Fatal steamer accident; blunt force injuries and drowning in post-mortem MSCT and MRI

Steamer accidents, through contact with the bucket wheel, are very seldom today. No publication of such a kind of fatal accident could be found in literature. We present the case of a fatal steamer accident, in which the findings of a blunt traumatization of a person by the ship was completely documented by post-mortem combined multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations. A rupture of the aorta was detected using both radiological methods without use of radiopaque material. Radiological examination revealed a comminuted fracture of the thorax vertebrae at the same level as the aortic rupture. Injuries of the soft tissues of the back, caused by the bucket wheel of the steamer, were also diagnosed. In addition to the signs of blunt force trauma the findings of drowning such as an over inflation of the lungs, fluid in the stomach and duodenum were revealed. Furthermore, algological analysis detected diatoms in the lung tissue and blood from the left heart. Therefore, the cause of death was considered being a combination of fatal hemorrhage, caused by the aortic rupture, and drowning. We conclude that virtual autopsy using combined post-mortem MSCT and MRI is a useful tool for documentation, visualisation and analysis of the findings of blunt force trauma and drowning with a large potential in forensic medicine.     

Estimating the probability of identity in a random dog population using 15 highly polymorphic canine STR markers

Dog DNA-profiling is becoming an important supplementary technology for the investigation of accident and crime, as dogs are intensely integrated in human social life. We investigated 15 highly polymorphic canine STR markers and two sex-related markers of 131 randomly selected dogs from the area around Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria, which were co-amplified in three PCR multiplex reactions (ZUBECA6, FH2132, FH2087Ua, ZUBECA4, WILMSTF, PEZ15, PEZ6, FH2611, FH2087Ub, FH2054, PEZ12, PEZ2, FH2010, FH2079 and VWF.X). Linkage testing for our set of marker suggested no evidence for linkage between the loci. Heterozygosity (HET), polymorphism information content (PIC) and the probability of identity (P((ID)theoretical), P((ID)unbiased), P((ID)sib)) were calculated for each marker. The HET((exp))-values of the 15 markers lie between 0.6 (VWF.X) and 0.9 (ZUBECA6), P((ID)sib)-values were found to range between 0.49 (VWF.X) and 0.28 (ZUBECA6). Moreover, the P((ID)sib) was computed for sets of loci by sequentially adding single loci to estimate the information content and the usefulness of the selected marker sets for the identification of dogs. The estimated P((ID)sib) value of all 15 markers amounted to 8.5 x 10(-8). The presented estimations turned out to be a helpful approach for a reasonable choice of markers for the individualisation of dogs.     

Study on the application of parent-of-origin specific DNA methylation markers to forensic genetics

In paternity test, especially in motherless cases, the allele inherited from father (obligatory gene, OG) often cannot be determined. The paternity exclusion probability (PE) of a genetic marker is reduced considerably. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a new technique, by which the parental origin of alleles can be determined without genealogical analysis. In this paper, we explored the possibility of using parent-of-origin specific DNA methylation markers to determine the parental origin of alleles, choosing the imprinted single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) locus rs220028 (A/G) as a model system. We typed the SNP by mutagenically separated PCR (MS-PCR). The frequencies of alleles were A = 0.5085, G = 0.4915; the unbiased heterozygosity was 0.5020. In order to discriminate between the maternal allele and paternal allele, post-digestion MS-PCR, a novel PCR based methylation analysis and SNP typing technique was developed and performed on 18 heterozygous children, and the methylated maternal allele was detected specifically. As a pilot study on the use of epigenetic markers in forensic genetics, our results demonstrated the feasibility of using parent-of-origin specific DNA methylation markers to determine the parental origin of alleles.     

Y-chromosome STR haplotypes in Danes

A total of 185 unrelated Danish males were typed for the Y-chromosome STRs DYS19, DYS385a/b, DYS389-I, DYS389-II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS437, DYS438 and DYS439 using the kits PowerPlex Y (Promega), ReliaGene Y-Plex 6 and ReliaGene Y-Plex 5 (Reliagene Technologies). A total of 163 different haplotypes were observed and among these, 144 haplotypes were unique. The gene diversity was 0.9985. In DYS392, a variant allele migrating as a 10.2 allele was observed. Sequencing of the allele showed a deletion upstream the repeated area.     

