出了富有成效的诠释.     

法学范式引论

法学不是以方法的独树一帜而存在的 ,它表现为一个一个成熟的范式 ,这在法哲学领域更加明显。从事法学 ,首先和全部的工作 ,就是掌握范式 ,进而利用范式来发现和解决问题。范式由伟大的法学者独立或合力构建 ,法学经典著作是法学最重要的财富和学习范式最重要的根据。而为了认清范式 ,我们先要认清范式背后依靠的哲学。