Comparison of two methods for isolating DNA from human skeletal remains for STR analysis

Abstract: The quality and efficiency of a standard organic DNA isolation method and a silica‐based method using the QIAGEN Blood Maxi Kit were compared to obtain human DNA and short tandem repeats (STRs) profiles from 39 exhumed bone samples for paternity testing. DNA samples were quantified by real‐time PCR, and STR profiles were obtained using the AmpFlSTR^® Identifiler^® PCR amplification kit. Overall, the silica‐based method recovered less DNA ranging from 0 to 147.7 ng/g (average 7.57 ng/g, median = 1.3 ng/g) than did the organic method ranging from 0 to 605 ng/g (average 44.27 ng/g, median = 5.8 ng/g). Complete profiles (16/16 loci tested) were obtained from 37/39 samples (95%) using the organic method and from 9/39 samples (23%) with the silica‐based method. Compared with a standard organic DNA isolation method, our results indicate that the published silica‐based method does not improve neither the quality nor the quantity of DNA for STR profiling.     

Maxwell 16裂解纯化法提取陈旧精子DNA的应用

目的利用Maxwell 16裂解纯化法从保存8年以上陈旧精斑检材中获取精子DNA。方法 8份陈旧精斑检材采用Maxwell 16裂解纯化法提取精子DNA,并采用Powerplex○R21试剂盒进行复合扩增,产物用AB3130型遗传分析仪检测,结果与常规方法进行对比。结果成功获得8份陈旧精斑检材精子STR分型。结论差异裂解配合Maxwell 16裂解在陈旧精斑检材精子DNA检验中效果明显。     

The Linux FAT32 allocator and file creation order reconstruction

The allocation algorithm of the Linux FAT32 file system driver positions files on disk in such a way that their relative positions reveal information on the order in which these files have been created. This provides an opportunity to enrich information from (carved) file fragments with time information, even when such file fragments lack the file system metadata in which time-related information is usually to be found.Through source code analysis and experiments the behaviour of the Linux FAT allocator is examined. How an understanding of this allocator can be applied in practice is demonstrated with a case study involving a TomTom GPS car navigation device. In this case, time information played a crucial role. Large amounts of location records could be carved from this device's flash storage, yielding insight into the locations the device has visited—yet the carved records themselves offered no information on when the device had been at the locations. Still, bounds on the records' time of creation could be inferred when making use of filesystem timestamps related to neighbouring on-disk positions.Finally, we perform experiments which contrast the Linux behaviour with that of Windows 7. We show that the latter differs subtly, breaking the strong relation between creation order and position.     

State transformation goes nuclear: Chinese National Nuclear Companies’ expansion into Europe

Abstract

Most of the literature on state transformation focuses on China’s relations with African, Asian and Latin American countries and the National Oil Companies’ overseas expansion to show that China has become fragmented, decentralised and internationalised. This article contributes novel findings by focusing on China’s relations with Europe and the actions of China’s National Nuclear Companies (NNCs). It shows that NNCs, which have become relatively autonomous actors, often pursue their agendas of expansion into Europe without much coordination with, or even in contradiction to, other ministries’ agendas and interests, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Instead of being orchestrated by the central government, their expansion reflects considerable disorganisation and sometimes undermines China’s official strategy. The article demonstrates this through case studies of NNCs’ involvement in the UK and Romania.     

Ubuntuism as a Foundation of Media Ethics in Zimbabwe? Journalists’ Perspectives and Discontents

Abstract

There are debates on the relevance of Eurocentric normative frameworks for studying the media in post-colonial Africa. Emerging from these debates is a rebuttal of the dominant Western-derived paradigms for the conceptualisation of journalistic norms, values and practices. Given that the dominant Western liberal models for normative media ethics are incongruent to the needs of Africa, there is a growing call to reconceptualise media ethics anchored upon alternative epistemologies and moral foundations such as ubuntuism. Although there is existing scholarship on ubuntuism as a framework for media ethics in Africa, none of these studies has focused particularly on Zimbabwe. Using the 16 August 2019 (hereafter August 16) protests as a photojournalistic “moment” as a frame, this article explores the views and perspectives of Zimbabwean journalists on their understanding of media ethics and professionalism. Further, it probes the possibilities of ubuntuism as a moral foundation of journalistic practice in the country. Journalists’ views are diverse and contested on the nature and practice of media ethics in the country. Although ubuntuism is touted as a normative framework for media ethics, the Western liberal perspectives remain dominant. As such, post-colonial theory offers a useful approach to understanding the interconnections, contradictions and tensions underpinning media ethics in post-colonial Zimbabwe.     