The relationship between performance on the standardised field sobriety tests, driving performance and the level of Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in blood

The consumption of Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as cannabis has been shown to result in impaired and culpable driving. Testing drivers for the presence of THC in blood is problematic as THC and its metabolites may remain in the blood for several days following its consumption, even though the drug may no longer have an influence on driving performance. In the present study, the aim was to assess whether performance on the standardised field sobriety tests (SFSTs) provides a sensitive measure of impaired driving behaviour following the consumption of THC. In a repeated measures design, 40 participants consumed cigarettes that contained either 0% THC (placebo), 1.74% THC (low dose) or 2.93% THC (high dose). For each condition, after smoking a cigarette, participants performed the SFSTs on three occasions (5, 55 and 105 min after the smoking procedure had been completed) as well as a simulated driving test on two occasions (30 and 80 min after the smoking procedure had been completed). The results revealed that driving performance was not significantly impaired 30 min after the consumption of THC but was significantly impaired 80 min after the consumption of THC in both the low and high dose conditions. The percentage of participants whose driving performance was correctly classified as either impaired or not impaired based on the SFSTs ranged between 65.8 and 76.3%, across the two THC conditions. The results suggest that performance on the SFSTs provides a moderate predictor of driving impairment following the consumption of THC and as such, the SFSTs may provide an appropriate screening tool for authorities that wish to assess the driving capabilities of individuals suspected of being under the influence of a drug other than alcohol.     

在荷兰东印度公司以前居住印度尼西亚的中国人

印度尼西亞和中國的關係由來已經很久。根据在松巴哇發現的一个东山時代(大約公元前五百年左右)的青銅鼓和在青銅鼓上装飾着一个人騎着馬、穿着韃靼人的服装的圖画來看,有理由,而且有足够的理由推測,印度尼西亞和中國的關係自从史前時代就已經廣泛地開始建立了(參看雅加達博物館史前文物第3364号和樊得賀編(Dth.van der Hoop)的“史前文物珍藏目錄”第213頁)。明顯的事实是印度尼西亞最古老的歷史,那就是从公元初開始的歷史,是从中國得來的(參看克倫納斐(W.P.Groen Veldt)著的馬來羣島和馬六甲的記載”一書)。伯希和(Paul Pelliot)也这样推測,卽在那个時期,印变尼西亞和中     

《回忆》一书的几个章节(续二)

宇宙纪元的十月一战后新的一代苏联人进入了宇宙时代的生活。青年人有时很难想象,四分之一世纪以前,既没有卫星,没有宇航员,也没有到月球、火星、金星的飞行。而仅仅有对这类飞行的幻想,许多世纪以来人类能抱有的幻想。有一位诗人说得很正确:“我们来到世上,为的是把神话变成事实……”正是我国人民开始了宇宙世纪的读数。当地球上的亿万人知道发射了第一颗人造地球卫星的那一天,那个时刻才初次触及宇宙     

我在越南的古拉格

黎文德是法籍越南人,越南南方解放前曾在阮文绍军队中任上校。胡志明市诞生后,他为其日耳曼籍的表兄弟非利浦·弗朗希尼管理大陆酒店,不久该酒店移交新政府,他就被关押在再教育营。原文是黎文德叙述其在再教育营的前后经历。现摘译部份内容以供参考。     

印度尼西亚的对外贸易

国际贸易市场不景气和世界资本主义经济萧条正在对印度尼西亚的对外贸易产生不良影响。这个国家的出口增长率由一九八○至八一年度(财政年度,从四月一日起)的百分之二十四点五下降为一九八一至八二年度的百分之六点六,出口值为二百三十七亿一     

实验性猪水泡病的普通病理学

对24头有极轻微疾病的猪,用猪水泡病病毒一株英国毒株作了脑内、静脉内或皮内接种。在皮肤、鼻、舌和扁桃体上主要的病变是一种复层鳞状上皮的极其致密的凝固性坏死。在肾盂、膀胱、扁桃体和唾液腺及胰腺的导管,发生上皮变性并有过碘酸雪夫反应(PAS)阳性物质的形成均是本病常见的特征。仅用组织病理学检查,不能将猪水泡病和口蹄疫所引起的十分明显的皮肤病变区别开。对水泡病和科赛奇B_5之间的关系作了简短的讨论。