eThekwini’s green and ecological infrastructure policy landscape: research paradigms,theories and epistocrats

International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics - The purpose of this paper is to indicate how dominant research paradigms, social theories, and an epistocracy influence the...     

Cerebral hypoxia and ischemia: the forensic point of view: a review

In cases with suspected brain anoxia/ischemia and hypoxia/hypoxemia a neuropathological investigation should give additional information to elucidate the cause of death and its pathophysiological mechanisms. Primary ischemic brain damage is associated with morphological and biochemical alterations. While acute ischemic neuronal injury reveals axon sparing and selective neuronal lesions due to the release of large quantities of glutamate, late neuronal death is associated with antiapoptotic growth factors, and decreased expression of microtubule-associated proteins and tubulin. On the morphological level ischemia can be detected by necrosis of neurons, proliferation of microglia, and astrocytes in vulnerable regions of the brain. In cases of permanent ischemia the so-called pale nervous cell injury is observed, in cases of partial perfusion the so-called dark nerve cell injury and apoptosis are detectable. In spite of the considerable advantages of recent research, presently there is no reliable qualitative marker to ascertain death due to acute hypoxic or ischemic events.     

Individual value priorities,education, and political tolerance

Extensive research on political tolerance identifies numerous social, psychological, and political sources of attitudes toward political dissenters. Much of this research underscores the salutary influence of education on greater acceptance of diversity, although some sophisticated work questions the strength of the linkage between education and tolerance. This study has two principal goals. First, it attempts to point to an alternative source of tolerance that has been given very little attention in the extant literature. Specifically, it argues that increases in political tolerance may be tied to the broad-based value shift allegedly sweeping through advanced industrial society. Second, research reported in this paper provides more evidence for the robustness of the education-tolerance relationship and offers one possible explanation for why this relationship exists. It suggests that one of the reasons higher education tends to be linked with greater tolerance is because it leads to individual value priorities that are conducive to greater openness to political diversity. A multivariate model of political tolerance is estimated that demonstrates modern versus traditional values contribute most to variation in tolerant attitudes, followed by education. The explanation of indirect effects of education on tolerance through its direct impact onvalues receives empirical support as well. The endeavor concludes by outlining some tentative predictions concerning the attainment of a more tolerant polity that would fare well when evaluated by the liberal democratic theory yardstick.     

Y-chromosome STR haplotypes and alleles in the ethnic group of Polish Tatars residing in the Northeastern Poland

Haplotype and allele frequencies for eight Y-STRs were determined in a population sample of the ethnic group of Polish Tatars residing in the Northeastern Poland. A total of 125 unrelated males produced 101 different haplotypes. Thirteen haplotypes occurred more than once, while 88 haplotypes were unique. The observed gene diversity was 0.9638. The ethnic group of Polish Tatars can be distinguished from the autochthonous Poles based on AMOVA estimates in all the analyzed systems except DYS385.     

Genetic data on 15 STRs in a population sample of religious minority of Old Believers residing in the northeastern Poland

This study provides a 15 STRs database for a population sample of Old Believers (n = 136) living in the northeastern Poland for the use as a highly discriminatory system of genetic markers in population studies and in personal identification. Significant differences revealed between the Old Believers and the autochthonous Poles by using RxC test as well as F(ST) and F(IS) estimates suggest a certain degree of genetic isolation of this religious minority.     

Postmortem examination of transepithelial ion currents in rabbit colon and trachea in relation to temperature of storage and its importance for interlethal reactions

Electrical phenomena resulting from transepithelial ion transport have been a subject of clinical, physiological, pharmacologic and toxicologic studies. These examinations concern mainly electric phenomena in live organisms. The changes of transepithelial ion pathways which take place postmortem have not been yet established. The aim of the study was an attempt to trace variability of electrophysiological parameters related to transepithelial ion transport in specimens of rabbit trachea and colon depending on temperature at which specimens were stored after death. It was observed that postmortem electric phenomena in epithelium of airways and alimentary tract of rabbit occur well-ordered but with slower course in trachea samples and in tissues which were preserved at low temperature after death.     

Population genetics of Y-chromosome STRs in a population sample of the Lithuanian minority residing in the northeastern Poland

Haplotype and allele frequencies for the 12 Y-STRs were determined in a population sample of 124 unrelated males--members of the Lithuanian minority residing in the northeastern Poland. Three of the haplotypes were encountered in duplicate, while 118 haplotypes were unique. The overall gene diversity was 0.9952. Analysis of molecular variance revealed that the Lithuanian minority can be distinguished from the autochthonous Poles, although these two populations are very close to each other. This database study provides an essential precondition for applying Y-chromosomal STRs estimates in forensic identification of male DNA and tracing of paternal lineages.     

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in a case of suspected chronic heavy metal poisoning

We describe a patient who died of suspected heavy metal poisoning after a nine-month history of rapidly worsening dementia. Autopsy at a forensic-pathological institute established the postmortem diagnosis of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) based on demonstration of the proteinase-resistant prion protein (PrPsSc) in Western-Blot on native brain tissue. Microscopic examination of the macroscopically largely inconspicuous brain revealed marked spongiform changes in the gray matter--mainly affecting the cerebral cortex, nucleus caudatus, and putamen--with confluent vacuoles. Patchy or perivacuolar deposits of PrPSc were found as well as granular PrPsc deposits. The cerebellum contained focal PrPsc deposits. There was an astrogliosis in the white matter and a proliferation of microglia in the gray matter with a simultaneous clear reduction in neuronal elements. The differential diagnosis is discussed, as is the potential risk to those performing autopsy on forensic cases with a clinical picture of rapidly progressing dementia, especially in cases where a prion disease is not initially suspected.     

Death from thermal effects and burns

One hundred and fifteen unselected autopsy cases of death from thermal effects and/or fire between 1990 and 1999 were analyzed with regard to time of death, signs of vitality at the scene of the fire, the manner and cause of death, and the extent of soft tissue loss. The cases represented approximately 6% of all autopsy cases at the Institute of Legal Medicine responsible for a catchment area with approximately 700,000 inhabitants. In 23 victims suffering burn injuries, death occurred during initial medical care or clinical treatment. The causes of death were primary respiratory arrest due to smoke poisoning or delayed shock caused by thermal injuries to the skin. Death occurred at the scene of the fatal event in 85 cases: eight cases exhibited no thermal effects; the cause of death in one of these cases was polytrauma incurred in a leap from a height; in seven cases there was poisoning due to smoke inhalation. The remaining 77 cases were characterized by signs of intensive thermal and/or fire effects. Clear signs of vitality (carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) in blood, inhalation and/or swallowing of soot) were found in 84.7% of the victims dying at the site of the fatal event. Of the 13 victims showing no signs of vitality at the scene, a cause of death could be determined in only seven cases; death in the other six cases remains unexplained. Quantification of the soft tissue loss revealed a possible correlation with the temperature and time course of heat exposure.