小学教师人格特征和学生学业成绩的相关研究

本运用心理学及教育生态学的方法对南京市五所小学毕业班教师人格特征与所教班级学生学业成绩作了相关研究,结果表明：小学教师的某些人格特征与学生的学业成绩有着较高相关,其中,兴奋性与学生的语成绩呈显负相关;聪慧性、稳定性、实验性与学生的教学成绩的相关以显示水平,小学教师的某些人格特征与学生的学业成绩的相关要高于小学教师的年龄、学历与学生的学业成绩的相关,小学教师的人格特征中聪慧性和兴奋性与学生的语     

深入认识和把握构建和谐社会的三个重大问题

构建社会主义和谐社会是党中央提出的社会主义现代化建设的战略目标和任务。怎样正确认识和把握和谐社会的理论和实践,科学地判断和认识当前我国出现的不和谐因素并采取积极的措施加以解决,具有重大现实意义。     

Identification of forensically important sarcophagid flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) in China, based on COI and 16S rDNA gene sequences

Insects attracted to cadavers may provide important indications of the postmortem interval (PMI). However, use of the flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) for PMI estimation is limited as the species are often not morphologically distinct, especially as immatures. In this study, 23 forensically important flesh flies were collected from 13 locations in 10 Chinese provinces. Then, a 278-bp segment of the cytochrome oxidase subunits one (COI) gene and a 289-bp segment of the 16S rDNA gene of all specimens were successfully sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequenced segments showed that all sarcophagid specimens were properly assigned into four species (Boerttcherisca peregrina [Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830], Helicophagella melanura [Meigen, 1826], Parasarcophaga albiceps [Meigen, 1826], and Parasarcophaga dux [Thompson, 1869]) with relatively strong supporting values, thus indicating that the COI and 16S rDNA regions are suitable for identification of sarcophagid species. The difference between intraspecific threshold and interspecific divergence confirmed the potential of the two regions for sarcophagid species identification.     

线粒体DNA短片段复合扩增系统鉴别种属的研究

目的建立线粒体DNA短片段复合扩增体系用于种属鉴定的方法。方法提取人、牛、猪、羊、鸡的DNA,用所选的3对引物复合扩增细胞色素b基因（cyt b）片段、16srRNA基因片段和ND4基因片段,扩增产物经琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测。结果人DNA扩增产物在358bp、157bp和110bp处各出现一条带;动物DNA扩增产物均只有358bp一条带。结论线粒体DNA短片段复合扩增鉴别种属的方法可区分人源性生物检材和其它动物样本,可应用于法庭科学实践。     

Voraussetzungen einer EV wegen "Stalkings"

Die zur Durchsetzung des schon nach der bisherigen materiellen Rechtslage gegebenen Unterlassungsanspruches geschaffene gesetzliche Regelung des § 382g EO dient nach der erkl?rten Absicht des Gesetzgebers dazu, rasche Abhilfe zu schaffen, um weiteren Eingriffen in die Pers?nlichkeitssph?re des Opfers umgehend Einhalt zu gebieten. Voraussetzung für die Erlassung einer solchen einstweiligen Verfügung ist nur die Bescheinigung des Anspruchs auf Unterlassung weiterer "Stalking"-Handlungen. Mit der Anspruchsbescheinigung sind gleichzeitig auch die Anforderungen des § 381 Z 2 EO erfüllt, weil bei Beeintr?chtigung von Pers?nlichkeitsrechten, die einen Unterlassungsanspruch begründen, eine einstweilige Verfügung durchwegs zur Abwehr eines drohenden Schadens iSd § 381 Z 2 EO notwendig sein wird. Das Verbot der Kontaktaufnahme kann auch Handlungen Dritter umfassen, wenn diese vom Antragsgegner veranlasst werden.