Crowdsourced and crowdfunded: the future of forensic DNA?

ABSTRACT

Forensic DNA analysis is dependent on comparing the known and the unknown. Expand the number of known profiles, and the likelihood of a successful match increases. Forensic use of DNA is moving towards comparing samples of unknown origin with publicly available genetic data, such as the records held by genetic genealogy providers. Use of forensic genetic genealogy has yielded a number of recent high-profile successes but has raised ethical and privacy concerns. Navigating family trees is complex, even more so when combined with a comparison of genetic relationships. This intelligence-gathering process has led to occasional false leads, and its use also risks a public backlash, similar to concerns over Cambridge Analytica. A cautious approach to use of this technique is therefore warranted.     

Social climate within secure inpatient services for people with intellectual disabilities

Background The social climate of inpatient facilities is thought to be an important contributor to treatment outcome. However, little research has focused on this construct within secure forensic services for people with intellectual disabilities (ID). Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the social climate of two different types of secure units (‘low’ secure vs. ‘medium’ secure) contained within the same facility for offenders with ID. Two hypotheses were generated: (1) residents would rate the social climate of the whole facility in a more negative direction than staff, and (2) residents and staff would rate the social climate of the ‘low’ secure unit in a more positive direction than that of the ‘medium’ secure unit. Method Using a 2 (factor ‘Participant’ = Staff or Resident) × 2 (factor ‘Unit’ = ‘Low’ or ‘Medium’ Secure Unit) between‐subjects design, 18 residents and 37 staff members were recruited and completed the Correctional Institutions Environment Scale (CIES), a measure of social climate. Results Residents tended to rate the units in a more positive direction than staff on some sub‐scales. Participants rated the ‘low’ secure unit in a more positive direction than the ‘medium’ secure unit on two sub‐scales of the CIES. However, on selected sub‐scales there were differences. The findings of this study suggest that the CIES may be a valid instrument for use within forensic services for people with ID, and further suggests that residents and staff have different perceptions of the shared social climate, which may have implications for service development.     

575名新疆汉族青年学生手长、掌长与身高的关系

目的：研究新疆汉族青年手长、掌长与身高的关系，为人类学、法医学提供参考，同时为中国人体质调查积累资料。方法：应用Ｈｒｄｌｉｃａｓ标准和我国普遍采用的方法测量了５７５名（男２７０名，女３０５名）１８～２４岁汉族青年学生的手长、掌长和身高，并将原始数据进行医学统计学处理。结果：按年龄组和性别组计算出各组手长、掌长和身高的均值，身高与手长、掌长的比值。并提出由手长、掌长推算身高的简单公式（身高＝手长×比值，身高＝掌长×比值）和回归方程（身高＝回归系数×手长＋截距，身高＝回归系数×掌长＋截距）。结论：手长、掌长和身高各组性差有显著性（Ｐ＜０．０１）；由手长、掌长推算身高的简单公式和回归方程成立（Ｐ＜０．０５）。     

The practice of forensic psychiatry in cases of homicide in Copenhagen, 1959 to 1983

During the years 1959 to 1983 a doubling in the rate of homicide took place in Copenhagen. This increase was exclusively due to an increasing number of male offenders. By comparing with another Danish material, the frequency of female homicide as well as that of homicide combined with suicide was found practically unchanged since 1946, indicating that both of these kinds of homicides seem to have a background different from those of other offences of fatal violence. During the years 1959 to 1983, the criteria of selection of the defendants for a psychiatric examination for the court were fairly consistent. Examinations were performed in practically all cases, where a charge of murder raised by the police was followed by a legal trial for homicide. Less and less of the defendants, however, were hospitalized for the examination, while more were examined in The Clinic of Forensic Psychiatry in Copenhagen.     

Traumatic Memories: Empirical Foundations, Forensic and Clinical Implications

This article reviews empirical research on memories for negative personal experiences among adults. It examines basic concepts (including neural underpinnings), theoretical models of the affect-memory relationship, and data from three sources: victims or witnesses to crimes and atrocities, "flashbulb memories" for traumatic events, and laboratory simulations of shocking experiences. Evidence suggests that memories for traumatic experiences contain more central than peripheral detail, are reasonably accurate and well-retained for very long periods, but are not completely indelible. Assertions of eyewitness memory's vulnerability to change through suggestion have overstated the evidence. Forensic and clinical implications are discussed and a plea issued for more study of the memory phenomena that characterize posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and are the focus of trauma survivors' treatment.     

4种尸食性蝇类卵的表面超微结构

:【目的】明确尸食性蝇类卵的形态 ,以便于在医学和法医学中的应用。【方法】用扫描电镜机观察杭州地区 4种尸食性蝇类卵的形态。【结果】丝光绿蝇、大头金蝇、巨尾阿丽蝇和厩腐蝇卵的超微结构形态各异 ,卵的大小、表面形态、中区、孵出线、卵孔和垂柱皆为重要的鉴别特征。【结论】通过卵壳超微结构可区分常见尸食性蝇类。     

组织学实验课教学方法的探讨

目的　 探讨组织学实验课的教学方法 ,提高教学质量。方法　 在组织学实验课上 ,分别采用幻灯讲解、放映电视录像等方法对学生进行辅导 ;要求学生分别做绘镜下实像图、模式图、填图作业 ,在此基础上 ,组织学生进行讨论 ,并列表调查学生对上述 3种作业和 2种辅导的反映。结果　 赞成幻灯讲解辅导的人数 ( 71 % )显著地多于赞成放电视录像辅导的人数 ( 2 9% ) ,具有显著性差异 ( P<0 .0 0 1 )。 61 %的学生认为 ,在节约时间、检查发现学习的薄弱环节、增加复习面、调动学习积极性等方面 ,填图优于绘图。赞成做填图作业的人数 ( 94% )显著地多于赞成做绘图作业的人数 ( 4 % ) ,差异显著 ( P <0 .0 0 1 )。结论　 在目前的条件下 ,作为组织学实验课上的集体辅导 ,电视录像并不能完全代替幻灯讲解 ;让学生做填图作业 ,在节约时间、调动学习积极性、发现学习的薄弱环节、加深学习印象、增加复习的广度等方面明显地优于做绘图作业 ,值得在教学中推广。     

医学声像示教实时双向同步传输系统的研制

研制开发病房大楼手术摄像、内窥镜、电子显微镜、病理图像等医学声像信号与科教（培训交流）中心、阶梯教室、示教室、主任办公室等终端医学声像信号的实时双向同步传输示教系统，以弥补PACS系统单向、帧传、滞后的缺陷．为大型学术交流、现场教学示教观摩提供技术支持。     

Knowledge and attitudes of physicians toward forensic psychiatry in Saudi Arabia

Objectives:To assess the knowledge and attitudes of physicians of different specialties, including psychiatrists, regarding forensic psychiatry to determine whether further modification or training is needed in the psychiatry residency program.Methods:This cross-sectional study was carried out using a 3-page, 3-section questionnaire containing 21 questions disseminated randomly online via Google forms using social media platforms. The 482 participants were residents, specialists, and consultants of various specialties. The study was conducted between September 2020 and August 2021 in various tertiary hospitals across Saudi Arabia.Results:A total of 482 physicians were recruited. The most common age group was 25-35 years, comprising mostly Saudis (62.4%). Based on the results, “poor” and “good” knowledge of forensic psychiatry was identified in 89% and 11% of the physicians, while “negative” and “positive” attitudes were identified in 16.4% and 83.6% of the physicians.Conclusion:Although the perspective of physicians regarding forensic psychiatry was found to be positive, their knowledge of the topic seems to be lacking.