Rapid and simple sex determination method from dental pulp by loop-mediated isothermal amplification

Sex determination from dental pulp DNA was examined by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method. Amelogenin locus was analyzed for sex determination. A set of four specially designed primers was prepared based on database from Gene Bank, and loop primers were designed to shorten the analysis time. Analysis was performed using 32 dental pulp DNA samples removal from permanent teeth stored at room temperature for 1–25 years after extraction. The X allele was detected in approximately 32 min with real-time turbidimeter and the Y allele was detected in approximately 34 min. Analysis time was reduced to half when using loop primers. Visual detection was also possible as the amplified product showed white turbidity. Sex determination by LAMP method was rapid and simple, and it should prove useful in unknown bodies of mass disasters.     

Sex Differences in Physical and Indirect Aggression: A Developmental Perspective

Males generally use aggression more often than females. However, the magnitude of difference between the sexes varies widely according to the type of aggression that is considered, and according to the developmental period studied. Taking a developmental perspective, this paper reviews research that compares the progression of physical aggression (predominantly used by males) with indirect aggression (predominantly used by females) among males and females. Existing empirical evidence indicates that most children cease to use physical aggression during the course of childhood, but that a minority fails to do so. This group is comprised of children with high, stable levels of PA and is mostly male. Overall, most children use low levels of IA, but there is one group that uses this type of aggression with increasing frequency. This group is mostly female. Importantly, the differences between the sexes are not stable over time. Rather, while the gap between males and females is present during preschool years, it widens considerably during childhood and preadolescence. A review of hypotheses based on evolution, biology and social learning provides critical insight into the origins and development of sex differences in aggression over the life course. We conclude by arguing that violence in males may be effectively reduced through early, sustained intervention with high-risk mothers.     

中国汉族成人甲状软骨的性别判定

目的 建立中国汉族成人甲状软骨性别判别的函数方程。方法 对142例中国汉族成人甲状软骨(男73例,女69例)进行大体测量,选择7个性别差异非常显著的测量指标,然后采用Fisher判别分析法和Bayes逐步判别分析法,建立判定甲状软骨性别的系列判别函数。结果 建立了13个甲状软骨的性别判别方程,完整或大部分完整的甲状软骨性别判别准确率均达100％,残缺的达90％。结论 中国汉族成人甲状软骨性别差异明显,运用所建方程能够判定甲状软骨的性别。     

用双色荧光原位杂交技术鉴定血痕性别

目的 探讨荧光原位杂交技术在血痕性别鉴定中应用及其价值。方法对20例新鲜人血及20例1-2年人血痕的X、Y染色体采用双色荧光探针进行原位杂交分析。结果 人新鲜血,男性X、Y信号检出的完整率为98.8％,其中Y信号的检出率为100％,女性X、X信号检出的完整率为96.5％;1-2年人血痕,男性X、Y信号检出的完整率为88％,其中Y信号的检出率为90％,女性X、X信号检出的完整率为80％;40例血液(痕)性别检测的符合率为100％。结论双色荧光原位杂交技术可以鉴定血痕性别。     

