Intra‐ and Inter‐Element Variability in Mitochondrial and Nuclear DNA from Fresh and Environmentally Exposed Skeletal Remains,

Successful identification of skeletonized remains often relies upon DNA analyses, frequently focusing on the mid‐diaphysis of weight‐bearing long bones. This study explored intra‐bone DNA variability using bovine and porcine femora, along with calcanei and tali. DNA from fresh and short‐term environmentally exposed bone was extracted utilizing demineralization and standard lysis buffer protocols, and DNA quantity and quality were measured. Overall, femoral epiphyses, metaphyses, and the tarsals had more nuclear and mitochondrial DNA than did the femoral diaphyses. DNA loss was much more rapid in buried bones than in surface exposed bones, while DNA quality differed based on environment, but not bone region/element. The demineralization protocol generated more DNA in some bone regions, while the standard lysis was more effective in others, and neither significantly affected DNA quality. Taken together, these findings reinforce the importance of considering inter‐ and intra‐bone heterogeneity when sampling skeletal material for forensic DNA‐based identifications.     

Healthy aspirations? Crypto-eugenics and the aim to create healthy families in Australia, 1946–1970s

This paper explores the incorporation of eugenic objectives within family focused and psychologically based public health initiatives throughout the 1940s–1970s. By focusing on three of Australia’s enduring public health initiatives – family planning, marriage guidance and sex education – I consider how post-war eugenic rhetoric in Australia was initially dominated by educational services which centred on creating a conducive environment for eugenically aligned reproductive choices within the nuclear family structure. The fact the term ‘eugenics’ was increasingly omitted from what remained eugenically aligned public health activities will also be considered.     

5F-UR-144的热不稳定性研究

目的利用气相色谱-质谱法(GC-MS)、液相色谱-四级杆-飞行时间质谱(LC-Q-TOF/MS)和核磁共振光谱法(NMR)研究合成大麻素5F-UR-144遇热分解的具体变化情况。方法对照品用无水乙醇定容稀释后,经GC-MS和LC-Q-TOF/MS检测得到对应的色谱图和质谱图;对照品分别于常温和280℃密封加热后用无水乙醇定容稀释,经LC-Q-TOF/MS和NMR检测得到对应的质谱图、¹H和¹³C核磁共振波谱;对照品分别于常温逐步提升至300℃密封加热后用无水乙醇定容稀释,经LC-Q-TOF/MS检测得到对应的色谱图。结果5F-UR-144在高温下会开环产生新的物质;5F-UR-144从130℃开始分解,随着温度升高分解程度提升,240℃时分解率达到98%;随着温度继续升高,超过260℃,分解产物会碳化。结论基于5F-UR-144的热不稳定性,在检测时应考虑若通过烫食方式吸食5F-UR-144,其进入人体的成分会发生变化;气相色谱或气相色谱-质谱法不适合定量检测5F-UR-144。     

Forensic Imaging‐Guided Recovery of Nuclear DNA from the Spinal Cord*,†

Abstract: Our objective is to document the recovery of DNA from the spinal cord or surrounding dura mater in 11 cases of severely burned human remains. Radiographs established that portions of charred tissue contained spine segments. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) revealed that each spine specimen contained an intact spinal cord remnant. A full DNA profile was obtained from seven specimens using spinal cord dura mater in six specimens and spinal cord medulla in one specimen. A partial profile was obtained from four specimens (spinal cord dura mater, 2; spinal cord medulla, 2). Bone and muscle surrounding the spinal cord appear to insulate nucleic acid containing tissue from critical thermal degradation. The spinal cord, which is easily identified by MDCT examination of remains and easily recovered at the postmortem examination, can be a source of DNA with extraction yields comparable with other tissue sources. Specimens of dura mater are preferable as processing time is faster than bone.     

Dandelions dancing in the snow

Abstract: This article is a translation of the keynote address delivered at the ‘Relire Kawabata au 21e siècle – modernisme et japonisme au-delà des mythes’ conference hosted by the Maison de la culture du Japon (Paris) and Université Paris Diderot-Paris 7 on 17–18 September 2014. It situates Kawabata Yasunari's late unfinished novel Tanpopo (Dandelions) within Japanese modernity and literary history, in particular drawing an array of connections between the work and the history of the rural northern mountain country of Japan.     

