Evaluation of a Novel 32 X-STR Loci Multiplex System in the Forensic Application

The AGCU X Plus STR system is a newly developed multiplex PCR kit that detects 32 X-chromosomal STR loci simultaneously.These are DXS6807,DXS9895,linkage group 1(DXS10148,DXS10135,DXS8378),DXS9902,DXS6795,DXS6810,DXS10159,DXS10162,DXS10164,DXS7132,linkage group 2(DXS10079,DXS10074,DXS10075),DXS981,DXS6800,DXS6803,DXS6809,DXS6789,DXS7424,DXS101,DXS7133,GATA172D05,GATA165B12,linkage group 3(DXS10103,HPRTB,DXS10101),GATA31E08 and linkage group 4(DXS8377,DXS10134,DXS7423).A major advantage of this kit is that it takes into account linkage between loci,in addition to detecting more X-STR loci.In order to evaluate the forensic application of 32 X-STR fl uorescence amplifi cation system,PCR settings,sensitivity,species specifi city,stability,DNA mixtures,concordance,stutter,sizing precision,and population genetics investigation were evaluated according to the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods(SWGDAM)developmental validation guidelines.The study showed that the genotyping results of each locus were signifi cantly accurate when the DNA template was at least 62.5 pg.Complete profi les were obtained for the 1∶1 and 1∶3 combinations.A total of 209 unrelated individuals from Southern Chinese Han community,consisting of 84 females and 125 males,were selected for population studies,and 285 allele profi les were detected from 32 X-STR loci.The polymorphism information content(PIC)ranged from 0.2721 in DXS6800,to 0.9105 in DXS10135,with an average of 0.6798.DXS10135(PIC=0.9105)was the most polymorphic locus,with discrimination power(DP)of 0.9164 and 0.9871 for the male and female.The cumulative PD_(F),PD_(M),MEC_(trio) and MEC_(duo) valu es were all greater than 0.999999999.There were 78 different DXS10103-HPRTB-DXS10101 haplotypes among the 125 males,and the haplotype diversity was 0.9810.There was no signifi cant difference in the cumulative PD_(F),PD_(M),MEC_(trio) and MEC_(duo) values whether considering linkage or not.In summary,the new X-STR multiplex typing system is effective and reliable,which can be useful in human genetic analysis and kinship testing as a potent complement to autosomal STR typing.

定亲

都快晌午了，刘宾还没来，老爹不好在亲家公面前甩出炮仗脾气，本来嘛！借儿子定亲之机，小辈们都想让两家老的打破传统也凑在一起热闹热闹，但眼看酒席就要开张了，儿子还没个影子。

High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Nine Major Constituents in Roots of Salvia

A method of gradient-elution HPLC with UV detection was developed for theanalysis of nine major constituents of Salvia species, a commonly used TCM herb, namely danshensu,protocatechuic acid, protocatechualdehyde, salviano-lic acid B, methyltanshinone, dihydrotanshinone,cryptotanshinone, tanshinoneⅠand tanshinoneⅡ_A. In the present study, a Shimadzu CLC-ODS column(150 mm x 6 mm, 5 μm) was utilized and 0.5% formic acid (A) and acetonitrile (B) were used forgradient elution at a total flow rate of 0.8 mL· min^(-1). All calibration curves showed goodlinear regression ( r > 0.999) within test ranges. Extraction was conducted by refluxing methanol(10 mL) with dried herb (0.5 g) for 1.0 h.The assay was simple, convenient and reproducible. Theproposed method was successfully applied to the determination of nine major constituents in thirteenSalvia. species and the results showed that the contents of Salvia components vary in differentspecies and origin. Tanshinone was hardly detected in S. yunnanensis and S. prionitis, thereforethey are not suitable for clinical use as Danshen.

Identification of the Parentage of Corn Variety Using SSR Markers

[Objective] The study was to explore the molecular interpretation standards on parentage in the seeds of corn variety. [Method] With 16 hybrids and their parents and 202 inbred elites as materials for screening primers, the artificial groups of two standard diad and two standard triad were respectively established as the verification materials. Genomic DNA of seedlings was extracted by using CTAB method. 137 pairs of SSR primers were selected for SSR amplification and product detection, which was used for the parentage identification of maize varieties. [ Result] Twenty pairs of corn primers with high polymorphism information content （ PIC value）, clearly amplified bands and good reproducibility were screened from 137 pairs of corn SSR primers tested. The identification results of using SSR molecular were consistent with the actual situation. [ Conclusion] It is feasible to identify the parentage of maize variety using SSR markers.

