运用二重PCR和DNA芯片技术检测ABO基因型

目的以玻片为载体,用寡核苷酸探针杂交技术检测ABO基因型。方法根据ABO基因座外显子6和外显子7的3个SNP点的序列分布特征设计4条寡核苷酸探针,制成分型芯片。将待测样品DNA用末端标记了Cy5的引物进行二重PCR扩增,产物与芯片上的探针进行杂交,根据杂交产生的荧光信号确定样品的ABO基因型。结果利用ABO芯片,可对血斑、毛发等微量检材进行ABO基因型检测。对115名汉族无关个体的调查表明,ABO基因型的分布符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡,等位基因杂合度观察值和期望值分别为0.591、0.616,多态信息含量为0.544,二联体和三联体非父排除率分别为0.188、0.334,个体识别能力为0.777。结论通过DNA芯片检测ABO基因型的技术适用于法医学样本,可满足高通量的检测需求。     

HLA-DRB1基因分型芯片的法医物证学应用价值研究

目的对HLA-DRB1基因分型芯片在个体识别中的应用价值进行研究。方法根据HLA-DRB1基因座不同等位基因的独特序列设计探针,制成分型芯片。将待测样品DNA用末端标记了CY5的引物进行PCR扩增,产物与芯片进行杂交,根据杂交产生的荧光信号值确定样品在HLA-DRB1位点的基因型。将这一方法应用于561份样本的HLA-DRB1基因分型,根据基因型分布统计分析其法医学应用价值。同时,进行了家系调查和方法灵敏度分析,并应用于部分案例。结果利用微量检材,HLA-DRB1基因芯片可检测DRB1位点等位基因26个,基因型的分布符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡定律,该位点的观察杂合度(Ho)为0.888,期望杂合度(He)为0.902,多态信息含量(PIC)为0.893,平均非父排除率(PE)为0.801。家系调查和案例运用的结果表明,HLA-DRB1位点等位基因由亲代向子代的传递符合孟德尔遗传定律。结论HLA-DRB1为高度多态位点,其基因分型芯片可在亲子鉴定和个体识别中发挥重要作用。     

SNP genotyping by multiplex amplification and microarrays assay for forensic application

OBJECTIVE: Research on the application feasibility of SNP genotyping for forensic identification by microarrays. METHODS: Oligonucleotide microarrays which could detect 34 different SNPs were used. After hybridization and washing, the arrays were scanned and fluorescence intensities analyzed using Microarray software. Population studies on 34 SNP loci were carried out in a sample of 109 unrelated Chinese Han individuals using oligonucleotide microarrays for genotype detection. The method was also applied to cases. RESULTS: According to the results of population studies, no deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium could be found. Among the 34 loci, 3 SNPs were low informative, 4 were medium informative and 27 were high informative. The combination discrimination power (CDP) of the 31 optimal polymorphic SNPs was 0.9999999999979. The matching probability was 2.13 x 10(-12). The average exclusion probability in paternity testing for duos was 0.9609. The average exclusion probability in paternity testing for trios was 0.9970. CONCLUSION: The data and case application demonstrated that SNP typing by oligonucleotide probe microarrays was a useful technique for paternity testing and individual identification. Combined with the 28 SNPs loci distributed on HLA-DRB1 and ABO genes, the combination discrimination power (CDP) was 0.9999999999999910. The matching probability was 9.02 x 10(-15). The average exclusion probabilities in duos and in trios were 0.9894 and 0.9992, respectively. It may be concluded that the 59 SNPs loci yield the same power in forensic identification as CODIS STRs currently used.     

ABO位点限制性扩增片段长度多态性的研究

建立了PCR扩增、限制性酶切、8％（T）、5％（C）聚丙烯酸胺凝胶垂直电泳和银染检测ABO位点的限制性片段长度多态性的方法体系。应用Amp-RFLP技术对185名中国人（哈尔滨）ABO位点的基因频率和基因型分布进行了调查和统计分析。ABO位点特异片段长度为140～200bp，基因频率为0．2000～0．5568。6种基因型频率为0．973～0．3135，杂合度0．5838，Dp值0．7146。经H－W平衡吻合度检测，完全符合群体遗传多态分布。通过对11个家庭33名相关个体的分析，证明完全符合孟德尔遗传定律。ABO基因型检验适用于法庭科学的个体识别和亲权鉴定。     

