Dehydration-Induced alterations to sharp force trauma on Sus domesticus radii

Dehydration is a taphonomic process that affects nearly all skeletal remains, yet there is a dearth of evidence on this process within the forensic taphonomy literature. When considering the forensic implications of skeletal dehydration, a particular area of concern is sharp force trauma due to its global prominence in forensic cases. In an attempt to address these literature gaps and quantify the effects that dehydration has on skeletal elements, a controlled experiment subjected Sus domesticus (i.e., domestic pig) radii samples (n = 36) to laboratory-induced dehydration after they were inflicted with knife trauma. All samples were photographed pre- and post-dehydration; bone section and kerf mark length, width, and area were then measured from these photographs using ImageJ. Statistical analysis of pre- and post-dehydration samples showed that all measurements experienced significant (p ≤ 0.001) shrinkage, with bone sample area shrinking an average of 8.8 % and kerf mark area an average of 29.7 %. Alterations in length, width and area between the kerf marks and bone samples showed a weak, moderate, and strong correlation, respectively. These findings suggest that anthropological analysis may be affected by dehydration-induced shrinkage, highlighting the necessity of continued research into the effects of dehydration on skeletal trauma.     

补肾抗松丸对绝经后骨质疏松症患者骨密度的影响

目的:观察补肾抗松丸对绝经后骨质疏松症患者骨密度(BMD)的影响.方法:将84例绝经后骨质疏松症患者随机分为2组,观察组42例用补肾抗松丸加碳酸钙片治疗,对照组42例只用碳酸钙片治疗,疗程为6个月.治疗前后检测正位腰椎BMD,取第2-4腰椎BMD平均值,检查设备使用GE Lunar Prodigy型双能X线骨密度仪.结果:BMD与绝经年数的相关性分析显示,用药前两者呈显著负相关(r=0.254,P＜0.05),用药后两者无相关关系(r=-0.159,P＞0.05).观察组BMD自身前后比较显著增加(t=3.976,P＜0.01),与对照组比较,差异有显著性(t=3.297,P＜0.01;95%CI(0.010,0.042)).结论:绝经后骨质疏松症患者BMD呈逐年下降趋势,补肾抗松丸能逆转这个趋势,单纯服用钙片不能增加其BMD.     

Determination of DNA yield rates in six different skeletal elements in ancient bones

Current sampling strategy for laboratories typing bones for human identification include samples obtained from femur, tooth and temporal bone. Latest studies suggest that the small bones of the hands and feet were very similar or even better in DNA yield. These bones can be easily sampled with a disposable scalpel and thus reduce potential DNA contamination. The aim of our study was to determine the suitability of metatarsals, metacarpals and phalanges for genetic identification. 48 bone samples from 8 different skeletons (six from 18^th century and two from 3rd century) were obtained from 5 archaeological sites in Slovenia. In each skeleton, 6 different skeletal elements were sampled (temporal bone, molar, femur, metacarpal bone, metatarsal bone and proximal phalanx of the hand), and strict precautions followed to prevent contamination. Half of gram of bone powder was decalcified using full demineralization extraction method. The DNA was purified in a Biorobot EZ1 (Qiagen), DNA content determined with the PowerQuant kit (Promega), and autosomal STR typing performed with the Investigator ESSplex Plus kit (Qiagen). Up to 8.75 ng DNA/g of powder was obtained from samples analyzed. The highest yields were detected in temporal bone and the lowest in femur. The success rate of STR typing was evaluated according to the number of successfully typed loci and a strong correlation between the success rate of STR typing and the amount of extracted DNA was confirmed. For all eight skeletons full consensus genetic profiles were determined from skeletal elements analyzed. Our findings suggest it would be suitable to include metatarsal and metacarpal bones in sampling strategy for human identification although further research is needed to substantiate the findings of this study.     

Evaluation of five DNA extraction systems for recovery of DNA from bone

Five DNA extraction systems were assessed for their DNA extraction efficiency on samples of fresh pig bone. Four commercially available silica-based extraction kits (ChargeSwitch^® gDNA Plant Kit (Life Technologies), DNA IQ^TM System Kit (Promega), DNeasy^® Blood & Tissue Kit (Qiagen) and PrepFiler^® BTA Forensic DNA Extraction Kit (Life Technologies)) and a conventional phenol-chloroform method were tested in this study. Extracted DNA samples were quantitated with GoTaq^® qPCR Master Mix (Promega) using an Applied Biosystems^® 7500 Real-Time PCR System and the extracts were amplified using an in-house multiplex system. The phenol-chloroform extraction produced higher yields of DNA than the silica-based extraction methods. Among the silica-based extractions ChargeSwitch^® gDNA Plant Kit recovered the highest amounts of DNA. However, all methods produced DNA that could be amplified and none of the extracts contained any detectable inhibition.     

