Isolation and characterisation of a novel sildenafil analogue adulterant,desmethylpiperazinyl propoxysildenafil,in a dietary supplement

A new sildenafil analogue was detected during routine screening of dietary supplements suspected to be adulterated with an erectile dysfunction drug(s) using HPLC-DAD. The UV spectrum of this compound was highly similar to that of sildenafil and almost identical to that of desmethylpiperazinyl sildenafil. The analogue was purified by using semi-preparative HPLC and structurally elucidated by performing mass spectrometric and NMR spectroscopic experiments. The spectral data revealed that this sildenafil analogue bears an n-propoxy group instead of an ethoxy group and possesses no methylpiperazinyl moiety. The isolated compound, structure of which was further confirmed by spectral comparison with synthetic one, was thus named as desmethylpiperazinyl propoxysildenafil.     

Fingermark visualisation on metal surfaces: An initial investigation of the influence of surface condition on process effectiveness

Fingermark recovery from metal surfaces is an area of operational interest, both from the association of metals with weapons used in violent crime and from the increasing incidence in metal theft. This paper reports a feasibility study into the effectiveness of a range of fingermark visualisation processes in developing fingermarks on clean metals (brass, bronze and stainless steel), and on the same metals after prolonged exposure to an outdoor environment. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to investigate how the surface type and condition could influence the development of fingermarks for each of the processes used. It was found that the behaviour observed varied between each of the processes (cyanoacrylate fuming, Lumicyano?, gun blueing and carbon-based powder suspension). In some cases the chemical composition of the surface affected the development of the mark more than the surface condition, and in other cases the reverse was true. The best performing processes differed according to the surface type and condition, with cyanoacrylate fuming processes working best on brass and bronze, and powder suspensions being better on stainless steel. These preliminary results reinforce the need to take into account both surface type and condition before selection of the most effective fingermark visualisation process and demonstrate the value of techniques such as SEM in developing a fundamental understanding of the interactions between fingermarks and surfaces.     

人外周血FoxO3a mRNA表达随龄变化规律的初步研究

目的评估人外周血中FoxO3a mRNA表达的随龄变化规律,为法医学个体年龄推断寻找新的分子指标。方法采集80个健康无关个体血样,按年龄分为8组:≤9岁、10～19岁、20～29岁、30～39岁、40～49岁、50～59岁、60～69岁、≥70岁组,每组10人。提取总RNA后,用实时定量RT-PCR技术检测FoxO3a mRNA的表达水平。结果人外周血FoxO3a mRNA表达随年龄的增长而逐渐增加,具有良好的相关性(r=0.841,P0.01),以年龄分组为自变量,FoxO3a mRNA表达水平为因变量,可得拟合曲线Y=0.001e0.418x。结论人外周血中FoxO3a mRNA表达具有较强的年龄特征,有望成为年龄推断的有用指标之一。     

Community‐based restorative transitional justice in Sierra Leone

Community‐based restorative transitional justice is an important feature of peace consolidation, maximizing access to justice and facilitating reconciliation. Examining post‐conflict Sierra Leone as a case study, the author draws on existing justice practices in Sierra Leone as examples of restorative responses to war criminality. Specifically, the traditional reintegration of former male and female combatants and the emergence of a new project, ‘Fambul Tok’ are detailed. The author discusses and compares the Special Court for Sierra Leone and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to point to gaps in transitional justice that call for community‐based restorative strategies.     

Family succession through adoption in the Chosun Dynasty

Using a unique data source of genealogies of upper-status families, called Bulcheonwye families, we assess how the extent of family succession through adoption changed over five centuries from 1450 to 1949 in Korea. Our analysis shows the continued increase in the share of adopted sons among total family successors up to the end of the 19th century when three out of ten family successors were adopted. The trend of the increasing role of adoption is closely related to the declining number of sons per family, suggesting that not only the rising influence of Confucian culture but also demographic changes increased the demand for adoption. Finally, our comparison provides evidence that the likelihood of achieving high social status was significantly higher among adopted sons than biological ones, suggesting that the socioeconomic potential of adopted sons could be an important factor for adoption decision.     

A survey of data sources for studies of family and population in Korean history

Compared to China and Japan, family and population studies of pre-modern Korea have not been widely available to scholars outside Korea. As a necessary step to increase scholarship in Korean historical demography, we introduce major historical materials currently available in Korea as useful for historical studies, summarizing demographic variables provided, the type of population covered, and the historical period referred in those historical materials. In particular, we focus on genealogies and household registers that provide demographic information of Korean population before the 20th century. We describe major features of those Korean materials as demographic sources, highlighting similarities and differences as compared to corresponding Chinese historical materials. Korean historical data showing their unique features, along with comparability with other East Asian data, have potential to expand the field of historical demography in East Asia.     

建设海洋强国背景下海洋社会管理创新模式研究

近年来,“海洋强国”一词的使用频率日渐增多,建设海洋强国已成为中华民族伟大复兴的一个重要战略.与此同时,面对国际海洋权益竞争以及坚决维护海洋权益的必然要求,面对国内海洋经济的迅猛发展以及海洋管理体制改革、新型海洋利益集团的形成以及公民对于参与海洋管理的强烈诉求,海洋社会管理越来越成为建设海洋强国与新一轮海洋管理的重要领域.如何立足我国海洋国情,借鉴世界其他海洋强国在海洋开发、控制与综合管理经验,科学规划,系统布局,形成具有中国特色的海洋社会管理创新模式,是摆在我们面前的一项重大课题.本文通过对相关概念的梳理与界定,提出“构建以海洋局和国家海洋委员会为中心的、以各级海洋协调委员会为协调组织的、以沿海社区为基层平台的中国特色海洋社会管理模式”的基本框架.     

Gypsies: A selected bibliography (central and Eastern Europe)

National identity is constructed through successive identifications with significant Others. This article discusses the phenomenon of change and continuity in Czech identity. It is focused here on the identification towards the EU, which has become the most significant Other of today in two ways: (a) (change) contributing to overcoming the identity crisis provoked by the drastic changes that occurred between 1989 and 1993 (change of regime, disappearance of the USSR and the break-up of Czechoslovakia), and therefore the subsequent drastic changes in relations with past significant Others: communism, the USSR, and the Slovaks; and (b) (continuity) reaffirming one of the fundamental elements during the national revival in the nineteenth century, democracy, upon which the various identifications towards the EU have been aligned. According to the differing interpretations of what democracy means, and three other criteria of the “levels of Othering,” the EU has been “imagined,” on the one hand, as an entity where Czechs can flourish in their identity and ensure their freedom and democratic values (positive Other), and, on the other, as an “oppressor” entity which portrays democratic deficit, restricts freedom, and threatens Czech national identity (negative Other).