Characterization of deletions in the DYS385 flanking region and null alleles associated with AZFc microdeletions in Koreans

Eight DYS385 allele size discrepancies and six DYS448 null types were detected among 708 Korean men when results of three in-house multiplex short tandem repeat (STR) systems were compared. The systems included both ordinary and reduced size amplicons. Sequence analysis revealed deletion mutations at two sites upstream of the DYS385 core repeats and deletion of the entire DYS448 locus. At DYS385, allele size differences were one or two repeats and were dependent on the primer set used for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Location of the primer target sequence in a flanking region of the STR, distal or proximal to the deletion, determined allele size. Two widely used commercial kits amplify DYS385 so as to include the mutable sites. Arrangement analysis of sequence tagged sites demonstrated that the deletion patterns at DYS448 (and DYS464) were associated with arrangements of the azoospermia factor c gene (AZFc). The DYS448 deletion appears relatively frequent in Asians.     

Preparation and application of a fortified hair reference material for the determination of methamphetamine and amphetamine

Quality assurance is one of the major issues in forensic analytical laboratories, where the need for a reference material (RM) has rapidly increased. RMs are very useful for method development and validation, internal quality control or proficiency tests. In the present study, we prepared a RM using drug-free hair for the determination of methamphetamine (MA) and its main metabolite, amphetamine (AP) according to the recommendations of ISO Guide 35. The concentrations of MA and AP were determined using two extraction methods, agitation with 1% HCl in methanol at 38 degrees C and ultrasonication with methanol/5M HCl (20:1), followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) after derivatization with trifluoroacetic anhydride (TFAA). The assignment of values was conducted through the homogeneity study and characterization of the material. Furthermore, an internal proficiency test was performed with the prepared RM, of which the results were compared with those of the authentic hair RM prepared in our previous study. As a result, a hair RM containing MA and AP was prepared at the level of 4.86+/-0.69 ng/mg and 4.63+/-0.44 ng/mg, respectively. Most participants showed satisfactory performances in the internal proficiency test with the both RMs. The hair RM prepared in this study demonstrated its suitability for quality assurance in forensic laboratories.     

Paternity probability when a relative of the father is an alleged father

When scientists use DNA evidence in court, coancestry effects such as population structure and relatedness are usually ignored. In paternity cases, only if a particular man has the child's paternal allele at a certain locus, can he not be excluded in the paternity dispute. However, it is certainly true that close relatives will be far more likely to have the child's paternal allele than will random members of the reference population. In particular, the probability that the true father's brother has the paternal allele is very much greater than that for any other relationship. In this paper, the authors describe a method for inference in a case where the true father may be a relative of the alleged father. This paper also reports that most current methods overstate the probability that the alleged father is the father.     

Nexus between carbon emission,financial development,and access to electricity: Incorporating the role of natural resources and population growth

This study explores the nexus between financial development, access to electricity, and CO₂ emissions in Pakistan over the period from 1990 to 2015, incorporating the role of natural resources and population growth. We checked the stationarity of the data by using three different unit root tests (ADF, Phillip Pesaran, and DG‐FLS). Long‐ and short‐run elasticities have been determined through auto‐regressive distributive lag (ARDL) method. The empirical results confirmed that financial development and access to electricity increase CO₂ emissions and deteriorate the environmental quality. In addition, the population growth is responsible for growing CO₂ emissions in Pakistan, while natural resources have insignificant relation with CO₂ emissions. Furthermore, bidirectional causality exists between population growth and natural resources, whereas unidirectional causality is detected among financial development and CO₂ emissions, natural resources and population growth, and financial development and population growth. The newly developed findings suggest helpful policy implications to adequately address the issue of CO₂ emissions without compromising economic development.     

Comparison of Four Saliva Detection Methods to Identify Expectorated Blood Spatter

Blood spatter analysis is an important step for crime scene reconstruction. The presence of saliva in blood spatter could indicate expectorated blood which is difficult to distinguish from impact spatter. In this study, four saliva test methods (SALIgAE^®, Phadebas^® sheet, RSID^™-Saliva kit, and starch gel diffusion) were compared to identify the best method for detecting expectorated blood spatter. The RSID^™-Saliva kit showed the highest sensitivity even when saliva was mixed with blood, and was not inhibited by the presence of blood. The SALIgAE^® test provided easy and rapid results, but the yellow color of a positive reaction was overwhelmed by the red color of the blood. The starch gel diffusion method and the Phadebas^® sheet exhibited relatively low sensitivity and the assay took a long time. When using the RSID^™-Saliva kit for identifying saliva in blood, results should be read within 10 min.     

吉林省政务公开与服务型政府建设

开放、透明是现代服务型政府的基本特征之一。政务公开通过保障公民的知情权,吸引公民参与国家公共事务管理,改善个人和社会组织的决策质量,增进社会福利,不仅是建设阳光政府的必由之路,也是塑造服务型政府其它特征的必要条件。文章在全面分析吉林省政务公开与服务型政府建设现状基础上,从转变职能部门领导干部思维方式,树立人民民主的价值观;深化行政审批制度改革,催生廉洁高效的行政管理体制;提高政务大厅办事效率,拓宽政务大厅的服务功能等方面,提出了具体对策建议。     

新时期大学生安全研究

大学的安全保卫工作对国家的稳定、社会的安定,都具有特殊的意义。新时期大学生的安全问题主要有财物被盗、上当受骗、火灾威胁。安全防范是大学生成长成才的保护神,高等院校应当提供人力防范的保安服务,提供技术防范的安全服务,对校园安全进行立法。     

受陶勇之命 为张灵甫验尸

55年前,那场惊心动魄的孟良崮战役,我华东野战军一举歼灭了国民党“王牌”整编七十四师,师长张灵甫命归黄泉。然而对张灵甫的死,国民党涂脂抹粉为“自杀”。张灵甫果真自杀身亡?曾受命为张灵甫验尸的原华东野战军第四纵队陶勇司令员的保健医生盛政权详细披露了那段真实内情———