Polymorphism of EsD by isoelectric focusing: description of the new allele EsD*Kofu and phenotyping in bloodstains

The polymorphism of EsD was investigated in 1115 unrelated Japanese individuals by isoelectric focusing. Besides the three common phenotypes two heterozygotes EsD 7-1 and EsD 7-2 were observed. The gene frequencies were: EsD*1 = 0.6234, EsD*2 = 0.3663, and EsD*7 = 0.0103. In addition, a rare variant was detected in a probandus living in the city of Kofu. The family analysis suggested the hereditary occurrence of a new allele EsD*Kofu. The isoelectric focusing method was successfully applied to phenotyping EsD in bloodstains; each phenotype was demonstrated at 37 degrees C for up to 2 weeks, at room temperature for up to 9 weeks, and at 4 degrees C for over 20 weeks after stain formation.     

A stability study on Gc subtyping in bloodstains: comparison by two different techniques

The limits of determination of Gc subtypes in bloodstains were compared between the immunofixation method and the sulfosalicylic acid precipitation method using isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide gel. By the immunofixation method Gc subtyping in bloodstains was successfully made at 37 degrees C after 7 weeks, at room temperature after 17 weeks and at 4 degrees C even after 25 weeks storage. By the sulfosalicylic method Gc subtypes were no longer able to be determined a few weeks after stain formation. The superiority of the results obtained by the immunofixation method makes it the recommended method for the Gc subtyping from bloodstains in medicolegal practice.     

A practical method for the accurate determination of methemoglobin in blood containing carboxyhemoglobin

Kinetics of the oxidation of carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO) by potassium ferricyanide was studied photometrically in a weakly acid solution. An increase in the absorbance at 630 nm reached a maximum within 10 min when over a 100-fold excess of ferricyanide to hemoglobin iron was used. A slight decrease in the absorbance was observed after completion of the reaction when over a 500-fold excess of the reagent was used. In the presence of 0.4% Sterox SE, the absorbance began to decrease without complete oxidation. From these findings, a simple, rapid and accurate method for the determination of methemoglobin (Met-Hb) in blood was devised. The method was compared with two other methods, using 11 blood samples containing various amounts of HbCO, and proved to be suitable for blood containing elevated HbCO as well as for ordinary blood.     

A note on intermediate imports and the BPCG model in Mexico

Numerous applications of the balance-of-payments-constrained growth (BPCG) model have concluded that Mexico’s equilibrium GDP growth rate fell after trade liberalization, because of a sharp rise in the income-elasticity of imports. Following the bounds testing approach of Pesaran et al. (2001), the present note estimates equations for intermediate and other types of imports in Mexico from 1960 to 2006. It shows that intermediate imports are significantly affected by manufactured exports, and that once the effect is controlled for, there is no significant rise in their income-elasticity—in contrast to what is observed for other types of imports. Since manufactured exports are highly intensive in imports, what the typical BPCG regression detects as an increase in the elasticity of intermediate imports may reflect a compositional effect, namely, the re-composition of GDP towards exports. Some implications for the BPCG model are briefly discussed in the conclusions.     

Discerning Interrelationships among the Knowledge,Competencies, and Roles of Project Managers in the Planning and Implementation of Public Sector Projects

This study uses information gleaned from a sample of 102 public sector project managers to assess the interrelationships among project manager roles, responsibilities, and competencies in the planning and implementation stages of the project life cycle. The results of confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling revealed that project managers use different subsets of their skills to influence outcomes at these two stages of the project. For example, while the project manager's organizational and technical skills tend to have some influence during the project planning stage, managerial, leadership and people skills appear to have more influence during the project implementation stage. Implications of these and our other findings for the practice of project management in public sector organizations are discussed.     

El régimen jurídico de la mediación civil y mercantil en conflictos transfronterizos en españa tras la ley 5/2012, de 6 de julio

This article analyzes in depth the regulation set forth by the Act 5/2012, of 6-7 as regards cross-border mediation. The article addresses some essential issues of this institution. Thus, the regulation of the agreement to mediate; the role played by mediators, their training and the recognition of their status; the law applicable to the merits of the dispute or the foreign recognition of any agreement reached between the parties after a mediation procedure are some of the issues studied in this article. The analysis highlights the relevance of the Act 5/2012 in Spain for promoting the use of mediation in Spain. But at the same time it shows the need for the Act to be fully implemented in order to solve some of the questions and problems that it still raises.     

Domestic and International Satellite Regulatory Procedures: Paths to Progress or Insurmountable Obstacles?

The complex regulatory processes associated with satellite spectrum allocation and orbital resource utilization are described. In particular, the International Telecommunication Union's satellite network registration and coordination procedures are used to obtain international recognition and protection for satellite network operations, and domestic frequency allocation and licensing procedures are used to assign rights to utilize spectrum and orbital resources to individual satellite operators. Recent developments on the domestic and international level are aimed at streamlining these processes. However, more needs to be done, particularly with respect to enforcement of existing satellite network implementation requirements to ensure that current satellite regulatory procedures effectively facilitate access to spectrum and orbital resources.     

The legal concept of personhood in Colombia: are there biological reasons to change it?]

Nowadays, as a consequence of scientific advances in embryology, genetics and assisted reproduction techniques, the scientific community ask for new laws to establish new parameters to use with these recent discoveries. Discoveries that have changed the legal concept of "person". In many countries this concept is absolutely useless when facing new techniques such as cloning, stem cell research and embryo storage. That is why it is necessary to change its definition to guarantee the right to life and give a better protection to human embryos.