Characterization and haplotype analysis of 10 novel Y-STR loci in Chinese Han population

In this study, we analyzed allelic sequences of 10 novel Y-specific STR loci, DYS454, DYS510, DYS513, DYS520, DYS542, DYS544, DYS552, DYS561, DYS587 and DYS593, surveyed the distribution of haplotypes in a Chinese Han population. Extracted DNA was amplified with PCR, followed by a horizontal non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with discontinuous buffer system. Purified alleles were sequenced on DNA sequencer (ABI Model 377) to verify the number of motif repeats. The number of alleles observed at each locus ranged from 3 to 8, yielding 102 haplotypes in 103 unrelated males samples. The allele diversity values for each locus ranged from 0.2099 (DYS544) to 0.7523 (DYS552). The haplotype diversity using all these loci was 0.9998. Our study revealed that they were valuable Y-specific markers for forensic applications.     

A novel microsatellite (STR) marker for forensic identification of big cats in India

India is the home to five of the eight majestic big cats of the world. The three major big cats namely, lion, tiger, and leopard are listed in the Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Apart from the severe loss of the habitat, these are continuously facing the danger of extinction mainly due to poaching and hunting for their body parts, which are being greatly valued by apothecaries marketing traditional Chinese medicines. With the advent of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA-based markers have emerged as major tools in the arena of wildlife forensics. Microsatellites (short tandem repeats, STRs) are markers of choice because of their polymorphic and co-dominant nature. These strictly follow the Mendelian inheritance and are highly reproducible. We have identified a new microsatellite (STR) locus Ple 46, which shows amplification in a species-specific manner (size of STR) in all the members of the family felidae studied here. This PCR-based, non-invasive method opens a new avenue to forensic identification of big cats.     

Here comes the judge: the influence of judge personal characteristics on federal sexual harassment case outcomes

This study explored the effects of judges' personal characteristics (gender, race, age, and political affiliation) and case characteristics on the outcomes of federal cases of hostile environment sexual harassment. Results revealed that even after controlling for the effects of relevant case characteristics (e.g., severity of the harassment), judges' personal characteristics influenced case outcomes. Specifically, younger judges and Democrat judges were more likely to find for the plaintiff (the alleged victim of harassment). The probability that the decision would favor the plaintiff was only 16% when the case was heard by an older judge but 45% when heard by a younger judge. The probability that the decision would favor the plaintiff was only 18% when the case was heard by a judge who had been appointed by a Republican president but 46% when the judge had been appointed by a Democrat president.     

Murder, Extramarital Affairs, and the Issue of Probative Value

A paper previously published in Law and Human Behavior by D. Davis and W. C. Follette (2002) argued that certain "profiling" characteristics commonly admitted into court have little or no probative value. They argued that this is especially likely to be true when the characteristic used as evidence (e.g., having an extramarital affair) is rather common in the population whereas the act in question (e.g., a man murdering his wife) is rare. Their analysis has prompted a strong response by Friedman and Park and by Kaye and Koehler with a rejoinder by Davis and Follette (all three follow this paper in this issue of Law and Human Behavior). This paper describes some of the nature of this controversy.     

The medical review officer: a potential role for the medical examiner

Drug use in the workplace is a problem, both in terms of public health and expense. Workplace drug testing programs serve as deterrents to drug use. Model programs, such as that of the Department of Transportation, use urine screening and are federally regulated or follow federal standards. An essential participant in this process is the medical review officer (MRO), a licensed physician who interprets the laboratory results generated from a workplace drug testing program. As a result of their training and experience with toxicology, collection of evidence, testimony, and recognition of the physical signs of drug abuse, medical examiners and forensic pathologists are well suited to serve as MROs. Recent regulations require the completion of training courses and MRO certification as prerequisites for participation in federal drug testing programs. Several courses are available to train physicians to participate as MROs.     

