弗朗西斯·培根的政治哲学:唯物主义与自然主义之间

作为近代哲学发端式的人物,弗朗西斯·培根的哲学背负着太多后世强加的标签。在特殊的历史情势下,培根并没有试图主动地成为一般意义上的唯物主义者,而是不自觉地将唯物主义作为方法和策略,以便发展和实践其自然主义哲学。这种不自觉的唯物主义和自然主义,最终构成了保守主义的英国启蒙政治的最初底色。系统批判一般的形而上学或建构一种科学主义的理论体系只是后世学者的想象,培根的真实意图则是确立与科学相匹配的自然主义哲学及其方法。培根试图以真正的归纳法引导和重塑经验主义,进而确立经验上升至知识的科学、合法的路径。培根不自觉地拓展科学的规范性外延,将把握自然界与人类社会之客观规律作为力量和公共福祉的源泉。培根将不断取得财富和科学技术进步的国家视为其自然主义的现实效用,但是又最终将现存政治制度的完整保存与自发变革作为这种自然主义的终极限度。     

Preparation of a low-cost fingerprint powder that harnesses white light to emit long-lived phosphorescence

An inexpensive, commercially available doped strontium aluminate phosphor with long-lived afterglow has been prepared and assessed in the role of a luminescent fingerprint dusting powder. Blue, green, and aqua phosphorescence persisting for ca. 30 s was obtainable from treated fingermarks after charging the powders with the white light (400–700 nm) setting of a forensic light source. Imaging the phosphorescent afterglow enabled the elimination of background emissions encountered during latent fingermark examination. This was demonstrated by visualising fingermarks on substrates that possess inbuilt fluorescent security features and highly patterned substrate backgrounds, without any need for bespoke scientific equipment.     

Background levels of body fluids and DNA on the shaft of the penis and associated underpants in the absence of sexual activity

This study examines the background of blood, saliva, semen and autosomal DNA on penile swabs and underpants from males in the absence of recent sexual activity. Based on the data collected by the AFSP Body Fluid Forum, the results of this study show that; there is a very low expectation of detecting blood on penile swabs and male underpants; a low expectation of detecting saliva on penile swabs and male underpants; and spermatozoa would be expected in less than a quarter of penile swabs and three quarters of male underpants. As none of the samples had detectable levels of DNA which were suitable for meaningful comparison that did not match the donor or their partner, the expectation of detecting a DNA profile from the cellular background on penile swabs or underpants from a male who has not been involved in recent sexual intercourse is very low. The results of this study are extremely informative when evaluating the significance of blood, saliva, semen and DNA detected on the penile swabs and underpants of males in cases of alleged sexual assault.     

Assessing the background levels of body fluids on hands

Forensic scientists are often asked to assist the court by evaluating the significance of finding body fluids on the hands of an individual; however, there is an absence of published data regarding the background levels of body fluids on hands. Whilst the scientist can use casework experience to inform the courts on the significance of the results, it would be advantageous to have data which could assist with this interpretation. This study was designed to ascertain the background levels of blood, semen, saliva, hairs/fibres and staining/debris on hands in the general population by sampling from delegates attending a scientific conference.The findings suggest that approximately one third of the population would be expected to have hairs or fibres on their hands and that females are more likely to have visible staining on their hands than males. Presumptive tests for blood and semen yielded negative results in all samples; however, almost 2 % of the samples were found to contain a very low number of sperm heads. In contrast, the majority of samples tested positive for the presence of saliva using the presumptive Phadebas® amylase test. The data supports the caution applied by forensic practitioners when evaluating the presence of saliva detected using the presumptive Phadebas® amylase test based on the lack of specificity and indicates that the RSID™-Saliva test would be more suitable to use.