The Development of Good Practices in Cooperation With the Use of Educational Offer of Academic Centers for Employees of an International Corporation

The paper describes the genesis of the industry＇s needs for training employees whose main purpose is to stimulate ones to be more innovative. Responded to this demand, academic centers helped in the development of training strategies and concepts. The paper brought the closer concepts of training in range and effect that they have brought. An attempt was made to approximations, summary, and evaluation of programs that have been implemented in the framework of academic consortia, among governments founds, academic development, and companies competing in the regional and international telecommunication markets. Analyzed cases of such cooperation, for programs in which several people were involved, as well as beneficiaries of the projects in which were several thousand employees. Efforts made in these programs indicate good practice for those who would like to emulate or improve programs. Experiences that were collected and described in this paper are the ideal start for similar initiatives that may be taken without regard to the scale and location of economic participants.     

The EDNAP mitochondrial DNA population database (EMPOP) collaborative exercises: organisation, results and perspectives

This paper presents an overview of the organisation and the results of the collaborative exercises (CE) of the European DNA Profiling (EDNAP) Group's mitochondrial DNA population database project (EMPOP). The aim of the collaborative exercises was to determine whether uniformity of mtDNA sequencing results could be achieved among different laboratories. These were asked to sequence either the complete mtDNA control region or the two hypervariable regions HVI (16024-16365) and HVII (73-340) from DNA extracts, buccal swabs or bloodstains, proceeding in accordance with the protocol and strategies used in each individual laboratory. The results of the collaborative exercises were employed to identify possible sources of errors that could arise during the analysis and interpretation of mtDNA profiles. These findings were taken as a basis to tentatively make suitable arrangements for the construction of a high quality mtDNA database. One hundred fifty mtDNA profiles were submitted to the evaluating laboratory, and disaccording profiles were classified into four groups corresponding to the source of error: clerical errors, sample mix-ups, contaminations and discrepancies with respect to the mtDNA nomenclature. Overall, 14 disaccording haplotypes (16 individual errors) were observed. The errors included 10 clerical errors, 3 interpretation problems, 2 cases of sample mix-up and 1 case of point heteroplasmic mixture, where the 2 sequencing reactions brought inconsistent base calls. This corresponds to an error rate of 10.7% in a virtual mtDNA database consisting of the collaborative exercise results. However, this estimate is still conservative compared to conclusions drawn by authors of meanwhile numerous publications critically reviewing published mtDNA population databases. Our results and earlier published concerns strongly emphasize the need for appropriate safety regulations when mtDNA profiles are compiled for database purposes in order to accomplish the high standard required for mtDNA databases that are used in the forensic context.     

Population genetics of 10 STR loci in a population of Central Poland

Allele frequencies for the 10 short tandem repeats (STRs) included in AmpFlSTR SGM Plus amplification kit (D3S1358, vWA, D16S539, D2S1338, D8S1179, D21S11, D18S51, D19S433, TH01, FGA) were estimated from a sample of 500 unrelated individuals born in Central Poland.     

STR data for the power plex-16 loci in a population from Central Poland

The allele frequencies for the 13 CODIS core loci and two recently developed but not extensively validated in Central European populations pentanucleotide STRs (Penta E and D) were determined using the Power Plex-16 (Promega) kit in a sample of 430 unrelated individuals born in Central Poland. The calculated parameters of polymorphism showed Penta E to be the most valuable marker from the studied set. The obtained distribution of Penta E and D alleles was statistically significantly different from that previously reported for a population of Southern Poland. Analysis of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium revealed a deviation for the D5S818 locus which may reflect presence of a null allele.     

Book reviews

Michael Waller, Peace, Power and Protest: Eastern Europe in the Gorbachev Era, London: Institute for the Study of Conflict, 1988 (Conflict Study No.209). Pp.27. £5.50.

Paul Leventhal and Yonah Alexander (eds.), Nuclear Terrorism: Defining the Threat. Washington: Pergamon‐Brassey's, 1986. Pp.vii + 218. NP.

Paul Leventhal and Yonah Alexander (eds.), Preventing Nuclear Terrorism. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books, 1987. Pp.xviii + 472. NP.

Paul Wilkinson and Alasdair M. Stewart (eds.), Contemporary Research on Terrorism. Aberdeen: Aberdeen University Press, 1987. Pp.xx + 634. £45.

Richard E. Rubenstein, Alchemists of Revolution: Terrorism in the Modern World. New York: Basic Books, 1987. Pp.ix + 272. $17.95.

James Adams, Secret Armies. London: Hutchinson, 1988. Pp.440. £14.95.

David C. Martin and John Walcott, Best Laid Plans: The Inside Story of America's War Against Terrorism. New York: Harper & Row, 1988. Pp. 392 $22.50.     

Comparison of new Ampac bags and FireDebrisPAK® bags as packaging for fire debris analysis

Abstract: The FireDebrisPAK^® bags that were produced by Kapak were considered to be one of the best containers for fire debris. Kapak bags were discontinued; however, from July 2010, Ampac is offering a new packaging material. The aim of the presented research was to compare the properties (durability, background interferences, and permeability) of Kapak bags and packaging material offered by Ampac. The analysis was conducted by passive adsorption from the headspace with subsequent thermal desorption and analysis by GC‐MS. The results proved that the properties of the compared materials are similar. Their greatest advantage is that they are impermeable for components of flammable liquids, so there is no danger of losing analytes or cross‐contamination. Their one significant drawback is that they should not be exposed to temperatures above 80°C. At this temperature, they become soft, their inner layer is compromised (becomes sticky), and they emit some volatile organic compounds. Among them, there are compounds that constitute the components of some of flammable liquids.     

Risking Security: Policies and Paradoxes of Cyberspace Security

Conceptualizations of cyberspace security can be divided into two related dimensions, articulated as "risks": risks to the physical realm of computer and communication technologies (risks to cyberspace); and risks that arise from cyberspace and are facilitated or generated by its technologies, but do not directly target the infrastructures per se (risks through cyberspace). There is robust international consensus, growing communities of practice, and an emerging normative regime around risks to cyberspace. This is less the case when it comes to risks through cyberspace. While states do collaborate around some policy areas, cooperation declines as the object of risk becomes politically contestable and where national interests vary widely. These include the nature of political opposition and the right to dissent or protest, minority rights and independence movements, religious belief, cultural values, or historical claims. The contrast between the domains has led to contradictory tendencies and paradoxical outcomes.     

Validation of nine non-CODIS STR loci for forensic use in a population from Central Poland

The D7S1517, D3S1744, D12S391, D2S1360, D6S474, D8S1132, D5S2500, D10S2325 and D4S236613 are STR loci potentially useful for forensic purposes whose analysis has recently become facilitated by availability of a commercial kit. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of these loci for forensic identification in a population of Central Poland. The distribution of alleles of the nine STRs was determined in sample of 353 unrelated individuals born in Central Poland and indices of forensic informativeness were calculated. The studied loci were highly informative and did not show departures from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. For the loci located on the same chromosomes (D2S1360, D3S1744 D4S2366, D5S2500, D7S1517, D8S1132, D12S391) as other loci commonly used for identification purposes (TPOX, D2S1338, D3S1358, FGA, D5S818, D7S820, D8S1179 and D12S391) appropriate pairwise analysis of linkage disequilibrium was performed. In all cases no statistically significant deviation from independence was found. We conclude that the studied STRs are informative and, when necessary, can be used to extend the results obtained with other STRs commonly analyzed for identification purposes, in particular the CODIS set.