Application of mesocellular siliceous foams (MCF) for surface-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (SALDI-MS) Analysis of fingermarks

Recent advances in nanotechnology applied in forensic sciences have contributed to consider new approaches including chemical evaluation of latent fingermarks. Significant improvement to the detection of small organic molecules has been reached with matrix-free methods associated to laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. The present study investigated the application of mesocellular siliceous foam (MCF) as an ionizing agent for laser desorption/ionization (LDI-MS) analysis of fingermarks as a proof of concept research. Fingermarks from three different donors were deposited directly onto a MALDI target plate and α-CHCA matrix solution, MCF ethanolic suspension or MCF/magnetic powder mixture were used for treatment. Microscopy characterization of MCF support showed particles with irregular morphology and variable sizes, and a unordered porous surface with pores diameter ranging from about 10 to 20?nm. Results showed less intense peaks in the spectra produced by the MCF support (control). Analysis of fingermarks showed ions related to endogenous and exogenous molecular components, including possible lipids from human sebum and quaternary ammonium cations commonly present in cosmetics. Promising and reproducible results were obtained for the fingermarks dusted with the MCF/magnetic powder mixture. Considering the forensic applications of nanomaterials for the analysis of small molecules in biological samples by matrix-free LDI techniques, the advantages of silica based materials should be further investigated.     

Children's Rights and the Politics of Food: Big Food Versus Little People

This article traces the battle in the United States during the Obama administration, continuing into the Trump administration, to protect children's rights to food. It explores barriers to development of sound, science‐based food policies, including the refusal to recognize food as a human right, anti‐science denialism, hostility toward government regulation, and relative powerlessness of children. It points to the role of a “Big Food Pyramid” composed of powerful food industry and large scale distribution and marketing interests in blocking sound policies in prenatal and infant nutrition, school lunches, SNAP and WIC, the marketing to children of high fat and fructose‐laden products, and campaigns to increase youth fitness. While predicting a continuing assault at the federal level on children's rights to safe and healthy foods, the article highlights the positive role of consumer demand in shaping marketing, labeling and production of food and opportunities for leaders in the food industry and in government at local, municipal and state levels to continue the battle for sound food policies.     

“Scientific independence”, capacity building,and the development of UNESCO’s science and technology agenda for Africa

Abstract

This article analyses the shifting rationales for scientific collaboration in the work of the United Nations Economic, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in the science sector in Africa from the late colonial period through to the era of capacity building. Focusing on the late colonial period and the post-independence decades of “national science” in Africa, it analyses UNESCO’s role in science policy, engineering training, and natural resources research. It demonstrates that in the era of national science UNESCO’s activities were couched in the language of independence: developing capacities in the sciences was regarded as the key to obtaining “scientific independence” to match the recently obtained political independence. This marked a significant change from the 1950s when UNESCO based its operations in Africa on collaborations with the European colonial powers. The article argues that the link between scientific independence and political self-determination gave way as UNESCO rebranded scientific capacity-building activities as efforts in the pursuit of an unclearly-defined common good.     

中国近代刑事诉讼法学的诞生与成长

2 0世纪初 ,在引入西方刑事诉讼法学成果 ,对中国传统司法体制和律学进行改造的基础上诞生了中国近代刑事诉讼法学。夏勤的《刑事诉讼法要论》、陈谨昆的《刑事诉讼法通义》、徐朝阳的《中国诉讼法溯源》等著作对中国近代刑事诉讼法的形成起了重要的作用。由于该学科的学术带头人大多留学日本 ,所以中国近代刑事诉讼法学 ,无论是框架体系、基本内容 ,还是概念术语 ,都深受日本刑事诉讼法学的影响 ,在理论深度和研究方法上也带有比较幼稚的痕迹。     

关于“科学的极限”研究的若干问题

"科学或知识的极限"在近年已成为一个严肃而重要的科学话题,在国内外学界引起了广泛的研究与讨论.科学在实践、道德和理论上都有其极限.总体而言,科学的极限问题也就是科学受限的问题,即科学不可能完备.研究"科学的极限"问题具有着多方面的深远意义.     

Where Are the Women? An Analysis of Gender Mainstreaming in Introductory Political Science Textbooks

Textbook content is a powerful indicator of what is and is not considered important in a given discipline. Textbooks shape both curriculum and students’ thinking about a subject. The extant literature indicates that gender is not well represented in American government textbooks, thus signaling to students that women and gender are not part of the mainstream in political science. I contribute to this literature by using quantitative and qualitative content analysis to examine gender mainstreaming in 10 introductory political science textbooks. I find that the quantity of gendered content is small, and the quality of that content varies considerably from text to text.     

法庭科学的真谛——重温林几教授《二十年来法医学之进步》

《二十年来法医学之进步》一文,是林几对法庭科学史、法庭科学内涵、范围、管理、教育、学术、立法及法庭科学人文、人格等的研究成果,是林几的教育思想及学术思想的集中体现.文章揭示了法庭科学的真谛,对今天仍有十分重要的历史和现实意义.     

基层党的领导与村民自治关系研究

村民自治的确立和实现,从根本上讲是中国共产党有效领导、积极组织和大力推进的结果,《村民委员会组织法》明确了基层党组织对村民自治的＂领导核心＂地位。但实践中,党的领导与村民自治之间出现了不协调,只有正确把握党的领导与人们当家作主之间的关系,改变党的领导观念和领导方式,不断进行制度创新,把基层党的领导权与村民自治权有机结合起来,才能实现党对村民自治的坚强领导,保障村民自治的健康发展。     

浅议在党的坚强领导下与时俱进推动公安工作的新发展

当前我国社会正处于深刻变革之中,公安工作也面临着很多新情况和新问题,公安机关应当在党的坚强领导下更加扎实有效地推动公安工作再上新台阶,更好地维护中国共产党的执政地位,巩固共产党执政的群众基础.