Further characterization and population data for the pentanucleotide STR polymorphism D10S2325.

Pentanucleotide tandem repeat markers are interesting for forensic sciences, because they may present less stutter on the electrophoretic pattern. We focused on the analysis of the DNA sequence for each allele at the pentanucleotide STR locus D10S2325 in order to understand their structures in the human genome and to construct human allelic ladder, which is necessary for forensic DNA typing. In order to evaluate the forensic applicability of D10S2325 and to construct a preliminary database, the genotype distributions and allele frequencies in three major ethnic groups were investigated. The population samples included Caucasians (Germans), Africans (African Americans), and Asians (Chinese). A total of 520 samples from unrelated individuals was analyzed by Amp-FLP. An example of each allele and new alleles were sequenced. Allele determination was carried out by comparison with a sequenced human allelic ladder made in-house. This pentanucleotide STR provided easily interpretable results. A total of 15 alleles was found in our population samples. Three new alleles were observed and named as alleles 19 and 21 based on the number of repeat motifs, while allele 19 can be divided further into two alleles, 19a and 19 according to analysis of the sequence. No evidence of deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed. In 64 confirmed father/mother/child triplets no mutation event was observed. Using a maximum likelihood method, the mutation rate was indirectly estimated as 2.5 x 10(-5). These results suggest that D10S2325 is a useful marker for forensic casework and paternity analysis.     

Establishing Likelihood Ratios for Patterned Garment Comparisons from Seam Measurement Data,

It is often challenging to ascribe an objective measure of confidence for identifications based on surveillance imagery from a crime scene. The present work seeks to address this deficiency in the case of garment comparison evidence by developing a quantitative method for establishing a conservative lower bound on the likelihood ratio (LR) for identifications involving patterned garments. The method is based on statistical analysis of pattern offset measurements taken from a sample of garments of the same type (manufacturer, style, and size) as the seized evidence. The developed analysis framework was demonstrated on different types of garments over a range of modeled surveillance imaging scenarios with variable image quality; the lower bounds on the LRs ranged from approximately 10–1 to over 400–1. The statistical model was tested and validated through a large‐scale empirical study involving both simulated and human observer‐performed garment comparisons.     

The genetic legacy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade in the island of New Providence

The Bahamian archipelago has been influenced by a wide array of settlers (Lucayans, Eleutherian Adventurers, British Loyalists, Creoles from the United States and African slaves) throughout its short but dynamic history. Nevertheless, the Bahamas remains poorly characterized genetically and little is known about each group's contribution to the island chain. In the current study, the population of New Providence was analyzed based on 15 autosomal STR loci routinely employed in forensic DNA fingerprinting applications. A comparison of this collection with African groups reveals similar genetic profiles to West African populations from Equatorial Guinea and Angola, possibly resulting from the importation of slaves from West African ports during the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Although the New Providence collection exhibits strong genetic affinities to the two US African American reference populations, the detection of unique alleles among them may necessitate the utilization of population-specific databases in forensic cases especially when the STR profiles include these specific variants.     

Food politics: perspectives on food security in Central Africa

Food security is political. The identification of food insecurity and the development and implementation of responses to it are enveloped in layers of politics and power. This politics might not be as readily apparent in emergency situations where broad agreement on the need for a response is evident. But in the everyday governance of food it must not be forgotten that food security is a contested concept. This article offers a preliminary elucidation of this politics in the Central African context. To do so it presents findings from an analysis of publicly available information and media reports. This analysis hones in on the perspectives of differently situated stakeholders on food security imperatives in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community. To identify similarities and differences in the levels of emphasis different stakeholders place on different aspects of food security, the authors employ Olivier De Schutter's understanding of the relevant dimensions. Specific terms used in the presentation of food security information are associated with one of the three dimensions of food security advanced by De Schutter: availability, accessibility and adequacy. In light of this analytic approach, the article finds that stakeholders – including businesses, civil society groups, governments and multilateral and bilateral partners – do not necessarily articulate similar viewpoints on food security. There is simply no unified view on what should be done to advance food security in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea or Gabon. That being said, the article does identify intriguing areas of convergence.     

迟发性外伤性脑内血肿脑组织病理形态学研究

运用组织病理学HE染色和Mallory染色,观察迟发性外伤性脑内血肿的病理学改变并探讨其发生机理。结果显示,迟发性外伤性脑内血肿伴有陈旧性脑挫伤、外伤性血管壁坏死及血管炎、挫伤灶或血管壁多发散在钙化,陈旧病灶有纤维包裹、胶质细胞增生和反应性肥大,但无创伤性脑脓肿形成。脑挫伤和外伤性脑内血管病变是脑出血的重要病理学基础,是迟发性外伤性脑内血肿的主要原因。     

Trade mark registration of non-conventional marks: 'Coca-Cola' in Thailand

The Supreme Court of Thailand has issued a historic decisionrelated to registering non-conventional marks in Thailand byallowing the registration of the two-dimensional shape of theCoca-Cola contour bottle as a trade mark.