柴坤解郁汤对围绝经期抑郁大鼠下丘脑-垂体-卵巢轴激素及下丘脑雌激素受体α表达的影响

目的 观察柴坤解郁汤对围绝经期抑郁大鼠应激状态的影响并探究其作用机制。方法 将60只SD雌性大鼠随机分为假手术组,模型组,柴坤解郁汤低、中、高剂量组,盐酸氟西汀组,每组10只。采用去势手术联合慢性不可预知性温和刺激(chronic unpredictable mild stimulation,CUMS)复制围绝经期抑郁大鼠模型。模型复制同时,柴坤解郁汤低、中、高剂量组分别按照0.9、1.8、3.6 g/kg剂量给予柴坤解郁汤灌胃,盐酸氟西汀组按照2.33 mg/kg剂量给予盐酸氟西汀灌胃,假手术组和模型组给予等容积生理盐水灌胃,每日1次,共21 d。通过蔗糖水试验、旷场试验、强迫游泳试验观察其行为学变化,采用酶联免疫吸附试验检测血清卵泡刺激素（follicle-stimulating hormone,FSH）、黄体生成素（luteinizing hormone,LH）、雌二醇（estradiol,E2）水平变化,采用Western blot法和Rt-PCR法检测下丘脑雌激素受体α（estrogen receptor alpha, ERα）及其mRNA表达水平。结果 柴坤解郁汤干预后,模型大鼠的蔗糖水偏好率、旷场总路程、旷场中心区域路程均显著升高（P＜0.05）,强迫游泳不动时间明显减少（P＜0.05）;大鼠血清FSH、LH水平显著降低（P＜0.05）,E2水平显著升高（P＜0.05）,下丘脑ERα蛋白及mRNA表达水平均显著升高（P＜0.05）。结论 柴坤解郁汤可以有效预防并改善围绝经期抑郁大鼠的应激状态,其作用机制与调节下丘脑-垂体-卵巢轴激素含量和下丘脑ERα表达水平有关。     

Voluntary and therapeutic castration of sex offenders in The Netherlands (1938–1968)

Between 1938 and 1968 some 400 sex offenders in the Netherlands who by court orders had been put at ‘the discretion of the government’ and were incarcerated in asylums for the criminally insane, ‘voluntarily’ submitted themselves to ‘therapeutic’ castration, the surgical removal of their testes. Prior to 1938, inspired by a Danish castration act from 1929, and urged by asylums that were overcrowded by sex offenders, the ethics of the surgery had been discussed for nearly a decade amongst theologians, (forensic) psychiatrists, jurists and politicians, mostly in the context of eugenic sterilization. Discussions of conflicting Catholic, Protestant and non-denominational points of view vis-à-vis eugenics resulted in consensus about ‘therapeutic’ and ‘voluntary’ castration. Sexual deviancy, according to some, was like a tumor located in the testes, which could therefore be removed without moral objections and the person was thus cured of his disease. Although obviously related to forensic psychiatry and concerned with issues like protection of society and treatment of offenders, discussions were never held in a strictly forensic context. Unlike in other countries in which castration policies were enforced, in The Netherlands the surgery was never embodied in law but subject to an informal protocol that covered political accountability. To satisfy Catholic objections references to eugenic aims were omitted from the documents, as were references to castration as a penalty.     

The role of prior punishment in preventive detention decisions

ABSTRACT

Preventive detention legislation allows for ongoing detention or supervision following completion of an offender’s sentence. Consideration of public protection should drive the administration of preventive detention, however research has indicated retributive concerns also drive decision making. Two studies were conducted to examine the motives driving preventive detention decisions, and how contextual variables affected the balance between retributive and public protection motives. In Study 1, participants were presented with information about an offender’s remorse, prior punishment, and risk of re-offence. In Study 2, participants were presented with information about an offender’s prior punishment and offence type, and the relative strength of various potential mediators was tested, to determine factors driving effects of prior punishment information. Overall, results demonstrated participants were driven by both retributive and public protection motives, as well as personal characteristics (e.g. political orientation, prejudice against offenders) when making preventive detention decisions. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for preventive detention legislation.     

Sacred year or broken reed? The Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919

ABSTRACT

The Sex Disqualification (Removal Act 1919) enabled women to enter some professions including law for the first time. Virginia Woolf calls 1919 a ‘sacred year’ because of this Act in her later essay ‘Three Guineas’. However, the historical literature largely considers the act to be a ‘broken reed’, focussing on its failure to equalise the franchise, remove the marriage bar or to enable women to sit in the House of Lords. This article argues that such negative verdicts fail to take into account the political and Parliamentary situation in 1919 and overlooks the genuine achievements of the Act.