DNA typing from skeletal remains using GlobalFiler™ PCR amplification and Investigator® 24plex QS kits

Since the beginning of our work in 2003 our laboratory has focused exclusively on STR DNA from bone, a powerful tool in missing person cases. In cases such as mass disasters or missing persons, human remains are challenging to identify as they may be fragmented, burnt, recovered from water, degraded, and/or contain inhibitory substances. To address these challenges, this study has evaluated the performance of relatively new STR kits Investigator® 24plex QS kit (Qiagen) and GlobalFiler™ PCR Amplification kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific) by comparing it with current uses of the AmpFLSTR® Identifiler® Plus kit (Applied Biosystems) to obtain genetic information from skeletal remains. We analyzed 20 bone samples of skeletal remains from routine casework submitted for body identifications by law enforcement corresponding using Investigator® 24plex QS kit and GlobalFiler™ PCR Amplification kit, previously analysed AmpFLSTR® Identifiler® Plus kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific). The data indicates that the STR profiles obtained using the GlobalFiler™ and Investigator® 24plex QS kit for analysis of skeletal remains has shown results in an increased number of reportable genetic loci, and provide greater power of discrimination in comparison to the Identifiler® Plus Kit. Advanced extraction and purification techniques, together with more sensitive and robust new amplification kits allowed us to overcome the challenges associated with processing compromised skeletal remains and ultimately obtain full STR DNA profiles in 99% of the bones.     

Different skeletal elements as a source of DNA for genetic identification of Second World War victims

To this day process of identification of missing persons from skeletonized human remains with help of forensic genetics proves to be complex and challenging. The success rate of genetic identification in bones strongly depends on a combination of various factors, most importantly environmental factors and post-mortem interval. Furthermore, there are individual-specific factors that affect DNA preservation, such as race, gender, age and type of skeletal elements. The goal of our study was to optimize sampling process through determining which skeletal elements are superior in their preservation of DNA in 70-yearold skeletons belonging to victims of Second World War. We sampled different types of bones and teeth from three such skeletons found in Slovenian hidden mass grave Huda jama, 56 elements from each respective skeleton, together 168 elements. With the help of parameters, such as quantity of DNA, degradation rate and typing success, we tried to find the best types of elements to identify the victims. Prior to powdering bones and teeth, we removed contaminants. We decalcified 0.5 g bone and tooth powder followed by extraction and purification of DNA using Biorobot EZ1 (Qiagen). Quantification of obtained nuclear DNA was carried out using PowerQuant kit (Promega) and autosomal STR typing using ESSplex SE QS kit (Qiagen). Best parameters to assess skeletal elements that are superior in their DNA preservation were quantity of DNA and number of successfully typed STR loci. Metacarpal and metatarsal bones proved to be the best, followed by intermediate cuneiform, first distal foot phalanx, talus, petrous bone and tibia. We also created elimination database for persons involved in exhumation, anthropological and genetic analyses and exclude potential contamination.     

易扶安置区风险链:易地扶贫搬迁安置区社会稳定风险的一个解释框架

易地扶贫搬迁初期,政府和移民对贫困认知存在分歧,搬迁便意味着风险环境酝酿。生活过渡期,由于政府扶持政策的脱节,移民的生计存在可持续困境,加之被激活的发展渴求,风险便被移民感知,谨慎抵抗抑或自助便成常态。而在社会放大机制下,这些不稳定要素便有了酿成社会稳定风险的可能,表现出“风险环境—风险感知—风险行为—社会放大—社会稳定风险”的风险传导链特征,呈现出双向传递性、集聚性和扩散性。如此,为实现安置区的稳定发展,应加快构建易扶安置区社会稳定风险预警指标体系,做好风险评估,并有针对性地探索形成基于安置区特征的有效治理路径。     

大鼠挫伤骨骼肌中M1/M2型巨噬细胞时间相关性研究

目的 研究大鼠骨骼肌挫伤后M1/M2型巨噬细胞浸润的动态变化规律结合组织学改变建立损伤时间推断方法.方法 建立大鼠骨骼肌挫伤模型,挫伤后6h、12h、24h、36h、48h、60h、72h、96h、144h、216h、336h为实验组,对照组不进行任何处理.采用HE染色法和免疫荧光多重染色方法观察骨骼肌挫伤后修复规律,...     