MiniFiler及Yfiler试剂盒无创产前亲子鉴定的可能性探究

目的采用Mini Filer~(TM)及YFiler~(TM)试剂盒对孕妇血浆进行STR分型,评估上述试剂盒进行无创产前亲子鉴定的可行性。方法采用Mini Filer~(TM)及YFiler~(TM)试剂盒,对2例成人男性的全血及血浆进行STR分型,评估血浆检材的分型准确率及适用性;对8组已知亲子关系的孕妇家系(4组非父,4组亲父,均为男胎样本)采用Mini Filer~(TM)及YFiler~(TM)试剂盒进行STR分型,对STR分型图谱直接观察,总结归纳孕妇血浆STR图谱的特征,探讨进行无创产前亲子鉴定的可行性。结果血浆检材的STR分型结果与全血STR分型结果 100%一致,且等位基因峰高接近,表明血浆是一类可以进行STR分型的检材;观察8组孕妇血浆检材的STR分型图谱,可获得2~5个可用(含胎儿STR信息)Mini-STR位点,1~8个可用Y-STR位点,且在位点充足的情况下(6个),肯定父权家系可计算累计父权指数达192 653,否定父权家系中有3~7个位点支持否定父权。结论采用Mini Filer~(TM)及Yfiler~(TM)试剂盒对孕妇血浆进行STR分型,存在进行无创产前亲子鉴定的可能性。     

Genotyping of five short tandem repeat loci via triplex and duplex PCR

We have developed a triplex PCR method for D3S1359, HumTH01 and HumTPO tetranucleotide loci and a duplex PCR method for HumFES/FPS and HumvWA31A tetranucleotide loci using high resolution polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining. The methods were evaluated for paternity testing and individual identification and allele frequencies at these loci are reported for 189–3387 unrelated individuals in the Finnish population. The D3S1359 locus, especially, was found to be a highly informative locus. Seventeen alleles were found in the D3S1359 locus with a highest observed allele frequency of 0.199, a high exclusion power (PE) in paternity testing (0.78) and a high observed heterozygosity (0.89). The combined PE for these five loci was 0.99.     

Psychoactive drugs in the road traffic in the legal and consultative aspects—Experience gained by the Forensic Medicine Department, Silesian University of Medicine, Katowice

Introduction

In the years 1997–2007 in the Forensic Medicine Department, Silesian University of Medicine, Katowice a total of 785 blood samples collected from drivers being the perpetrators of road accidents was tested for the presence of psychoactive drugs.

Methods

The studies took advantage of FPIA (Abbott), ELISA (Neogen), LC–MS and GC FID.

Results

21% of tested samples were positive. In the blood of the driver cannabinoids, amphetamine and its derivatives were most frequently found. Moreover, individual opium alkaloids, their combinations with barbiturates, benzodiazepines or amphetamine, benzodiazepine derivatives (isolated cases), drugs of benzodiazepine group in combination with barbiturates, tramadol or tricyclic anti-depressants (isolated cases), carbamazepine, phenotiazine, cocaine, dibenzepine, benzene, toluene and acetone were determined.

Conclusion

The obtained results showed cannabinoids and amphetamine derivatives to be the most frequent whereas opium alkaloids, barbiturates and benzodiazepines rather rare psychoactive drugs found in the tested blood samples of the drivers involved in the road accidents. The authors suggest screening psychoactive drugs not only in drivers involved in road accidents but also those put through the routine road check procedures. While giving opinions on the influence of the above mentioned drugs on the psychophysical efficiency of road traffic users, drugs and compounds which are not subject to legal control but have an effect on the human psychomotor efficiency and thus, enhance the risk of the road accident should be also taken into account.     

31个SNP位点多重PCR扩增和芯片分型技术的建立及其法医学应用

目的对SNP基因分型芯片在个体识别中的应用价值进行研究。方法根据SNP不同等位基因的序列设计探针,制成分型芯片。采用4个复合PCR体系,用末端标记了Cy5的引物进行复合PCR扩增,产物与寡核苷酸探针进行杂交,根据杂交产生的荧光信号值确定样品在各SNP位点的基因型。将这一方法应用于109份样本的分型,根据基因型分布统计分析31个SNP位点的法医学应用价值。同时,进行家系调查和方法灵敏度分析。结果方法的灵敏度为1ng;所检测的31个SNP位点的累积个体识别率为0.9999999999979(偶合率为2.13×10-12),二联体亲子鉴定中累积非父排除率为0.9609,三联体亲子鉴定中累积非父排除率为0.9970。家系调查的结果表明,这些位点等位基因由亲代向子代的传递符合孟德尔遗传定律。结论上述31个SNP位点为中高信息量位点,适用于法医学个体识别,可作为当前STR系统的补充。     

Sex as a moderator and perceived peer pressure as a mediator of the externalizing-delinquency relationship: A test of gendered pathways theory

Purpose

The current study sought to determine whether sex moderated peer mediation of the externalizing-delinquency relationship as part of a larger test of the gendered pathways theory of crime.

