Powdered Activated Carbon: An Alternative Approach to Genomic DNA Purification

Forensic evidence samples are routinely found as stains on various substrates, which may contain substances known to inhibit polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The goal of this study was to evaluate post‐Chelex^®100 purification using powdered activated carbon (PAC). Mock crime scene DNA extracts were analyzed using quantitative PCR and short tandem repeat (STR) profiling to test the DNA recovery and inhibitor removal using PAC with those of the Amicon^®Ultra 100K. For extracted bloodstains on soil and wood substrates, PAC and Amicon^®Ultra 100K generated similar DNA yield and quality. Moreover, the two methods significantly decreased the concentration of humic substances and tannins compared to nonpurified extracts (p < 0.001). In instances where extracts contained indigo dye (bloodstains on denim), Amicon^®Ultra 100K performed better than PAC due to improved amplifiability. Efficient adsorption of humic substances and tannins, which are common inhibitors, indicates PAC's potential application in the purification of high‐template DNA extracts.     

The interplay between formal and informal institutions in Turkey: the case of the Fethullah Gülen community

Supporters of the Fethullah Gülen community, an informal institution with an influential role in Turkish political life, have formed an international chain of schools and student dormitories, and a communications web that includes newspapers, journals, television and radio channels, as well as other companies and finance institutions. Although the community has no formal structure, its followers have established these formal institutions to integrate it into formal systems like education and the economy. This paper focuses on the community's educational organizations to argue that, since the community has preferred to pursue its goals within Turkey's existing formal framework, rather than by challenging it or breaking its rules, it can be defined as an accommodating informal institution rather than complementary, competing or substitutive.     

Suicidal deaths in childhood and adolescence

Suicide has been reported as the second or third most common cause of death in children and adolescents worldwide. In this study, cases of under the age of 19 years submitted to the Institute of Forensic Medicine, First Specialization Board between 1996 and 2000 as suicides by the Board were evaluated retrospectively. The cases included in this study were the cases bearing locally questionable components, so had been submitted to the evaluations by the Board in order to eradicate the doubts. A total of 43 cases were investigated regarding age, gender, cause of death, manner of death, place of death, time of death, and the risk factors. Of the 43 cases evaluated, 31 cases were female and 12 cases were male. The notable suicide method was found to be firearms. Although it was clear that that not all of the suicide cases in this age group had been submitted to the Institute of Forensic Medicine, the most striking result of this study, nevertheless, was that girls constituted the 72% of suicidal deaths in this age group.     

Governing the Safety and Security of the Malacca Strait: The Nippon Foundation between States and Industry

ABSTRACT

Despite long-standing sovereignty sensitivities, the Malacca and Singapore Straits have been the site of co-operative governance and regime building. Of note is the 2007 Co-operative Mechanism of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, characterised as a milestone achievement in regional co-operation towards improved safety and security in the Straits. Yet, well before the Co-operative Mechanism were also earlier instances of co-operation dating to the 1970s – specifically between the Straits’ littoral states under a tripartite framework and Japanese actors through the Malacca Strait Council. In addition to providing a template for the Co-operative Mechanism, these arrangements offer alternative models of governance and regime building that challenge conventional characterisations of “regional governance” – what it looks like, as well as its driving actors. This article considers the significance of these early efforts, with attention to the ways that the region’s developmental context bears on the actors, structures and processes of governance in Southeast Asia. Not only does this historical process of co-operation give expression to alternative governing arrangements composed of mixed actors and obligations, but an unconventional governance agent – the Nippon Foundation – has played an especially defining role in bringing actors to the table and substantiating the co-operative process.     

Preview Screening of Documentary Touching the Tigers

While CPAFFC Vice President Li Xiaolin visited the U.S.from April 11 to 16,a preview of the documentary film Touching the Tigers,a memorial to the great contribution American pilots made to China’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression in WWII,was screened at the Chinese Embassy in Washington,D.C.     

自动化工作站与Chelex-100法对血样本检验效果比较

目的比较自动化工作站与Chelex-100法对不同浓度血液样本的检验效果。方法取新鲜血液,按倍量稀释法制成2~1 024倍10种不同浓度的血样本,分别采用自动化工作站和Chelex-100法提取模板DNA,应用Identifiler Plus试剂盒进行扩增及毛细管电泳检测,并对电泳结果进行比较。结果稀释2~32倍的血样本,采用两种方法的检验成功率均可达到100%;稀释64倍的样本,Chelex-100法成功率为41.3%、完整分型数为78.3%,自动化工作站成功率为13.0%、完整分型数为43.5%,两者比较,差异均有统计学意义(P0.01);稀释128倍的样本,成功率在Chelex-100法(8.7%)和自动化工作站(2.4%)之间比较,其差异无统计学意义(P0.05);稀释256倍以上,两种方法均无法获得分型结果。结论自动化工作站适用于一定浓度血样的检验,而对于微量血样,Chelex-100法的效果可能更优。     

以人为本思想与和谐社会的构建

以人为本思想是构建社会主义和谐社会的根本指导思想和重要原则，不仅体现了社会主义和谐社会的本质要求和核心价值，而且还是构建社会主义和谐社会的基本前提和终极目标。因此，以人为本思想不仅是对构建社会主义和谐社会的现实吁求的彰显，而且还是对其主体和目的以及其人文关怀的彰显。     

浅议我国农民增收缓慢的根源及解决途径

农民增收问题一直是我国政府关注的重大问题.然而近年来,我国农民的收入增长幅度却逐年递减.这种状况不仅严重影响了农民的生产、生活,而且也成为全面建设小康社会进程中的制约因素.对此,我们要有清醒的认识,并努力寻求解决这一问题的途径和良策.