The application of ultraviolet irradiation to exogenous sources of DNA in plasticware and water for the amplification of low copy number DNA

Using high sensitivity forensic STR polymerase chain reaction (PCR) typing procedures, we have found low concentrations of DNA contamination in plasticware and water assumed to be sterile, which is not detected by standard DNA procedures. One technique commonly used to eliminate the presence of DNA is ultraviolet (UV) irradiation; we optimized such a protocol used in the treatment of water, tubes, plates, and tips for low copy number DNA (LCN) amplification. UV light from a Stratalinker((R)) 2400 was administered to 0.2, 1.5 mL tubes, and PCR plates contaminated with up to 500 pg of DNA. They were subsequently quantified with an ALU-based real-time PCR method using the Rotorgene 3000. Overall, there was a decrease in concentration of DNA recovered as the duration of treatment increased. Nonetheless, following 45 min of irradiating a PCR plate with 500 pg of DNA, nearly 6 pg were still detected. However, when the plate was raised within an inch of the UV source, less than 0.2 pg of DNA was detected. Additionally, lining the area around the samples with aluminum foil further reduced the amount of time necessary for irradiation, as only 30 min eliminated the presence DNA in the raised PCR plate. Similar experiments were conducted using tubes filled with a solution of DNA and water in equivalent concentrations for 50, 15, and 1.5 mL tubes with comparative results. It is plausible that the aluminum foil increased the amount of reflection in the area thereby enhancing penetration of UV rays through the walls of the plasticware. This protocol was tested for the possibility of inhibitors produced from irradiation of plastic tubes. As our protocols require less irradiation time than previous studies, PCR sensitivity was not affected. Moreover, the lifespan of the UV lamps was extended. Our findings demonstrate that this method is useful as an additional precautionary measure to prevent amplification of extraneous DNA from plasticware and water without compromising the sensitivity of LCN DNA amplifications.     

论英国海事仲裁中的简易程序——兼论完善我国海事仲裁简易程序

英国海事仲裁契合海事争议的特点为中小额争议当事人提供了两套更为快捷、经济、灵活、高效的简易仲裁程序——小额索赔程序和快速与低费程序。为进一步丰富和完善我国海事仲裁中的简易程序 ,英国海事仲裁中的成功经验无疑值得吸收和借鉴。     

论罚金刑的适用 --罚金刑适用率低之原因与对策

本文介绍了罚金刑的概念及其在我国刑法中的有关规定,指出了我国罚金刑适用的主要问题--适用率低;分析了产生该问题的原因--法律观念的滞后、罚金刑地位的低下、立法缺陷及罚金刑执行困难,并提出了解决该问题的方法--更新观念、提高罚金刑在刑罚体系中的地位、完善关于罚金刑的立法.     

西安市低收入群体的现状分析

随着居民的收入不断扩大,使低收入群体问题表现得越来越突出。加强对低收入群体保护,不仅是现阶段建立和完善社会主义市场经济体制、促进经济发展的重要基础,也是保持社会稳定的根本保证和实现共同富裕的社会主义本质要求。只有正确分析和了解低收入群体的现状,才能找到解决问题的正确方法。     

傣族传统文化与生育行为现代化——以西双版纳傣族为例

常规的人口理论将"多生、男性偏好"视为在我国获得广泛社会认同的传统生育行为,但这一命题在西双版纳傣族中却得不到历史实证材料的支持。相反,傣民族的传统生育行为表现出"少生、无性别偏好"的"现代化"生育特征。     

DNA identification of "Earthquake McGoon" 50 years postmortem

This report describes the genetic identification of James "Earthquake McGoon" McGovern, a WWII fighter ace who perished in Laos while providing supplies to French troops during the French Indochina war. Because reference samples were unavailable for all of the potential casualties, testing of the entire mitochondrial genome, autosomal STRs and Y-chromosomal STRs was performed to increase the genetic information available for analysis. Kinship analyses performed on the evidentiary data and numerous indirect family references for McGovern excluded other possible casualties and definitively established McGovern's identity. This particular case demonstrates the practical utility of novel research technologies and aggressive genetic typing protocols in the identification of aged, degraded remains.