Morphometric Investigation of Death by Asphyxia

Abstract:  The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of distinguishing deaths by asphyxia from those due to natural causes by comparing morphometric measurements in lungs. The study population comprised 27 subjects: 14 cases of death by asphyxia (hanging or drowning) and 13 cases of sudden natural death. Eighty parenchyma sections were used for each subject. Data were collected by computerized image analysis. Measurements aimed at quantifying, as percentages, pulmonary parenchyma (mean values of positive-fraction areas [PFA] and their standard deviations). Subjects who died of natural causes and of drowning showed a relative internal homogeneity compared to those who hanged. Results show significant discrimination between drowned subjects and those dying of natural causes (mean of PFA p  = 0.01) and between hanged and drowned subjects (SD of PFA p  = 0.04). Attention must be paid to the possible role played by senile emphysema. The method is proposed as a complementary tool in forensic cases.     

RACIAL ANIMOSITY AND INTERRACIAL CRIME*

The primary objective of this study is to determine the effect of a victim's race on the likelihood of him or her being seriously injured during the commission of an interracial crime. We also assess the probability of a homicide occurring during an interracial crime. A multilevel city analysis shows that black offenders are no more apt than white offenders to injure their victims seriously during an interracial robbery or rape. A black offender also does not have a greater proclivity to kill his or her victim during the commission of an interracial crime. Some evidence suggests that white victims are more likely than black victims to suffer serious physical harm during an aggravated assault. Results also reveal that contextual factors related to racial animosity, such as residential segregation, white‐to‐black economic inequality, and black‐to‐white unemployment, fail to have any moderating effect on either the severity of victim injury or the likelihood of a homicide occurring during an interracial crime. Overall, the results generated in this study tend to cast doubt on the validity of racial animosity theory. Our findings also lead us to question the veracity of the oftenmade claim that black‐on‐white crimes are punished more severely because these types of offenses are somehow more heinous in circumstance. At least in regard to serious victim injury and victim death, black‐on‐white crime is no more violent than white‐on‐black crime.     

A Fatal Shot with a Signal Flare—A Crime Reconstruction*

Abstract: A reconstruction of an incident of a fatal wounding of a football fan with a parachute flare was performed. Physical and chemical examinations of the victim’s trousers and parts of a flare removed from the wound in his leg were performed by means of an optical microscope and a scanning electron microscope coupled with an energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometer. Signs of burning were seen on the front upper part of the trousers, including a 35–40 mm circular hole with melted and charred edges. Postblast residue present on the surface of the trousers contained strontium, magnesium, potassium, and chlorine. Also the case files—the medical reports and the witnesses’ testimonies—were thoroughly studied. It has been found that the evidence collected in the case supported the version of the victim being shot by another person from a distance.     

Drittschadensliquidation

Blo?e Schadensverlagerung auf einen Dritten soll den Sch?diger von seiner Ersatzpflicht nicht befreien. Daher kommt es, soweit der Ersatzanspruch nicht ohnedies durch Legalzession auf den Dritten übergeht, zur Drittschadensliquidation durch den unmittelbar Gesch?digten. Der Beitrag untersucht dies für verschiedene Fallgruppen und hebt die Bedeutung der Schadensverlagerung für die Bemessung des Umfangs des Schadenersatzanspruchs sowie zur Abgrenzung von Drittschadensliquidation und Vertrag mit Schutzwirkung zugunsten Dritter hervor.     

Dienstleistungsrichtlinie und Immobilienwirtschaft

Die Dienstleistungsrichtlinie (RL 2006/123/EG des Europ?ischen Parlaments und des Rates, vom 12. 12. 2006, über Dienstleistungen im Binnenmarkt, ABl L 376/36), die bis 28. 12. 2009 von den Mitgliedsstaaten der EU umzusetzen ist, hat neben ihrem arbeitsrechtlichen Schwerpunkt auch Auswirkungen auf die Immobilienwirtschaft sowie deren rechtliche Rahmenbedingungen. ?sterreich hat durch eine Novelle der GewO 1994 einen der wichtigsten Punkte der DL-RL, n?mlich die obligatorische Berufshaftpflichtversicherung der Immobilientreuh?nder – Nachweis dieser Versicherung bis sp?testens 27. 8. 2008 – bereits umgesetzt. Angesichts verschiedener Vorbehalte bleibt allerdings die Integrationswirkung der DL-RL hin zu einer Europ?isierung des gesamten Wohn- und Immobilienrechts in absehbarer Zeit beschr?nkt.     

