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University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Science. The current forensic use of fingerprints is for identification purposes and requires a reference sample for comparison to any unknown fingermark. Features of individual ridges can be used for identification however in combination they create overall level one fingerprint patterns (arches, loops and whorls). Past studies have indicated that level one patterns may occur at different frequencies between biogeographical ancestries (BGAs) and ridge density (the number of ridges within a defined area) may indicate the sex of an individual. This research aimed to represent the level one fingerprint pattern and ridge density frequencies of the Australian population which was previously largely unknown and assess the association of pattern and ridge density with BGA, sex, hands, fingers, and genetic markers. By assessing these associations, fingerprint expert’s conclusions based on experience could be supported by statistical data and a new avenue of investigation could be unlocked from fingerprint evidence. The BGA, sex, hands, fingers or genotype of the depositor could be predicted for fingermarks that do not return a match in any database. A total of 828 volunteers donated their fingerprints and self-declared BGA. Of the 828 volunteers 515 people also donated their DNA. The fingerprints were classified using the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) classification system. Goodness of fit tests, multinomial logistic regression and general estimating equations were utilised for association of ancestry, sex, hands, and fingers with the pattern and ridge densities. Associations between fingerprint patterns and genetic markers were investigated for five genetic models. Statistical analyses revealed several fingerprint patterns occurring at significantly higher and lower frequencies than expected for BGA, sex, hands and fingers. Significant differences were also found amongst ridge densities (radial, ulnar, and proximal positions) for all independent variables, however further investigation showed that proximal and ulnar positions produced dissimilar results to right and left positions, indicating this characteristic would be limited in its usefulness in forensic casework. In 207 people of European and Middle Eastern BGAs over 60 SNPs were significantly associated with fingerprint patterns and four genetic loci of interest were located on two distinct areas of chromosome six, an area on chromosome one and an area on chromosome 11. The hypothesis that non-coding regions and epigenetic regulation are causative of fingerprint development was tentatively supported. These results provide additional and novel evidence that frequencies of level one fingerprint pattern and ridge density differ between BGAs, sexes, fingers and hands.

Introducing Political Philosophy is a thought-provoking introduction that invites readers to consider and analyse the philosophical controversies that underpin several prominent areas of political debate. The opening chapter familiarises students with the aims and methods of political philosophy. It explains the tools required to practice the discipline, and discusses how to apply these to political arguments. Each of the fifteen subsequent chapters focuses on a distinct area of public policy, such as affirmative action, humanitarian intervention, immigration, and parental leave. The authors introduce students to the moral questions that lie at the heart of these political disputes, as well as to some of the relevant academic literature. The authors believe that the best way to learn about political philosophy is to see it in action. By arguing for a position in each chapter and defending it against criticisms, they demonstrate to students how political philosophy can inform our analysis of public policy.

This note offers reflections on qualified market access (QMA)—the practice of linking trade agreements to values such as human rights, labour standards, or environmental protection. This idea has been suggested by political theorists as a way of fulfilling our duties to the global poor and of making the global economic system more just, and it has influenced a number of concrete policies, such as European Union (EU) trade policies. Yet, in order to assess its merits tout court , different perspectives and disciplines need to be brought together, such as international law, economics, political science, and philosophy. It is also worth reflecting on existing practices, such as those of the EU. This note summarises some insights about QMA by drawing such research together and considers the areas in which further research is needed, whilst reflecting also on the merits of interdisciplinary exchanges on such topics. Keywords: trade justice; qualified market access; generalised system of preferences; human rights; labour standards; World Trade Organization; inter-disciplinarity (Published: 28 May 2014) Citation: Ethics & Global Politics, Vol. 7 , No. 2, 2014, pp. 83–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/egp.v7.24507

Detailed inclusion and exclusion criteria. (PDF 112 kb)

Blood sampling details. (PDF 195 kb)