Extra Effort During Memory Retrieval May Be Associated with Increases in Eyewitness Confidence

When testifying in court, witnesses are motivated to try as hard as possible to give an accurate account. This study tested the proposition that extra effort by eyewitnesses during a memory test can lead to higher confidence ratings without any accompanying changes in accuracy. Participant-witnesses answered multiple-choice questions about a classroom visitor who had spoken 5 days earlier. In the high-motivation condition participants could earn prizes based on their memory test performance; in the low-motivation condition there were no special incentives. Although the motivation manipulation did not affect mean witness confidence, the confidence–accuracy and effort–accuracy correlations were substantially smaller in the high-motivation condition than in the low-motivation condition. Furthermore, the confidence ratings for those participants who reported expending high levels of effort in both motivation conditions were significantly higher than the confidence ratings for the low-effort participants, despite the fact that response accuracy did not differ as a function of reported effort. These findings have important implications for understanding how pressures to perform well in the courtroom can affect eyewitness confidence.     

Genetic diversity in four tribal groups of western India: a survey of polymorphism in 15 STR loci and their application in human identification

Genetic diversity at 15 STR loci: 2 pentanucleotide and 13 tetranucleotide STR loci was determined in four highly endogamous tribal groups, viz. Madia-Gond, Mahadeo-Koli, Katkari and Pawara of western India. The distribution of genotypes at studied 15 loci was found in agreement with expected values according to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The combined power of discrimination of 15 loci was calculated as 0.80 while combined power of exclusion was observed as 0.53 among the studied four tribal groups. The study demonstrate very low heterozygosity and low power of exclusion of the loci of Powerplex 16 among the selected groups indicating less informativeness of the studied markers in human identification testing.     

Bite mark documentation and analysis: the forensic 3D/CAD supported photogrammetry approach

Bite mark identification is based on the individuality of a dentition, which is used to match a bite mark to a suspected perpetrator. This matching is based on a tooth-by-tooth and arch-to-arch comparison utilising parameters of size, shape and alignment. The most common method used to analyse bite mark are carried out in 2D space. That means that the 3D information is preserved only two dimensionally with distortions. This paper presents a new 3D documentation, analysis and visualisation approach based on forensic 3D/CAD supported photogrammetry (FPHG) and the use of a 3D surface scanner. Our photogrammetric approach and the used visualisation method is, to the best to our knowledge, the first 3D approach for bite mark analysis in an actual case. The documentation has no distortion artifacts as can be found with standard photography. All the data are documented with a metric 3D measurement, orientation and subsequent analysis in 3D space. Beside the metrical analysis between bite mark and cast, it is possible using our method to utilise the topographical 3D feature of each individual tooth. This means that the 3D features of the biting surfaces and edges of each teeth are respected which is--as shown in our case--very important especially in the front teeth which have the first contact to the skin. Based upon the 3D detailed representation of the cast with the 3D topographic characteristics of the teeth, the interaction with the 3D documented skin can be visualised and analysed on the computer screen.     

Third molar root development in relation to chronological age: a large sample sized retrospective study

The aim of the present investigation, which is a continuation and extension of a previous published pilot study [Forensic Sci. Int. 129 (2002) 110], was to calculate the chronological age of an individual based on the dental developmental stages of third molars (so-called wisdom teeth). The evaluated material consisted of 2513 orthopantomograms (OPG's) of patients all of Belgian Caucasian origin between 15.7 and 23.3 years. The sample of OPG's was scored by two observers who were calibrated for intra- and interobserver reliability by means of kappa statistics. The kappa statistics revealed a strong agreement between the intra- and interobserver measurements. Further statistical analysis was performed in order to obtain multiple regression formulae for dental age calculation with the chronological age as the independent variable and the third molar developmental stages as dependent variables. Both for males and females a significant Pearson correlation coefficient was noticed for contralateral third molars, a smaller less significant one for the antimeres. For the application of the regression formulae one has to take into consideration the gender, the location and number of wisdom teeth. Probabilities for an individual to be older than 18 years were also calculated in case of fully developed wisdom teeth.