A New Method for Human ABO Genotyping Using a Universal Reporter Primer System

Abstract: We developed a new method for forensic ABO genotyping based on a universal reporter primer (URP) system. This allows for the simultaneous detection of six single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites in the ABO gene (nucleotide positions 261, 297, 526, 703, 796, and 803). This URP system provides obvious peaks, ranging from 82 to 151 bp in length. ABO genotypes were classified and successfully genotyped by our method, including minor alleles that may cause a discrepancy between the genetic data and serological phenotypes. Full profiles were identified using as little as 0.1 ng (0.05 ng/reaction) of standard K562 and 9947A DNA. Moreover, the success rate of genotyping from a URP system was much higher than that from a conventional primer extension method in degraded DNA. This method enables simple and rapid detection of multiple SNP sites on human ABO genes and is highly specific and sensitive when using limited and degraded DNA.     

Apnea, glial apoptosis and neuronal plasticity in the arousal pathway of victims of SIDS

Of 27,000 infants whose sleep-wake characteristics were studied under the age of 6 months, 38 died unexpectedly 2-12 weeks after the sleep recording in a pediatric sleep laboratory. Of these infants, 26 died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and 12 of definitely identified causes. The frequency and duration of sleep apneas were analysed. Sleep recordings and brainstem histopathology were studied to elucidate the possible relationship between sleep apnea and neuropathological changes within the arousal system. Immunohistochemical analyses were conducted using tryptophan hydroxylase (TrypH), a serotonin synthesizing enzyme, and growth-associated phosphoprotein 43 (GAP43), a marker of synaptic plasticity. The terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method was used for apoptosis. The pathological and physiological data were correlated for each infant. In the SIDS victims, statistically significant positive correlations were seen between the number of TrypH-positive neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus of the midbrain and the duration of central apneas (p = 0.03), between the number of TUNEL-positive glial cells in the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTN) and the average number of spines in GAP43-positive neurons in the PPTN (p = 0.04). These findings in the dorsal raphe nucleus of the midbrain and PPTN, that play important roles in the arousal pathway suggest a possible link between changes in arousal and SIDS.     

Visualization of latent fingerprints using fluorescence lifetime imaging on paper emitting strong fluorescence

Latent fingerprints were successfully visualized using fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) on paper which emits strong fluorescence with a lifetime close to that of fingerprints and thus from which it is difficult for time-resolved spectroscopy to visualize fingerprints. Latent fingerprint samples on paper were excited using a 450 nm or 532 nm nanosecond pulsed-laser, and time-resolved fluorescence images were obtained at a delay time of 6–16 ns in intervals of 1 ns, to the excitation pulse. The excitation beam was expanded using a lens, and the fluorescence from the fingerprints was captured using an intensified CCD camera. Because of the large fluorescence intensity of the background paper of approximately two to four orders of magnitude larger than that of the fingerprint, the fingerprint was not visualized on each fluorescence image by time-resolved spectroscopy. However, the fingerprint was visualized in a FLIM image constructed using a series of the fluorescence images for the case with the fluorescence intensity of the background paper being four orders of magnitude larger than that of the fingerprint. The difference in fluorescence lifetime in the FLIM image of the visualized fingerprint and background paper was in the order of 0.1 ns, which was an order of magnitude smaller than the inherent fluorescence lifetime of a few nanoseconds for the fingerprints and paper. It was demonstrated that, at a background fluorescence intensity with a certain order of magnitude larger than that of fingerprints, FLIM has the potential to visualize latent fingerprints which cannot be visualized by time-resolved spectroscopy.     

An autopsy case of sudden death due to acute gastric dilatation without rupture

We report the first autopsy case of fatal gastric dilatation without rupture. A 31-year-old woman who lived alone was found dead in her living room. Despite being very thin, she showed marked abdominal distention. Autopsy and histological findings revealed that a severely distended stomach, of which walls notably thin and displayed transmural necrosis, occupied the entire abdominal cavity. Severe congestion was observed in the intestine and cecum. Theses findings suggest that bulimia nervosa together with anorexia nervosa resulted in rapid dilation of the stomach. We conclude that the cause of death was acute circulatory failure from hypovolemic shock that occurred following compression of the inferior vena cava and superior mesenteric vein, and by loss of circulatory volume to the third space.     

A Statistical Method for Empirical Testing of Competing Theories

Empirical testing of competing theories lies at the heart of social science research. We demonstrate that a well‐known class of statistical models, called finite mixture models, provides an effective way of rival theory testing. In the proposed framework, each observation is assumed to be generated either from a statistical model implied by one of the competing theories or more generally from a weighted combination of multiple statistical models under consideration. Researchers can then estimate the probability that a specific observation is consistent with each rival theory. By modeling this probability with covariates, one can also explore the conditions under which a particular theory applies.We discuss a principled way to identify a list of observations that are statistically significantly consistent with each theory and propose measures of the overall performance of each competing theory. We illustrate the relative advantages of our method over existing methods through empirical and simulation studies.     