The role of mathematics and scientific thought in Africa: A Renaissance perspective

ABSTRACT

This article examines the centrality of mathematics and scientific thought in the sociocultural, human and intellectual development of a sampling of African societies. Evidence is presented which refutes the theory that Africans had no ‘intelligible sense of numeracy’ before contact with the West, and demonstrates that the propagation of this myth was part of the larger colonial project to marginalise and ‘other-ise’ African knowledge systems. Tracing Africa's early contributions to mathematics and scientific thought forces a shift from the standard Western-based approach to pedagogy in this field. It renders a subject that is perceived and presented as alien to African culture, more accessible to African learners. And ultimately, acknowledging the long history of mathematics and scientific thought in Africa is a step in foregrounding African epistemologies in knowledge production, human and social development and towards the realisation of the African Renaissance.     

加味阳和汤对肾阳虚型骨质疏松模型大鼠骨密度及血清微量元素的影响

目的 探究不同浓度的加味阳和汤对维甲酸灌胃、氢化可的松臀部肌肉注射造成的肾阳虚型骨质疏松症（osteoporosis，OP）模型大鼠骨密度（bone mineral density，BMD）及血清微量元素的影响。方法 将48只SD大鼠分为空白对照组，模型组，加味阳和汤低、中、高剂量组，阳性对照组，除空白对照组外其余均复制肾阳虚型OP模型鼠，分别给予1%羧甲基纤维素钠、加味阳和汤（5、10、20 g/kg）、戊酸雌二醇（estradiol valerate，E2V）（0.000 2 g/kg）灌胃，每日1次，持续灌胃6周。 取大鼠股骨及血清，观察大鼠股骨BMD、血清碱性磷酸酶（alkaline phosphatase，ALP）、抗酒石酸酸性磷酸酶（tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase，TRAP）〖JP〗水平及微量元素［镁（magnesium，Mg）、锌（zinc，Zn）、铁（ferrum，Fe）］的变化。结果 与模型组比较，加味阳和汤各剂量组大鼠BMD均有不同程度的上升，大鼠血清ALP、TRAP活性均显著降低（P<0.05），血清Fe、Zn水平均显著升高，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05），血清Mg水平的变化无统计学意义（P>0.05）。结论 加味阳和汤对肾阳虚型OP大鼠有明显的治疗作用，且其作用机制可能与调节血清微量元素水平，抑制骨的高转换率有关。     

Molecular study of time dependent changes in DNA stability in soil buried skeletal residues

In the past years, many publications about identification and sex-determination of dry human bones by means of DNA analysis have been published. However, few studies exist that investigate the potential use of DNA technique to determine the postmortem interval (PMI). In the present study we analyzed the rate of increasingly smaller fragments of chromosomal DNA and PMI.     

韩愈贬潮原因探幽

人们都认为韩愈因《论佛骨表》而贬潮州,然而这只是表面现象。其实,《平淮西碑》被废,李逢吉、令狐楚、皇甫镈一方与裴度、韩愈一方的斗争,才是韩愈贬潮的深层次的政治原因。     

骨移植与牙种植体联合修复颌面缺损的研究现状

通过综合分析近年来骨移植与牙种植体联合修复颌面缺损的基础研究和临床应用现状,了解并掌握该领域的发展方向,为科研选题和促进该学科的发展提供理论基础。     

针灸督脉对骨质疏松模型大鼠血清相关细胞因子和骨密度的影响

目的:探讨针灸督脉对维甲酸所造成的骨质疏松的影响。方法:通过给大鼠灌服维甲酸14 d后,复制骨质疏松大鼠模型,并进行针灸及药物干预,采用放射免疫分析法和双能X线骨密度测定法等,检测实验大鼠血清骨代谢相关细胞因子以及骨密度。结果:针灸督脉可明显提高实验大鼠血清转化生长因子-β(TGFβ)水平,降低白细胞介素-6(IL-6)和肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNFα)水平,升高骨密度(BMD)。结论:针灸督脉可通过调节机体相关细胞因子网络平衡,改善骨代谢负平衡状态,降低骨的转换率,增加骨密度,有效治疗维甲酸导致的骨质疏松症。