The United States Congress and nuclear war powers: explaining legislative nonfeasance

Scholarly debate over the role of the United States Congress in approving military action has focused on the respective war powers granted the executive and legislature by the United States Constitution. Although a voluminous literature has examined the institutional and partisan politics shaping their exercise, a conspicuous lacuna concerns nuclear war powers. Despite periodic but mostly ineffective reassertions of congressional prerogatives over war, the decision to employ nuclear weapons has been left entirely to presidential discretion since 1945. Explaining this consistent refusal by Congress to rein in the ultimate presidential power and exercise co-responsibility for the most devastating form of war relies less on disputatious constitutional grounds than on three arguments about congressional dysfunctionality, legislative irresponsibility, and the relative costs of collective action by federal lawmakers on perilous national security questions.     

Iran,the GCC and the Implications of the Nuclear Deal: Rivalry versus Engagement

Abstract

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, also known as the Iran nuclear deal, is consequential for Middle East regional security. It has raised a number of concerns for Arab Gulf states in relation to an emboldened Iran after sanction relief and the perceived shift of the US away from supporting its traditional allies in the Gulf. The international recognition and incorporation of Iran into regional power constellations resulting from the deal will intensify Saudi-Iranian rivalry to assert dominance. This rivalry and competition will increase in the short run, however, regional crises are expected to highlight the need for dialogue and engagement on regional affairs.     

实验性脑挫伤GFAP,PCNA免疫组织化学研究

采用改进的Ｆｅｅｎｅｙ氏落体打击致Ｗｉｓｔａｒ大鼠脑挫伤模型,利用免疫组织化学染色,观察大鼠实验性脑挫伤后ＧＦＡＰ、ＰＣＮＡ的改变,用图像分析仪对免疫组化染色阳性细胞灰度和面积进行测量,ＳＡＳ统计软件分析,得出脑挫伤后ＧＦＡＰ、ＰＣＮＡ变化的时间规律性,为脑挫伤形成时间推断提供新的手段。ＧＦＡＰ阳性细胞面积和灰度伤后呈上升趋势,伤后３ｈ,即有显著增加（Ｐ＜０．０１）,至４天时,阳性细胞灰度,面积达到峰值（Ｐ＜０．０１）,伤后７天仍保持较高水平（Ｐ＜０．０１）。ＰＣＮＡ阳性细胞伤后１２ｈ出现,灰度呈上升趋势,面积呈下降趋势,伤后３天时达到最大值（Ｐ＜０．０１）。因此,ＧＦＡＰ、ＰＣＮＡ免疫组织化学染色阳性细胞的数量,灰度,面积改变有时间性规律;推断２～７天的脑挫伤则以ＧＦＡＰ、ＰＣＮＡ改变为主;脑挫伤后星形胶质细胞数目增多,只有很少一部分为星形胶质细胞增殖而来,且这种增殖在伤后３天时达到高峰     

特朗普政府重整核军备动因研究

特朗普当选美国第45任总统后致力于重整核军备，大力推进美国核武器系统的现代化。其奉行这一政策的主要动力有：美国认为，俄罗斯积极谋求世界大国地位，中国经济与军事实力迅猛发展，其他新兴大国的群体性崛起，世界政治重回大国地缘政治竞争，美国世界霸权地位面临严峻挑战；俄罗斯在冷战结束后把核力量作为追求世界大国地位的基石，不仅大力推进战略核武器的研制与部署，还重建战术核力量，中国的核力量现代化也取得了较大进展，朝鲜和伊朗在核力量建设方面也取得进展，美国对上述国家核力量发展高度疑虑；美国战略核力量因受精确打击威慑等军事学说的影响在国家安全中的地位降低，长期投入不足，核武器库老化严重；美国核力量部队因冷战后爆发核战争可能性降低，战备松懈，管理混乱。特朗普政府的重整核军备政策固然可以进一步提升美国战略核力量的优势地位，但它也会相对削弱美军常规力量优势，甚至会出现边际收益小于边际成本的情况。美国重整核军备必定会引发核军备竞赛，从而动摇全球战略稳定。     

The Iran nuclear deal: winning a little,losing a lot

Iran’s nuclear programme had for more than a decade become a controversial issue between Iran and the West; it had even threatened to develop into a military confrontation between Teheran and its arch adversary, Washington. The issue was finally resolved in an agreement, after more than a year of negotiations, between the two sides in Geneva in July 2015. This was hailed as a ‘breakthrough’ and a ‘win-win’ for both parties. It is argued here that the nuclear deal has made Iran’s nuclear programme almost inoperable, and pointed out that many members of Congress are vehemently against the deal; the next administration may not honour it or may revise it. The high costs of sanctions against Iran to the sanctioning countries are also examined, with a comparison made between the meagre concessions that Iran will get and the huge concessions that the West will receive under the deal. Furthermore, Iran has acceded to very intrusive inspection of some of its military sites. It is contended that, if the Iranians hope the agreement will soon bring about the resolution of other thorny regional and international issues that exist between Teheran and Washington, they are very likely to be disappointed.