Allele frequency distribution for 21 autosomal STR loci in Bhutan

We studied the allele frequency distribution of 21 autosomal STR loci contained in the AmpFlSTR^® Identifiler™ (Applied Biosystems), the Powerplex^®16 (Promega) and the FFFL (Promega) multiplex PCR kits among 936 individuals from the Royal Kingdom of Bhutan. As such these are the first published autosomal DNA results from this country.     

26-Locus Y-STR typing in a Bhutanese population sample

26 Y chromosome short tandem repeat (STR) loci were amplified in a sample of 856 unrelated males from Bhutan, using two multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. The first multiplex is the Y-STR 20plex described by Butler et al. [J.M. Butler, R. Schoske, P.M. Vallone, M.C. Kline, A.J. Redd, M.F. Hammer, A novel multiplex for simultaneous amplification of 20 Y chromosome STR markers, Forensic Sci. Int. 129 (2002) 10-24], and the second is a novel (but overlapping) 14plex that targets six additional Y-STRs (DYS425, DYS434, DYS435, DYS436, DYS461, DYS462) and also amplifies the amelogenin locus. The 26-loci give a discriminating power of 0.9957, though even at this resolution one haplotype occurs 24 times. We identify novel alleles at five loci and microvariants at a further three, which were characterised by sequencing. Extended (11-locus) haplotypes for these samples have been submitted to the Y-STR Haplotype Reference Database (YHRD).     

Changing trends in acute poisoning in Chandigarh zone: a 25-year autopsy experience from a tertiary care hospital in northern India.

A 25-year autopsy study (1972-1997) of acute poisoning deaths from a tertiary care hospital in northern India (Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh) revealed a steep increase in the incidence of acute poisoning since 1987. The majority (68%) of subjects were between the ages of 14 and 30 years, and there was a male preponderance (69%). The main victims were students and unemployed youths, followed by agricultural workers and domestic workers. The proportion of urban victims increased from 45% in the period from 1972 to 1977 to 72% in the period from 1992 to 1997. The proportion of suicidal deaths increased from 34% in the period from 1972 to 1977 to 77% in the period from 1992 to 1997, whereas accidental deaths decreased from 63% to 17% in the same period. Barbiturates (37%) and copper sulfate (22%) were the most common poisons causing mortality between 1972 and 1977; organophosphates (46%) became the most common between 1977 and 1982. Since 1982, aluminum phosphide (65%) has been the most common poison.     

Time of closure of cranial sutures in northwest Indian adults

Time of closure of sagittal, coronal and lambdoid sutures was studied at autopsy in 538 male and 127 female adults of known ages belonging to Chandigarh zone of northwest India. The sagittal suture was divided into four segments and each side of the coronal and lambdoid sutures into three segments. Whether a segment was open or closed on either surface was recorded. On analysing the record, the authors came to the conclusions: (1) obliteration of sutures commences earlier in the males than in females, (2) suture obliteration starts earlier on endocranial surface than on the ectocranial and (3) commencement and complete obliteration of a segment or the entire suture is so erratic that it is not useful for estimating the age of a skull.     

Time of fusion of the basisphenoid with the basilar part of the occipital bone in northwest Indian subjects

To find out the time of fusion of the basisphenoid with the basilar part of the occipital bone in Northwest Indian subjects, a quadrilateral piece of bone extending from the posterior clinoid processes to the jugular tubercles was removed from 50 male and 34 female autopsy subjects between the ages of 10 and 20 years. The piece of bone was X-rayed and then macerated. In addition CT scan cuts of the basisphenoid were obtained in 46 male and 27 female living subjects between the age of 10 and 19 years. In the males, partial fusion was seen at 13 years while a complete fusion was noticed at 15 years in 25% of the subjects. The age of a boy showing complete fusion should be 15 years or above. If there is no fusion or partial fusion he should be below 19 years as complete fusion is seen in all male subjects at 19 years. In females, the earliest partial fusion was noted at 12 years and complete fusion was present at 13 years in 16.6%. All female subjects showed complete fusion at 17 years. The minimum age of a girl showing complete fusion should be 13 years; if no fusion or partial fusion is seen, her age should be below 17 years.     

Democratization by decree: the case of Bhutan

The small Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan is one of the most recent recruits to the world's democratic nations after more than a century of rule by the Wangchuck dynasty. The first national democratic elections were held in 2007 and 2008 and mark the formal transition from authoritarian rule, albeit of an enlightened nature, to democracy. But most conventional explanations of democratic transition are unconvincing when applied to the Bhutanese experience. This article reviews these explanations and demonstrates their lack of fit with structures and events in Bhutan. The two causal factors which do seem to explain the democratic transition are the strong state and transformational leadership. This is an unusual combination which not only challenges orthodoxy but also extends our understanding of the ways in which democratization can occur, a paradoxical way where, without any elite or popular pressure, monarchical powers are directed towards enabling democratization.     

An Indian mummy: a case report

A case of mummification occurring in northwest India (Chandigarh) is described. A middle-aged man developed an abscess on his back and was treated by a mystical man who did not allow him any food or water. After a few days the patient died. On the advice of the mystical man the body was kept in a room which was made hot and dry. The police discovered the body after 2 years. A postmortem examination was conducted and findings are reported.     

Second Elections and Democratic Consolidation: the Experience of Bhutan

This article examines the phenomenon of the second election after democratization in developing countries. Unlike the euphoria that often accompanies the immediate post-democratization election, the second election gives clear evidence of the progress of democratic consolidation or whether the new regime has incorporated authoritarian elements and become a hybrid. To measure the democratic gains or losses that are seen in the second election, an analytical framework has been adopted comprised of three dimensions: regularity, openness and acceptability. This framework is applied to Bhutan where the second election took place in 2013. The findings are that progress was made on all three dimensions of democratization in the election although some democratic shortfalls were still evident. For Bhutan, the overarching concern for political stability is seen to have greatly affected the design and implementation of its electoral system.     

Facial soft tissue thickness in northwest Indian adults

In order to reconstruct the face from a bare skull, the facial soft tissue thickness (FSTT) was determined at 29 standard anthropological landmarks by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 173 male and 127 female adult subjects of northwest Indian origin. Repeatability and accuracy of the measurements was assessed by paired t-test and 95% confidence intervals. A stepwise discriminant function analysis selected nine landmarks for better sex classification in FSTT measurements. The thickness of soft tissue was different from that described in the literature and reported for samples from other countries. A correlation between skinfold thickness and body mass index (BMI) with that of FSTT was observed. The data of facial soft tissue thickness will help forensic experts in reconstructing the face from a skull for identification purposes.