论中国在建立国际经济新秩序中的战略定位——兼评“新自由主义经济秩序”论、“WTO宪政秩序”论、“经济民族主义扰乱全球化秩序”论

1980年代以来,国际社会中力图阻挠或扭曲建立国际经济新秩序(NIEO)历史潮流的各种学说层出不穷,诸如"新自由主义经济秩序"论、"WTO宪政秩序"论、"经济民族主义扰乱全球化秩序"论等等。这类学说虽然激发了一些新的有益思考,却确实造成了一系列新的思想混乱。建立NIEO乃是1950年代以来全球弱势群体数十亿人口争取国际经济平权地位的共同奋斗目标,当代中国人应当全面、完整、准确地加深理解邓小平的"韬光养晦、有所作为"方针,将中国在建立NIEO历史进程中的战略坐标和基本角色,定位为旗帜鲜明、言行一致的积极推动者。中国理应进一步发扬传统的具有独特内涵的中华民族爱国主义,通过BRICSM类型的"南南联合"群体,成为建立NIEO的积极推手和中流砥柱之一。总之,中国人务必保持清醒,谨防落入上述各种"时髦"理论的陷阱。     

液相色谱-串联质谱法测定血液和尿液中秋水仙碱

目的建立检测血液和尿液中秋水仙碱的液相色谱-串联质谱法。方法0.5mL血液或尿液以丁丙诺啡为内标,经pH9.2硼酸盐缓冲溶液碱化后,用乙酸乙酯进行提取,在ZORBAX SB-C18液相柱(150mm×2.1mm×5μm)上以V(甲醇)∶V(20mmol/L乙酸铵和0.1%甲酸缓冲溶液)=80∶20为流动相,流速为0.2mL/min,采用电喷雾正离子模式离子化、多反应监测模式检测秋水仙碱,内标法定量。结果血液、尿液中秋水仙碱与内标丁丙诺啡色谱分离良好,秋水仙碱在0.1~50 ng/mL内均具有良好的线性,相关系数>0.9990,最低检出限为0.05ng/mL,方法回收率为94%~116%,日内与日间精密度(RSD)均小于8.5%。结论所建LC-MS-MS方法灵敏度高、操作简便、快速、准确,适用于血液及尿液等生物检材中痕量秋水仙碱成分的检测。     

武汉汉族人群STR基因座D3S1358、D13S317、D12S391的多态性研究

目的　调查中国武汉地区汉族人群STR基因座—D3S1 358、D1 3S31 7、D1 2S391基因频率分布和群体遗传数据。方法　从 2 0 8个汉族无关个体收集血液标本 ,应用PCR技术及聚丙烯酰胺凝胶垂直板电泳对D3S1 358、D1 3S31 7和D1 2S391基因座分型。结果　D3S1 358检出 7个等位基因和 4 1个基因型。三基因座基因型分布符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡。观察 2 31次减数分裂均未发现突变基因。另外 ,调查结果计算显示D3S1 358、D1 3S31 7和D1 2S391基因座的杂合度 (H)分别为 0 70 98、 0 80 56和 0 84 0 0 ;三个人识别能力 (DP)分别为 0 851 6、 0 9332和 0 952 3;非父排除率 ( pE)分别为 0 4 463、 0 60 1 6和 0 681 8。结论　D3S1 358、D1 3S31 7和D1 2S391基因座在群体遗传学研究和法医学亲子鉴定及个人识别中具有较高实用价值     

Hardening foreign corporate accountability through mandatory due diligence in the European Union? New trends and persisting challenges

The negative externalities of global commodity chains and existing governance gaps have received wide scholarly attention. Indeed, many sectors including forest-risk commodities (FRCs) like soy and beef from Brazil remain largely unregulated. This article analyzes ongoing policy-making processes at European Union level to adopt new regulations for reducing accountability gaps: one regulation of FRCs and one general, cross-sectoral directive on human rights and environmental due diligence. This article draws on and aims to contribute to previous research into foreign corporate accountability, therein analytically distinguishing between input, output, and surrogate accountability. This study shows that new policies will likely be more comprehensive than previous supply chain regulations, while their specific institutional design and stringency are highly contested. More in general, we argue that for hardening corporate accountability, due diligence politics will need to confront important governance challenges that have limited the potential of previous regulations, such as a lack of consequentiality of reporting obligations, weak state monitoring, limited stakeholder involvement, and difficulties to establish legal liability.