Methods

Data gathered from 4,144 (2,079 males and 2,065 females) members of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth-Child sample were subjected to simple correlational and moderated mediation analysis.

Results

Externalizing behavior and delinquency correlated equally in boys and girls but in testing a full moderated mediation model it was discovered that sex moderated the mediating effect of perceived peer pressure on the externalizing–delinquency relationship. Whereas externalizing behavior predicted delinquency in both boys and girls, perceived peer pressure only mediated the externalizing-delinquency relationship in boys.

Conclusions

These results support the gendered pathways to delinquency model to the extent that the relationship between childhood externalizing behavior and delinquency was mediated by perceived peer pressure in males but not females. The implications of these results for theoretical refinement of the gendered pathways approach and crime prevention and intervention are discussed.     

Genetic polymorphism of 17 STR loci for forensic use in Chinese population from Shanghai in East China

Allele frequencies for 17 STR loci found in Identifier kit and PowerPlex^®16 Monoplex System were determined in a sample of 1000 unrelated individuals living in Shanghai in East China. The values of observed heterozygosity (Ho), power of discrimination (PD), probability of paternity exclusion (PE) and polymorphism information content (PIC) were calculated. All loci were in accordance with Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (p < 0.05). The obtained frequency distributions were compared with other previously reported population data.     

北京地区汉族人群6个STR基因座的遗传多态性

目的对北京地区汉族人群遗传数据进行调查研究。方法利用PCR自动化检测技术检测中国北京地区汉族人群D1S1656,D10S2325,D11S2368,D12S391,D14S1434及GATA198B05共6个STR基因座的遗传多态性,获得6个STR基因座的群体遗传学数据,评价其法医学应用价值。结果6个STR基因座的个体鉴别力（Discrimination power,DP）在0．9777-0．8769之间,多态性信息含量（Polymorphism information content,PIC）在0．6867-0．8801之间,杂合度（Heterozygosity,H）在0．7219～O．8684之间,非父排除率（Probability of paternity exclusion,PE）在0．4456-0．6793之间,累积个体鉴别力为0．99999997,累积非父排除率为0．995765192。结论6个STR基因座等位基因频率分布均匀,多态性高,适用于法医学亲子鉴定及个人识别,可作为现有基因座的补充。     

成都地区汉族人群D2S441位点的遗传多态性研究

为研究 STR位点 D2S441的遗传多态性,为法医学应用提供基础数据,应用 PCR及 PAG电泳技术对 260名成都地区汉族无关个体进行了调查,共检出 9个等位基因及 26种基因型,首次获得汉族群体频率分布 ,其等位基因片段大小范围为 131～ 155bp。该位点基因型频率分布符合 Hardy－ Weinberg平衡。家系调查证实了等位基因的传递遵循孟德尔遗传规律。其个人识别能力（ Dp）、杂合度（ H）、多态性信息含量（ PIC）和非父排除率（ PE）分别为 0.9084、 0.7885、 0.7390和 0.5778,表明该位点在法医学个人识别及亲子鉴定中具有较高的实用价值。     

Identification and analyses of female civilian victims of the 1991 war in Croatia from the Glina and Petrinja areas

Introduction

The process of recovering and identifying human remains from individual and mass graves has proven to be the most effective method of resolving the fate of missing individuals in the former Yugoslavia. These efforts have two primary objectives: medicolegal—to identify the cause of death, and humanitarian—to bring closure to living family members, thus supporting the human rights of both the living and the deceased. From 1996 to the present, the remains of 388 individuals killed during the 1991 War in Croatia were recovered from the Glina and Petrinja areas (Sisa?ko–Moslova?ka County). The purpose of this paper is to report on the demographic and taphonomic characteristics of the recovered remains, and identify factors responsible for the discrepancy in the identification ratios.

Methods

To identify factors potentially responsible for the noted discrepancy, data were collected on the taphonomic characteristics of the recovered remains, the types of burials, as well as the factors responsible for positive identification. These factors included: forensic DNA testing, dental criteria, special signs (healed fractures, etc.), clothing and personal artifacts.

