Forensic application of reverse dot blot with biotin incorporation

A rapid and accurate reverse dot blot technique was successfully established. It could distinguish the 6 alleles of 0101, 0102, 0103, 0201, 0301 and 0401 of HLA-DQA locus. Alleles and genotype frequencies for HLA-DQA locus were determined in 200 unrelated individuals of northern Han population. The discrimination power (DP) was 0.928, heterozygocity (H) 0.75. By direct biotin incorperation, 1 ng genome DNA could be detected successfully. This method can be used for paternity test and individual identification in forensic science practice.     

海洛因成瘾者神经、内分泌及免疫系统超微病理变化研究

目的 研究海洛因成瘾者中枢神经、内分泌、免疫及生殖系统的超微结构变化。方法 应用透射电镜技术对 4例海洛因成瘾者中枢神经系统、内分泌系统、免疫系统以及生殖系统进行了观察。结果 神经系统表现为线粒体肿胀、嵴断裂、空泡变、内质网扩张、神经纤维数量减少、细胞器减少;免疫系统表现为淋巴细胞数量减少,胞浆成分减少,死亡细胞增多;内分泌系统表现为线粒体扩张,局部嵴断裂,内质网扩张;生殖系统表现为男性生精细胞减少,细胞器减少。女性未见卵泡结构。结论 海洛因滥用者的亚细胞超微结构呈急、慢性缺氧性变性、坏死改变。     

A study of sex identification of trace, dried bloodstains using a Y-chromosome-specific deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) probe

A new method is discussed which examines trace, dried bloodstains by gel in situ hybridization using a Y-chromosome-specific deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) probe to determine the sex of the bloodstain for forensic medicine application. The complete DNA is transferred directly by electrophoresis onto the gel intact, bypassing the possibilities of impurities contaminating the sample and of DNA degradation. The method has proven accurate for small (2.5-mm-diameter) samples aged up to eight years and is quick, simple, and easily read.     

Advocates for hire: How government contracting shapes politics

Many public services in the United States are administered through non-state actors, many of which are nonprofits with broad social missions. Some scholars show that contracting these organizations can compromise their broader goals and political activities, while others find that such arrangements empower the organizations to engage in advocacy and influence policy. We argue that not only can contracting strengthen nonprofits' capacities to engage in politics and advance their missions, but it can mobilize political activity among those working for and engaging with the nonprofits. We use the case of Teach For America (TFA) and an instrumental variable approach that leverages plausibly exogenous variation in the timing of TFA's arrival in states to show that contracting TFA is related with the arrival of new education reform advocacy groups spearheaded by TFA alumni. This, in addition to TFA's direct efforts, leads to the passage of reform policies—especially charter school laws.