DNA extraction: an anthropologic aspect of bone remains from sixth- to seventh-century ad bone remains

In the archeological site of the early Christian Episcopal complex of Saint Peter, in Canosa di Puglia (Bari, Italy), during the operations of archaeological excavations, tombs were discovered. They were dated between the sixth and seventh centuries ad with carbon 14 methodology. Five skeletons were found in the 5 tombs: 28A: male individual, 43 years old. The height was 170 cm; the biomass was 65.7 kg. The analysis of the bones indicated several noteworthy pathologies, such as a number of hypoplasia lines of the enamel, the presence of Schmorl hernias on the first 2 lumbar vertebrae, and the outcome of subacromial impingement syndrome. 28E was a male individual, with a biologic age of death of between 44 and 60 years. The height was 177 cm. He had a posttraumatic fracture callus of the medial third of the clavicle, with an oblique fracture rima. 29B was a female individual, 44-49 years old. The height was 158.8 cm; the biomass was 64.8 kg. There was Wells bursitis on the ischial tuberosity on both sides. 29E was a male individual, 45-50 years old. The height was 169.47 cm; the biomass was 70.8 kg. The third and the fourth vertebrae showed Baastrup syndrome (compression of the vertebral spine). There were radiologic signs of deformity on the higher edge of the acetabula and results of frequent sprains of the ankles. 31A was a male individual, 47-54 years old. The height was 178.65 cm; the biomass was 81 kg. The vertebral index showed a heavy overloading in the thoracic lumbar region. There were bony formations under the periosteum on both on the higher and medium facets of the first metatarsus and on the higher and lateral facets of the fifth metatarsus on both sides. As the topography indicates, these small ossifications coincided with the contact points between the back of the foot and parts of the upper shoe. From the osseous remains, in particular from the teeth (central incisors), the DNA was extracted and typed to identify potential family ties among all the subjects. The extraction technique used came from the DNA Promega technique, partially modified by the authors. Stay times of the sample in the extraction buffer were increased and were increased the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) cycles.     

Autosomal STR data on the enigmatic Andaman Islanders

We have analyzed nine autosomal STR loci (D3S1358, vWA, FGA, D8S1179, D21S11, D18S51, D5S818, D13S317, and D7S820) in 97 samples of enigmatic Andaman islanders including: 15 Great Andamanese, 46 Onge and 36 Nicobarese. Data was compared with the available data on Indian and South East Asian populations. Heterozygosity (H), power of discrimination (PD), probability exclusion (PE), typical paternity index (TPI), polymorphism information content (PIC), AMOVA and Arlequin analysis were carried out. Average heterozygosity observed was high and almost equal in all the populations. Similarly, PD, PE, TPI and PIC have been almost equal in all the populations.     

Intracranial sewing needle in a man with seizure: a case of child abuse?

Physical abuse in infancy can cause persistent neurological deficits. Although intracranial foreign bodies are generally secondary to penetrating trauma or surgical procedures, rarely they also occur as a result of child abuse. A 32-year-old man presented with the complaint of generalized tonic clonic seizures to the Neurology Department of Marmara, University Hospital. Computerized tomography (CT) scan revealed a sewing needle located within the temporal lobe. The location and the position of the needle suggested that it must have been introduced in infancy through the lamdoid suture before the closure of it, as an unsuccessful deliberate homicide attempt or accidental injury.     

Population genetic data for 18 STR loci in Costa Rica

Allele frequencies for 18 STR autosomal loci (D3S1358, VWA, FGA, D8S1179, D21S11, D18S51, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820, D16S539, TH01, TPOX, CSF1PO, Penta D, Penta E, D19S433, D2S1338 and SE33) were obtained from a sample of 191-500 unrelated individuals from Costa Rica, Central America.     

行政法的潮涨潮落

理论学派的法律是一个在认知上并不可靠的领域。它所采用的方法和视角已经受到当下政治和观念的冲击,并且因缺乏理论与实践的互动而显得摇摆不定。在本文中,我将阐述这一看似荒谬的结论,即:随着学术界与司法界不断改变对行政法形态和价值的塑造,法律将通过不断的去法化和日趋经     

Demands on scientific studies in different fields of forensic medicine and forensic sciences. Traffic medicine--impaired driver: alcohol, drugs, diseases

Since human performance is a key factor in crash causation detailed knowledge of the involvement of alcohol, drugs and diseases is of fundamental interest for road safety. To better understand the effect of these influencing factors it is important to use a combination of witness observations and a range of experimental and epidemiological studies. Epidemiological approaches to research such as road-side-surveys, case-control-studies, culpability analysis, pharmaco-epidemiological studies are usually seen as being able to provide the best answers. This article discusses the relative merits of experimental and epidemiological approaches.     

Max Frei theory revisitation: does really strokes depth change along time?

A serious problem in questioned document examination is to establish the age of written lines. With respect to paper dating, in the past, Max Frei theory (based only on microscope analysis) claimed that strokes are time-dependent. Therefore, according to this theory, it has been asserted that from the analysis of the strokes depth changes it is possible to try to date the handwritten document (to find out that the document is older than ...). In the present work, we investigate the strokes depth change by a laser profilometer considering not only the time but also microclimatic variations. First, we analyze the stability of stroke characteristics along the time. In particular, we demonstrate that if the document is preserved without change of temperature and humidity, the depth of the strokes has not appreciable changes. In this way, we have the purpose to verify the real possibility of documents dating by means of Max Frei theory. Subsequently, we test how the 3D profile of strokes changes in connection with the microclimatic variations. In particular, we test humidity variations. With this experiment, we show that humidity variations reduce the strokes depth. Moreover, this effect shows a non-linear trend, leaving a hysteresis on the depth. Finally, we show that the analysis of 3D stroke profile is unable to determine the age of documents.     

The chronology of third molar mineralization in the Austrian population--a contribution to forensic age estimation

The aim of the present study was to determine the chronology of third molar mineralization and to establish Austrian reference data. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was undertaken by evaluating 610 panoramic radiographs in order to assess the mineralization status of the mandibular third molars of Austrian male and female individuals (275 males and 335 females) between the ages of 12 and 24. The evaluation was carried out using the eight grade scheme of Demirjian et al. (1973). Mean ages, standard deviations, standard errors and percentile distributions are presented for each stage of development. Significant differences between the left and right mandibular third molars were not found. Males reach the developmental stages earlier than females, statistically significant differences were noted in stages E and F. Both mandibular third molars were observed in the majority of the individuals of the Austrian sample (477 individuals, 78.2%). For medicolegal purposes the likelihood of whether an Austrian individual is older than 18 years or not was determined.     

英国-j◆效族奢青年身份认同与促进融合研究

有关少数族群融合问题的讨论,实际上是有关民族国家。如何在保障和维护少数族裔的权利的同时,缓解族群文化差异与统一的公民身份意涵之间矛盾冲突的讨论。作为现在乃至未来的国家公民,青年群体及其社会融合便成为这些讨论的焦点。围绕“公民身份”概念,了解不同族群青年人对此概念的理解,探讨青年人将“公民身份”建构成“问题”的过程,从而揭示缺乏公正、不被认可和自我决策困难等因素怎样影响了英国青年人成员身份感和归属感的形成,并提出了可能的政策建议和改善方法。