Nuclear DNA typing from ancient teeth

Because of the adverse effects that diagenesis exert on ancient skeletal remains, DNA from these samples is often compromised to the point where genetic typing can be challenging. Nevertheless, robust and reliable methods are currently available to allow successful genotyping of ancient specimens. Here we report nuclear DNA-based methods and typing strategies used to analyze 2 human skeletons from a medieval burial. Reliable DNA nuclear profiles were obtained from teeth, whereas mitochondrial DNA analyses in bones were inconclusive. A complete nuclear mini short tandem repeat profile was obtained from a well-preserved premolar, but only a partial one from the femur. Increasing the sensitivity of the polymerase chain reaction system allowed a full profile from the latter, but the presence of artifacts reinforced the idea that the interpretation of this kind of analysis must be performed with caution. The results presented here also indicate that DNA from dental pieces can be better preserved than from bones, even in the case of well-preserved long bones with thick cortical tissue such as the femurs, and have a better chance of successful genetic typing, probably because of the high degree of protection conferred to the DNA by the enamel.     

DNA mixtures in forensic casework: a 4-year retrospective study

Occasionally interpretation guidelines from validation studies are difficult to apply to real forensic casework, especially in the case of mixed samples. Exogenous contamination, an unknown number of contributors or unbalanced proportion of each one in the sample and a varied degree of degradation of the biological materials, contribute to the difficulties in the interpretation of sample profiles. In this paper we have reviewed all the mixed genetic STR profiles encountered in our laboratory over 4 years (1997-2000) and evaluated the problems in the interpretation of the results. From 1547 criminal cases with 2424 samples typed, 163 showed a mixed profile (6.7%). We have observed that occasionally, a mixture appeared in the same sample with one multiplex amplification kit (e.g. Blue) and not with another (e.g. Green). From our results, it can be suggested that technical characteristics of the different fluorochrome groups in the multiplexes override the molecular characteristics of each STR in their capacity to detect mixtures.     

On the thin line between connection and separation: The individuation process,from cognitive and object-relations perspectives,in kibbutz adolescents

The study explores the individuation process among kibbutz children and adolescents. Individuation is defined as developmental process of separation of the self from one's family. The process encompasses intrapsychic and interpersonal changes leading to an autonomous self within relational contexts. The major objective of the study is to examine the relationship between the socialcognitive perspective and the object relation school of psychoanalytic theory of the individuation process, in a communal life. Mazor's individuation interview of 1985, Levine et al.'sSeparation-Individuation Test of Adolescence (SITA) of 1986, Urist's The Mutuality of Autonomy Scale of 1977, and Coonerty's The Separation-Individuation Theme Scale of 1986 were administered to four age groups (N=60): late childhood (9–10 years), early adolescence (13–14 years), midadolescence (16–17), and late adolescence (20–22 years). From the social-cognitive perspective, four individuation levels were defined as age increased. Results confirmed that older subjects construe self and self-other relationships on a higher level of the individuation sequence than younger ones. From the psychoanalytic perspective, results partly confirmed the hypothesis that adolescents exhibit the second individuation process. Accordingly on the SITA a significant increase of engulfment-anxiety was higher in early adolescence and subsequent age groups than in late childhood. Findings on the two Rorschach's scales point to a common pattern: In late childhood there is a lower level of differentiation between self and object representation and the themes are more primitive than in older age groups. At early adolescence there is a significant constriction of psychic expression through defensive as well as shallow responses. In middle adolescence, psychic expression becomes richer revealing differentiation of the self and ambivalence between merging and separatedness in object relations. These features also characterize the late adolescence group. Findings indicate that the social-cognitive aspect of the individuation process proceeds faster than the intrapsychic and unconscious aspects.Received Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Research interests include the cognitive-psychodynamic aspects of parent-child relationships through adolescence and adulthood. To whom correspondence should be addressed.Received M.A. degree from Tel Aviv University.Training Psychoanalyst. Received Ph.D. from L'Univ. de Paris, Sorbonne.     

South Bronx Performances: The Reciprocal Relationship Between Hip-Hop and Black Girls' Musical Play

Black girls' musical play and hip-hop exist in a reciprocal relationship. Hip-hop has influenced the performance style of battlin' cheers: improvisation, competition, confrontation, and a general 'bad' attitude, while conversely, the musical play of Black girls has influenced the lyrics, rhythms, and melodies of hip-hop songs. Thus, females have significantly shaped this genre of music generally seen as male dominated and defined.     

Orthodontic Treatment: Real Risk for Dental Age Estimation in Adults?

Dental age estimation becomes a challenge once the root formation is concluded. In living adults, one dental age indicator is the formation of secondary dentine, also associated with orthodontic treatment as well as root shortening. The aim of this study was to establish whether these secondary effects of orthodontic treatment could generate a statistically significant difference in dental age estimations when using Kvaal's method. The study sample included 34 pairs of pre‐ and postorthodontic panoramic radiographs, from different individuals with exactly the same age and sex distribution. Females 65%, median age 17.5 years, and males 35%, median age 22.5 years, were included. After data collection, dental age was estimated per tooth using formulae previously published. The risk of obtaining over‐estimation of age was calculated. (RR = 1.007). The changes caused by orthodontic treatment do not have any significant effect on age estimation when Kvaal et al.'s method is applied on panoramic radiographs.     

Black American women and work: Historical and contemporary strategies for empowerment—II

The American historical record shows that Black women heve been part of the American work force longer than any other group of women in the United States. Though consistently undereducated, underemployed, and underpaid, these women have endured and, in doing so, have created strategies for survival and change that have given them ‘cultural flexibility’ in the areas of socialization patterns for male and female children; interpersonal, kinship and marital relations; and professional and community involvement. The effects of both institutionalized racism and sexism on women's economic and personal choices are explored as well as the long range effect of labor market participation on family and community life.     

EU TELECOMS POLICY DEVELOPMENT: EU COMMUNICATIONS LEGISLATION REVIEW

This article explores proposals for a new regulatory framework in telecoms that arise from the 1999 Communications Review by the European Commission.     

The sexual assault of undergraduate women at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs)

Although research has shown that undergraduate women are at high risk for experiencing sexual assault, little research has been conducted with undergraduate women who are attending a historically Black college or university (HBCU). The purpose of this research is to document the prevalence of different types of sexual assault among undergraduate women at HBCUs and make comparisons to data collected from undergraduate women at non-HBCUs. Data on sexual assault victimization were collected from 3,951 undergraduate women at HBCUs using a cross-sectional, web-based survey. These data are compared to data collected from 5,446 undergraduate women at non-HBCUs using the same research methods. Findings indicate that approximately 9.7% of undergraduate women at HBCUs report experiencing a completed sexual assault since entering college. This rate is considerably lower than the comparable rate obtained from undergraduate women at non-HBCUs (13.7%). This difference seems to be associated with differences in alcohol-use frequency. Perhaps undergraduate women at HBCUs drink alcohol much less frequently and are thus less likely to be sexually assaulted when they are incapacitated and unable to provide consent. Alcohol use frequency, while controlling for other factors, seems to have an independent association with the likelihood of an undergraduate woman being sexually assaulted. Implications for the creation and delivery of sexual assault risk reduction and prevention policies and programs are discussed.