Results

The age distributions between males and females in the sample are significantly different. The mean age-at-death for males is 51.6 years, for females 67.0 years. In both sexes the majority of identifications (62.9% in females and 45.9% in males) were established through a combination of biological and non-biological features. In terms of the types of graves from which the bodies were recovered, positive identification in both sexes was lowest in mass graves (61.2% for males, and 84.2% for females). Females from mass graves were, however, better preserved than males—36.6% of males recovered from mass graves were completely skeletonized, while the same was true for only 19.3% of females (χ² = 7.06, P < 0.029). Completely skeletonized remains were identified in only 65.1% of cases, while partially skeletonized and saponified bodies were identified in 80.1% of cases.

Conclusion

Since positive identification in both sexes is strongly correlated with preservation of the bodies, the reason why female identification frequencies in the Glina and Petrinja regions are higher than male frequencies lies in the fact that females recovered from mass graves were better preserved than males recovered from mass graves. Identification of the factors responsible for this is a challenge that needs to be resolved in future studies.     

Social skills training for juvenile delinquents: post-treatment changes

Objectives

To examine the post-treatment effectiveness of an outpatient, individual social skills training for juvenile delinquents in the Netherlands and to conduct moderator tests for age, gender, ethnicity, and risk of reoffending.

Methods

The sample consisted of juveniles who received Tools4U, a social skills training with a parental component, as a penal sanction (N?=?115). Propensity score matching was used to select a control group of juveniles receiving treatment as usual (TAU) of n?=?108 juveniles (of a total of N?=?354). Assessment of impulsivity, social perspective-taking, social problem-solving, critical reasoning, developmental task-related skills, and treatment integrity took place before and immediately after the treatment.

Results

Treatment integrity was found to be sufficient, so that treatment effects could be attributed to the Tools4U training. Tools4U was more effective than TAU in reducing impulsivity, cognitive distortions (self-centering and assuming the worst), and social perspective-taking deficits (hostile intent attribution). No treatment effects were found on adolescents’ social problem-solving skills, and only caretakers of girls showed improvement in parenting skills. Effects on developmental task-related skills were not in the expected direction: after Tools4U, juveniles reported significantly less social acceptance and self-worth than juveniles receiving TAU.

Conclusions

Tools4U showed generally small effects and no effects on protective factors, which might limit the long-term treatment effects on delinquency. Treatment effects may be improved by implementing additional techniques and improving the parental component for boys in particular.

     

Time series robustness checks to test the effects of the 1996 Australian firearm law on cause-specific mortality

Objectives

Many studies utilize time series methods to identify causal effects without accounting for an underlying time trend. We show that accounting for trends changes the conclusions in the study of Chapman et al. (JAMA, 316(3), 291–299, 2016), who evaluated the impact of the Australian firearm law in 1996. We also introduce a new empirical method that tests whether their empirical strategy can actually identify a causal effect that is also useful for panel analyses.

Methods

We use national data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, assembled in annual counts of: total firearm deaths, firearm suicides, and firearm homicides. These data are used in an independent re-analysis of the impact of the 1996 Australian firearm law that accounts for underlying stochastic trends. We then estimate a series of artificially created interruptions using interrupted times series analysis in a time frame before 1996, to test for changes in the slope of mortality across several years prior to the actual regulatory changes. This tests whether the empirical model produces effects in years other than the year of the intervention, thereby testing if the results can simply be replicated at random using other interruption years.

Results

Controlling for stochastic trends produces less statistical evidence of the impact of the firearm law on firearm mortality than previously reported by Chapman et al. (JAMA, 316(3), 291–299, 2016). Introducing artificial interruptions in 1990 through 1995 produces statistically significant decreases in all firearm-related mortality measures well above the expected type 1 error. Overall, 19 out of the 36 artificial interruption models we tested were found to be statistically significant, suggesting that the empirical model can be implemented in multiple non-intervention years with results similar to the true 1996 interruption year.

Conclusions

Current evidence showing decreases in firearm mortality after the 1996 Australian national firearm law relies on an empirical model that may have limited ability to identify the true effects of the law.

     

Analysis of 15 STR loci in Chinese population from Sichuan in West China

Allele frequencies for 15 STR loci found in PowerPlex 16 System kit were determined in a sample of 200 unrelated individuals living in Sichuan area in west China. The values of observed heterozygosity (Ho), power of discrimination (PD), probability of paternity exclusion (PE) and polymorphism information content (PIC) were calculated. All loci were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p<0.05). The obtained frequency distributions were compared with other previously reported population data.     

