A bizarre case of vehicular suicide

The upper torso of a man was discovered under a highway sign next to tire tread marks leading from the highway and continuing beyond the sign. The victim's lower torso and automobile were also found along the same path 31 m (101 ft) and 41 m (133 ft) beyond the sign, respectively. The decedent was initially thought to be a disposed, homicide victim who had been dismembered by his assailant(s). Accident reconstruction revealed that the victim was the driver of the automobile and was transected by the highway sign stanchion as he protruded through the passenger side window of his moving vehicle. Based on the scene findings, autopsy, and psychological autopsy, the manner of death was classified as suicidal. The criteria used by medical examiners for vehicular suicide are also discussed.     

Intimate partner violence, PTSD, and adverse health outcomes

The high prevalence of adverse health outcomes related to intimate partner violence (IPV) is well documented. Yet we know little about the pathways that lead to adverse health outcomes. Research concerning the psychological, biological, neurological, behavioral, and physiological alterations following exposure to IPV--many of which are associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)--represents a promising area of empirical discovery. New technologies and interdisciplinary collaborative efforts are required to integrate diverse methodologies and to apply new findings to improving the health and well being of those affected by IPV. This article focuses on victimization by IPV and addresses the most important research findings in the last 20 years (health and mental health burden of IPV), the most important research issue for the next decade (pathways between IPV and adverse health outcomes), and the most promising methodological innovation for the study of IPV (integrated, interdisciplinary, biobehavioral methodology).     

Development and validation of the AmpFlSTR Yfiler PCR amplification kit: a male specific, single amplification 17 Y-STR multiplex system

In the past 5 years, there has been a substantial increase in the use of Y-short tandem repeat loci (Y-STRs) in forensic laboratories, especially in cases where typing autosomal STRs has met with limited success. The AmpFlSTR Yfiler PCR amplification kit simultaneously amplifies 17 Y-STR loci including the loci in the "European minimal haplotype" (DYS19, DYS385a/b, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, and DYS393), the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM) recommended Y-STR loci (DYS438 and DYS439), and the highly polymorphic loci DYS437, DYS448, DYS456, DYS458, Y GATA H4, and DYS635 (formerly known as Y GATA C4). The Yfiler kit was validated according to the FBI/National Standards and SWGDAM guidelines. Our results showed that full profiles are attainable with low levels of male DNA (below 125 pg) and that under optimized conditions, no detectable cross-reactive products were obtained on human female DNA, bacteria, and commonly encountered animal species. Additionally, we demonstrated the ability to detect male specific profiles in admixed male and female blood samples at a ratio of 1:1000.