浅析行政强制拆迁

行政强制拆迁,具有高效性、快捷性和低成本性,但由于我们对行政强制拆迁的使用不当,使其备受争议。文章认为行政强制拆迁具有很多可取之处,它启示我们：要坚持依法行政的原则,加强媒体的正确舆论导向,严格房屋拆迁的程序。     

Craniometric analysis of the modern Cretan population

Despite the fact that sex assessment using craniofacial characteristics is commonly made worldwide, a lack of such investigation is noted in the Balkan area and in Greece in particular. The aim of this study is to develop a sex determination technique using osteometric data from skeletal remains of a contemporary Cretan cemetery population.A total of 90 males and 88 females are measured according to standard osteometric techniques. Age differences are not significant (mean age for men = 68.94 ± 13.41, N = 66; for women = 73.21 ± 16.77, N = 66). A total of 16 dimensions taken from the craniofacial skeleton are used and data are analyzed using SPSS subroutines. A comparison is made with other contemporary populations, including Americans (Terry collection) and South Africans (Dart and Pretoria collections), as well as an archaeological sample (Middle and Late Helladic) from Crete.Results indicate that males are statistically significantly greater than females in all dimensions. Bizygomatic breadth is the most discriminatory single dimension and can provide an accuracy rate of 82% on average. Using a stepwise method involving five dimensions (bizygomatic breadth, cranial length, nasion–prosthion and mastoid height and nasal breadth), accuracy is raised to 88.2%. Interestingly, cranial length is selected as the first discriminating variable by the stepwise analysis when only the neurocranium is available for measurement.     

Crucial Factors in Implementing Radical Policy Change: A Comparative Longitudinal Study of Nordic Central Agency Relocation Programs

Abstract

Why do public policies succeed or fail? The aim of this article is to contribute to answering this enduring research question in policy research through a comparative study of the variable efforts by Nordic governments to relocate their central agencies from the capital regions over a period of several decades. This was a radical redistributive policy program premised on a policy instrument – coercion – which was very alien to political systems characterized as consensual democracies. Hence, it is no surprise that only two out of seven relocation programs of any substance were successful. The really intriguing research question here is how any relocation program was achievable at all in a policy context where this was very unlikely. A broadly based multi-theoretical analytical framework linking interest groups, institutions, human agency in the form of policy entrepreneurship/design and situational factors is employed to solve this research puzzle. Findings from this study offer important contributions to the following research fields: comparative public policy, radical policy change and most specifically the so-called third generation of public policy implementation research.     

城市改造过程中拆迁对未成年人的影响

城市发展必然伴随着拆迁,拆迁向来是非常敏感的社会问题。政府、媒体、研究机构及专家更多关注成人世界在拆迁过程中的利益问题,却都忽视了这个大环境下的最大受害者未成年人。拆迁必然对未成年人思想道德、心理健康、世界观、人生观、价值观产生影响,需要研究和拟定预防及应对策略。     

青少年活体年龄推断的方法比较

目的探讨准确推断青少年活体年龄的方法。方法对233名青少年活体年龄鉴定案所涉及的案件性质、作案距鉴定的间隔时间、自报年龄与鉴定年龄差距等进行归类、分析,并就其中130名骨骺尚未完全愈合的男性青少年的年龄,用多元回归方程法、CHN计分法和本文作者设计的综合法分别进行推断,统计前两个方法与综合法的符合率。结果 归类分析显示:本组资料,刑事案件当事人的涉案性质,抢劫、抢夺的占72.10％;作案距鉴定的间隔时间小于6个月的占75.10％;自报年龄小于鉴定年龄的占60.73％。用多元回归方程法、CHN计分法鉴定年龄与综合法鉴定年龄的符合率分别为90.77％与83.08％。结论活体年龄鉴定应在作案后尽早进行;用多元回归方程法鉴定18岁左右的年龄较CHN计分法准确,采用综合法鉴定年龄可能更好。