Social cohesion and self-sacrificing behavior

A model developed in this paper shows a mechanism for inducing self-sacrificing contributions among members of closely knit organizations, such as cults, terrorist groups and military forces. Members are assumed to gain utility from social cohesion and their in-group reputations. When social cohesion strengthens, members ascribe more importance to their reputations. This prompts them to increase their contributions to group goals, which causes social cohesion to strengthen further. The model identifies three ways for leaders to initiate this multiplier process: increasing their own contribution, putting effort into indoctrinating members, and raising the obstacles that members face when they contribute.     

Materializing the ‘non-Western’: two stories of Japanese philosophers on culture and politics in the inter-war period

This paper investigates the risk presumably involved in the narratives of non-Western international relations theory (IRT) by focusing on a similar historical case in Japan. It reveals the risk of uncritically accepted geographical division, and particularly focuses on the discourses of the Kyoto School's theory of world history as an example of non-Western narratives in the past, which was to ‘overcome’ the Western civilization similar to the contemporary non-Western IRT. However, they are also infamous for providing justification for the wartime regime in Japan for their aggression in the Asian continent. What is the connection between their philosophy and support for the imperialist regime? If there is a connection between them, is there any possibility of the resurrection of the same results in the case of non-Western IRT? To answer these questions, the article introduces the philosophy of Tosaka Jun who was critical of the School but, unlike Kyoto School philosophers, stubbornly fought against the mainstream politics of the time.     

Identification of remains by sequencing of mitochondrial DNA control region

The maternity of two newborns who were murdered and abandoned >5 and 10 years were analyzed by amplification and direct sequencing of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control regions. Sequences of two hypervariable segments from each femur bone sample and the blood of the putative mother showed four mutations in hypervariable region I and two mutations in addition to two nucleotide insertions in hypervariable region II compared with the reference sequence, and all sequences were identical. The genotype of these individuals is found to be relatively rare in the Japanese population, and it was strongly suggested that both sets of newborn remains really were children of the putative mother. Sexes of the remains were determined to be female and male by amplifying a segment of the X-Y homologous gene, amelogenin. These results demonstrate that sequencing of mtDNA is a useful tool for genetic identification of aged and decomposed materials.     

Application of mist to fingermark detection: Misting with high-boiling-point liquid containing p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde and cyanoacrylate

In order to detect latent fingerprints that could be damaged by liquid or powder reagents, non-destructive processes such as gaseous reagents have been developed. In this report, we propose the use of fine mist generated when hot vapor of high-boiling-point liquids is rapidly cooled by surrounding air for fingermark detection. Octyl acetate (OA), 2-phenoxyethanol (2PE), and methyl decanoate (MD) were found to efficiently produce mist when heated to 230°C. By combining these liquids with p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMAC) and cyanoacrylate (CN), our team demonstrated effective fluorescence staining of cyano-treated fingermarks using DMAC/OA misting or DMAC/2PE misting, and one-step fluorescence detection of latent fingermarks without cyanoacrylate treatment using DMAC/OA/CN misting or DMAC/MD/CN misting. Fingermark fluorescence was efficiently observed by excitation with a blue LED light (max. wavelength 470 nm) equipped with an interference filter and passing through a 520 nm long-pass filter. We successfully obtained fluorescent images from fingermarks on several substrate materials using the developed misting method.     

Differences in tissue distribution of HV2 length heteroplasmy in mitochondrial DNA between mothers and children

Sequence analysis of HV2 in mitochondrial DNA has been performed as a tool for forensic identification, in addition to that of HV1. HV2 contains length heteroplasmy, which shows high variability within an individual or in maternal relatives. In this study, we used cloning analysis and PCR direct sequencing to compare, between mothers and their children, HV2 length heteroplasmic profiles in different tissues. For two mother-child pairs, different types of variant distribution were observed by cloning analysis. In pair 1, length heteroplasmic patterns in most tissues were similar (predominantly 9 and 10Cs variants), but different length heteroplasmic levels, with shifts in predominant genotype, were observed for some hairs in both mother and child. In pair 2, genotype distribution was similar for all tissues, with a predominant 8Cs genotype, but varying in the proportion of minor component. The proportion of one minor length variant (9Cs) in blood from the child was significantly higher than that from the mother, but the proportions of minor components (7 and/or 9Cs) in other tissue samples decreased from mother to child. Moreover, we could confirm that sequence types of PCR products were reflected by the distribution of length variants, which were observed especially in high proportion, in cloning analysis. Our results reveal variable changes in length heteroplasmic level in various tissues between generations. Variability between tissues, especially among hairs, within an individual would result in complicated differences in genotype distribution between maternal generations, and correlate with longer length of Cs for predominant variants.