Y- STRs and forensic parameters in African populations

Short Tandem Repeat polymorphisms have been widely studied in the world, since specific databases are required to produce correct estimates of forensic statistical parameters. In this regard, Y-chromosome STRs have been studied mainly in Europe but are relatively scarce for sub-Saharan populations, despite these populations are represented in most of the Western countries. The aim of this work is to detect groups of populations with the lowest genetic variability within the African context. This allows to establish the relative homogeneity of Y-STRs databases for forensic casework and eventually to provide a wider insight into the African genetic history.     

The reciprocal dynamics of organizing and sense‐making in the implementation of major public‐sector reforms

Abstract: Drawing on a longitudinal study from the early years of implementation of health‐care networks in Quebec, this article describes how public‐sector managers deal with complex challenges when both organizational structures and organizational strategies are radically transformed simultaneously. The new organizations studied had to completely re‐shuffle roles and responsibilities of their management teams while making sense of their new mandate of developing a population‐focused approach to health problems – all the time maintaining day‐to‐day operations. The four health‐care networks studied proceeded somewhat differently to meet these reciprocal challenges. The study reveals the importance of balancing organizing initiatives (focused on structures) with “sense‐making” initiatives (focused on strategies), of developing capacities for sense‐making through the creation of key “sense‐maker/sense‐giver” positions whose occupants are able to ensure that conceptual activities engage people working at different levels, even as organizational structures are in flux, and of mobilizing external constraints and influences as opportunities and resources in sense‐making and organizing. Sommaire : Se fondant sur une étude longitudinale des premières années de la mise en œuvre des réseaux de soins de santé au Québec, cet article décrit la manière dont les gestionnaires du secteur public font face à des défis complexes, alors que les structures et les stratégies organisationnelles sont radicalement transformées simultanément. Les nouveaux organismes étudiés ont dû complètement remanier les rôles et les responsabilités de leurs équipes de gestion et comprendre leur nouveau mandat d'élaborer une approche axée sur la population pour ce qui est des problèmes de santé, tout en maintenant leurs activités au jour le jour. Les quatre réseaux de soins de santéétudiés ont travailléà relever ces défis réciproques d'une manière assez différente. L'étude révèle l'importance de trouver un équilibre entre les initiatives consistant à organiser (axées sur les structures) et les initiatives consistant à interpréter les faits (axées sur les stratégies) ; de perfectionner les capacités à interpréter les faits grâce à la création de postes clés d'«interpréteurs de faits», dont les titulaires veilleraient à ce que des activités conceptuelles fassent intervenir les gens travaillant à différents niveaux même lorsque les structures organisationnelles fluctuent continuellement; et enfin de tirer parti des contraintes et influences externes comme autant d'occasions et de ressources pour interpréter et organiser les faits.     

Postmortem identification of the edentulous deceased: denture tissue surface anatomy

This model evaluates the use of dental stone casts derived from maxillary tissues and from the internal aspects of maxillary dentures for edentulous postmortem identification. Tissue topography of the total cast and of rugae tracings photographed from the casts were evaluated for identification accuracy in twenty-eight trials for each of the two designs. Eight casts were examined in each trial. The trial was designed as matching or nonmatching, and as an equivocal or unequivocal decision by the examiner. Unequivocal decisions with 100% accuracy resulted when the entire dental cast was evaluated. Seventy-nine percent accuracy with equivocation in some trials resulted when only rugae tracings from the casts were evaluated. This investigation supported use of stone casts derived from the internal anatomy of maxillary dentures for forensic science identification when cast topography in toto was considered.     

Rupture of a giant splenic artery aneurysm. Report of an autopsy case.

We describe an autopsy case of a 61-year-old woman with von Recklinghausen's disease, who died suddenly following intraperitoneal hemorrhage due to the rupture of a giant splenic artery aneurysm. The aneurysm measured 16 x 13 x 5.5 cm--much larger than those in most previous reports. The pancreatic body, which was pressed by the aneurysm, was widely atrophic. In general, splenic artery aneurysms are more frequent in pregnant women or patients with portal hypertension. The pathogenesis of this aneurysm is presumed to be arterial dysplasia, focal arterial inflammation, or portal hypertension, unlike other aneurysms due to arteriosclerosis or syphilis. Since the patient had not been pregnant and had not had liver cirrhosis or arteriosclerosis, the pathogenic factor could not be determined in this case. The relationship between the genesis of the aneurysm and von Recklinghausen's disease was not clear either.