Response of short tandem repeat systems to temperature and sizing methods

In capillary gel electrophoresis (CE), changing run conditions such as temperature can result in minor variations in the size determination of an allele. These effects are caused by secondary structure differences that can occur between the amplified sample and the internal standard. The type of method chosen to generate the sizing curve in STR analysis can influence the relationship between estimated allele size and temperature. To better understand the effects of temperature and sizing method on the reproducibility of DNA migration, two fluorescently labeled allelic ladders, CTTv and Y-PLEX 6 were analyzed using the ABI Prism 310 Genetic Analyzer. The default method on the Genetic Analyzer utilizes an electrophoretic temperature of 60 degrees C and a Local Southern method to generate a sizing curve from the fragment migration times of the internal lane standard. In this work, electrophoresis was conducted at 35-70 degrees C using the commercially available POP 4 buffer at pH 8 and two sizing methods, Global Southern and Local Southern, were compared. The slopes of the regression line between estimated allele size and temperature, using either sizing method, were measured in order to demonstrate the temperature sensitivity of migration time and the importance of the operator-chosen method. Our results indicate that the Global Southern method is a better choice in situations where temperature fluctuations can occur. In addition, the temperature dependence of the DNA size estimates using the POP 4 system were compared to results obtained using an experimental buffer consisting of 3% hydroxyethylcellulose at pH 11. These results demonstrate that secondary structure effects are minimized at an elevated pH, increasing the precision of size estimates obtained.     

United Kingdom: HIV status,psychiatric problems of asylum seeker did not stop removal

In November 2002, the High Court of Justice rejected an application for judicial review of a decision to remove an Ivoirian asylum seeker to France, despite her HIV status, tuberculosis, psychiatric condition, and attempted suicides. The Court argued that removal to France would not necessarily result in a return to Ivory Coast or in poorer health care.     

United Kingdom: HIV-positive asylum seeker denied judicial review of removal decision

The High Court of Justice had dismissed an application for a judicial review of a decision by immigration officials not to grant the applicant leave to remain in the UK on the basis of her HIV status. In December 2002, the Court of Appeal denied the applicant permission to appeal the High Court's decision, reasoning that an appeal under section 65 of the Immigration and Asylum Act, already initiated, would be more appropriate and advantageous.     

Signs of injury in bone findings--analysis and evaluation

Recent bone finds examined under forensic aspects as well as historic skeletons (mainly dating from the Middle Ages) with a known history as to the cause of death and the place where they were found were studied to develop basic criteria for the assessment of the cause and time of origin of bony defects. With regard to the time of origin it was found that the closer an injury occurs before or after death, the harder it is to distinguish from a perimortal injury. A schematic pattern was worked out for the kind of origin classifying the injuries as to "type of force", "mechanism", "weapon/object" and "effect to the bone", which helps in the forensic assessment of the causes of injuries found on bones.