Sexual dimorphism in teeth: discriminatory effectiveness of permanent lower canine size observed in a XVIIIth century osteological series

Recent studies have shown that the most dimorphic tooth is the mandibular canine. We have carried out a study on a random sample of 146 skeletons dating from the plague outbreak in Marseilles (1722). We studied 1284 maxillary and 1432 mandibular permanent teeth. Sexual dimorphism was tested on 89 individuals. We selected a set of four dental indices and calculated the dimorphism percentage by ratio expression male/female. Dimorphic ranking was made, by allotting the first rank to the tooth presenting the highest dimorphism and the last rank to the one presenting the lowest ratio. Comparisons of means were made on both sexes (sex determined by post-cranial data) through a Student's test (t-test). We noted that lower canines and lateral incisor are the most interesting teeth in the dimorphic dental determination. The lower index presented the highest relative risk with RR = 1.56 [1.04-2.32]. In 58% of the cases, the lower dental index enabled a correct sex determination (determined on the basis of the post-cranial skeleton). These results showed the existence of a relative dental dimorphism (male > female mesiodistal diameters) with humans. In conclusion, this method, using dental measurements, may be used as an additional technique to determine sex on fragmentary adult skeletons, immature material, missing pieces or ambiguities on post-cranial remains.     

Analysis of dimethylamphetamine and its metabolites in human urine by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry with direct sample injection

An analytical method to identify and determine dimethylamphetamine (DMA) and its metabolites in human urine was developed with liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) involving the direct injection of a urine sample. The urine samples were directly injected by using a gel permeation column, whose stationary phase was polyvinyl alcohol with a small amount of a carboxyl group, so DMA and its metabolites were analyzed rapidly and simply without pretreatment such as extraction, concentration and derivatization. DMA and its metabolites were identified in drug-free human urine spiked with 1 microg of DMA, dimethylamphetamine N-oxide (DMANO) and methamphetamine (MA), and 3 microg of amphetamine (AM) in 1 ml of urine under the full-scan mode. Under the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode, the limits of detection (signal-to-noise ratio=5) for DMA, DMANO, MA and AM were 20, 20, 20 and 60 ng in 1 ml of urine, respectively. This method was applied to the identification and determination of DMA and its metabolites in urine samples of 10 DMA abusers. The concentrations of DMANO were higher than those of unchanged DMA in all urine samples; thus, DMANO is considered to be a useful metabolite as an indicator to prove DMA intake.     

Use of the "SMITEST" PSA card to identify the presence of prostate-specific antigen in semen and male urine

To determine whether the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) could be identified in semen using the "SMITEST" PSA immunochromatographic membrane test card, we examined semen and other body fluids, including urine. Although PSA activity was detected in semen with high sensitivity using the "SMITEST" PSA card, it was also detected in adult male urine. However, the lower detectable limit in the urine was 1000-fold lower than that in semen. The concentration of PSA in adult male urine was found to be 800 ng/ml using the card. PSA activity usually can be detected in urine of individuals over 14 years old and it has been detected in urine from children as young as 11 years old. Therefore, the appearance of PSA in urine may occur anytime between the age of 12 and 14 years. To determine the stability of PSA activity in urine, dried samples of urine on filter paper were kept at room temperature for up to 3 years. Although the immunoreactive line showing PSA activity became weak after storage, it was still detectable, but faint, after 3 years. In addition, PSA activity was not detected in male serum or saliva and in the urine from human females, male cats or male dogs using the PSA card. We conclude that the PSA card is useful for identification of PSA in both semen and adult male urine.     

美国与东亚大国的关系--东南亚的视角

本文评述了美国与东亚大国———中国、日本、俄罗斯、印度及东盟的关系,以及这些关系对东亚的影响,并着重分析了中国与东亚大国的关系。作者认为,中美关系肯定是未来东亚地区最重要的战略关系。中国的崛起促使创立东亚地区机制成为必要。多边合作是解决和克服双边低效的最直接的战略,因此,创立东亚共同体的想法具有很重要的意义。     

印尼民主化进程、中国印尼关系及国际形势评析

应暨南大学的邀请,2006年5月27-30日,印尼前国家领导人———印尼人民协商会议(MPR)主席、印尼国民使命党前任总主席、穆罕默迪亚前任总主席、现印尼国民使命党荣誉主席、印尼知名学者阿敏.赖斯教授(Prof.Dr.HM Amien Rais)对暨南大学进行了为期3天的学术访问,并被聘请为暨南大学客座教授。期间,阿敏.赖斯教授做了两场学术报告,分别就印尼民主化进程、中国印尼关系、国际形势等诸多问题发表了看法。参加学术报告会的有暨南大学东南亚研究所暨国际关系学系师生、印尼留学生、广东外语外贸大学印尼语专业师生和广州市、中山市、珠海市的印尼归侨代表等130人,东南亚研究所所长曹云华教授主持了学术报告会。现对其主要观点和看法进行整理,以飨广大     

浅议环境对汉语学习的影响

环境对学习语言非常重要,充分利用社会大环境,创造良好的课堂小环境,发挥学生自然习得的作用,建立课堂教学与自然习得相结合的新教学体系,这是提高教学效果的重要途径。     

上海合作组织五周年宣言

值此上海合作组织(以下简称“本组织”)成立5周年之际,本组织成员国元首——哈萨克斯坦共和国总统纳扎尔巴耶夫、中华人民共和国主席胡锦涛、吉尔吉斯共和国总统巴基耶夫、俄罗斯联邦总统普京、塔吉克斯坦共和国总统拉赫莫诺夫、乌兹别克斯坦共和国总统卡里莫夫在本组织诞生地——上海举行会议,声明如下:     

贫国与富国:基于治理理论的解释

本文通过对荷兰与加纳、新加坡与牙买加、日本与尼日利亚等几组国家进行比较研究,指出国家贫富差别的主要原因在于治理,而非资源。     

规则制定与行政程序法

规则与规则制定是美国联邦行政程序法中确定的一个重要的政府规制工具,本文对规则制定的发展史作了一个简要的回顾,对其实施过程中产生的问题作了分析与评估,并对其未来发展以及行政程序法的实施作了展望,对于我们了解规则制定与美国联邦行政程序法具有较大的作用。     

借鉴国外经验完善我国西部大开发的财税政策

西方发达国家在开发落后地区,实现区域经济协调发展的过程中,不但重视运用市场这只“看不见的手”进行调节,而且特别注意采取特殊的有利于缩小地区差距的区域发展财税政策,依靠市场和政府干预的办法加速对边远落后地区的开发,消除区域发展差异。作为借鉴,我国财税政策要适当调整,从而更好地贯彻西部大开发战略。