Examining Systematic Crime Reporting Bias Across Three Immigrant Generations: Prevalence,Trends, and Divergence in Self-Reported and Official Reported Arrests

Objective

Mounting evidence reveals that foreign-born, first generation immigrants have significantly lower levels of criminal involvement compared to their US-born, second and third-plus generation peers. This study investigates whether this finding is influenced by differential crime reporting practices by testing for systematic crime reporting bias across first, second, and third-plus generation immigrants.

Methods

This study draws on data from the Pathways to Desistance Study, a longitudinal investigation of the transition from adolescence to young adulthood among a sample of serious adolescent offenders. Self-reported and official reports of arrest are compared longitudinally across ten waves of data spanning 7 years from adolescence into young adulthood for nearly 1300 adjudicated males and females.

Results

This study reveals a high degree of correspondence between self-reports of arrest and official reports of arrest when compared within groups distinguished by immigrant generation. Longitudinal patterns of divergence, disaggregated by under-reporting and over-reporting, in self- and official-reports of arrest indicated a very high degree of similarity regardless of immigrant generation. We found no evidence of systematic crime reporting bias among foreign-born, first generation immigrants compared to their US-born peers.

Conclusions

First generation immigrants are characterized by lower levels of offending that are not attributable to a differential tendency to under-report their involvement in crime.

     

A meta-analysis update on the effectiveness of early self-control improvement programs to improve self-control and reduce delinquency

Objective

To update Piquero et al.’s (Justice Quarterly 27:803–834, 2010) meta-analysis on early self-control improvement programs.

Methods

Screening of eligible studies was carried out for the period between January 2010 and September 2015. An additional seven studies were identified, which were added to the original database of 34 studies, totaling an overall sample of 41 eligible studies. A random effects model was used to obtain an overall mean effect size estimate. Additional analyses were performed to assess publication bias and moderation.

Results

Overall average, positive, and significant effect sizes were observed for improving self-control (0.32) and reducing delinquency (0.27). There was evidence of publication bias for the self-control improvement outcomes, as well as some evidence of moderation for both self-control improvement and delinquency outcomes.

Conclusions

Early self-control improvement programs are an effective evidence-based strategy for improving self-control and reducing delinquency.

     

Information retrieval in systematic reviews: a case study of the crime prevention literature

Objectives

A defining feature of a systematic review is the data collection; the assembling of a meticulous, unbiased, and reproducible set of primary studies. This requires specialist skills to execute. The aim of this paper is to marshal tacit knowledge, gained through a systematic search of the crime prevention literature, to develop a ‘how-to guide’ for future evidence synthesists in allied fields.

Methods

Empirical results from a recent systematic search for evidence in crime prevention are supplied to illustrate key principles of information retrieval.

Results

Difficulties in operationalizing a systematic search are expounded and possible solutions discussed. Empirical results from optimizing the balance between sensitivity and precision with the criminological literature are presented. An estimation of database overlap for crime prevention studies is provided to guide other evidence synthesists in streamlining the search process.

Conclusions

A high-quality search will involve a substantial time investment in honing the research question, specifying the precise scope of the work, and trialing and testing of search tactics. Electronic databases are a lucrative source of eligible studies, but they have important limitations. The diversity of expression across the criminological literature needs to be captured by the use of many search terms—both natural language and controlled vocabulary—in database searches. Complementary search tactics should be employed to locate eligible studies without common vocabulary. Grey literature should be ardently pursued, for it has a central role in the crime prevention evidence base.

     

Note on a Training Program for Brief Decision Making for Frontline Police Officers

Purpose

The present paper describes the theoretical basis for a brief decision-making training program for frontline police officers as well as an outline of the training program, officers’ evaluation of perceived relevance and perceived learning effects.

Design

A between group design was used in order to test for differences in evaluation between officers at different training levels.

Results

High scores were obtained on all four items related to the evaluation (>84% scored in the highest category). When separating the subjects into groups based on their previous training (regular police response personnel vs. SWAT-type personnel), regular police response personnel obtained higher scores on perceived learning. However, both groups showed high scores on perceived learning. Both groups scored high on their evaluation of perceived relevance of the training program and no difference was found between the two groups.

Practical implications

The brief decision making training program that expands ordinary tactical training was highly appreciated by police officers and was seen as complementary to ordinary training.