Acid Dissociation Constants of Functional Groups in Humic Substances:I.Affinity Spectrum Model Analysis of Potentiometric Data of Fulvic and Humic Acids Solutions from Weathered Coal and Dark Loessial Soil

Potentiometric experiments were carried out on the proton binding equilibria of FA extracted from a weathered coal and HA and Fa extracted from a dark loessial soil.The affinity spectrum model was employed to treat the experimental data.The affinity spectrum model technique could“magnify” the heterogeneity of the proton binding equilibria.so it was useful for comparing and studying the characteristics of humic substances with similar properties.According to the affinity spectra,we also found that the direction of the titration could affect the properties of the equilibria of FA from the weathered coal,and the acidic functional groups contained in FA from the weathered coal were larger in quantity than those contained in HA and FA from the dark loessial soil.

Lived experiences with unmet supportive care needs in pediatric cancer:Perspective of Chinese children and their parents

Objective:Unmet supportive care needs(SCNs)impact pediatric cancer patients and their parents.This study aimed to explore the unmet SCNs from the perspective of Chinese children with cancer and their parents through lived experiences.Methods:The data of this study was collected using face-to-face semi-structured interviews.The participants were recruited from the oncology units of three children’s hospitals in China’s cities(Shanghai,Guangzhou,and Hefei)from October 2020 to December 2021.Data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s sevenstep phenomenological analysis method.Results:Eight pediatric cancer patients and twenty-four parents were enrolled in the study.Four main themes and eight subthemes(both children’s and parent’s perspectives)were generated:1)meeting the ongoing needs along the cancer trajectory(can you tell me what comes next;our needs are growing);2)communicating with a family focus(they only talk to my parents;let each family member have a voice);3)providing care beyond the treatment(I am bigger than my body[the children’s needs for emotional consolidation and information about their prognosis];there are things beyond treatment);4)getting support from the community(I am not a monster[the children were unhappy about being treated differently];we want to connect with the resources near us).Conclusion:This study revealed multiple unmet SCNs from the perspective of Chinese children with cancer and their parents.The findings call for comprehensive and in-depth supportive care beyond treatment,integration of the family member voice in pediatric cancer care,and a coordinated pediatric cancer support mechanism in the Chinese healthcare system.

Enhancing Structural Stability and Pervaporation Performance of Composite Membranes by Coating Gelatin onto Hydrophilically Modified Support Layer

The interfacial compatibility of composite membrane is an important factor to its structural stability, andseparation performance. In this study, poly （ether sulfone） （PES） support layer was first hydrophilically modified with poly（vinyl alcohol） （PVA） via surface segregation during the phase inversion process. Gelatin （GE） was then cast on the PVA-modified PES support layer as the active layer followed by crosslinking to fabricate composite membranes for ethanol dehydration. The enrichment of PVA on the surface of support layer improved interfacial compatibility of the as-prepared GE/PVA-PES composite membrane. The water contact angle measurement and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS） data confirmed the surface segregation of PVA with a surface coverage density of -80%. T-peel test showed that the maxima/force to separate the support layer and the active layer was enhanced by 3 times compared with the GE/PES membrane. The effects of PVA content in the support layer, crosslinking of GE active layer and operating parameters on the pervaporative dehydration performance were investigated. The operational stability of the composite membrane was tested by immersing the membrane in ethanol aqueous solution for a period of time. Stable pervaporation performance for dehydration of 90% ethanol solution was obtained for GE/PVA-PES membrane with a separation factor of -60 and a permeation flux of -1910 g.m^-2.h1 without peeling over 28 days immersion.

Transmission Electron Microscopy Observation of Different Callus Structures in Heiya No.14

[ Objective] The aim was to observe the ultrastructure of different callus structures in Heiya No. 14 by transmission electron microscopy. [Methods] Sample preparation and observation were both carried out by conventional transmission electron microscopy. [ Results] It was showed by transmission electron microscopy that the initial callus cells had a large central vacuole, which squeezed its cytoplasm to be a thin layer around the brim of cell, Meanwhile the nuclear was also squeezed to distribute in the corner of cell, but its nucleolus could be still observed; Compared embryogenic callus with initial callus, its cell wall became thick, and many starch grains and chloroplasts including starch grains could be observed in the cytoplasm area of cell membrane; In non-embryoenic callus, no organelles except for the vacuole could be observed; In browning callus, there was almost no organelles in cells. [ Conclusion] There are significant differences in different types of flax callus at the cell ultrastructure level, which can be as an index for reflecting the differentiation ability of callus cell.

A meta-analysis of lamivudine for interruption of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus

AIM： To determine the therapeutic effect of lamivu- dine in late pregnancy for the interruption of motherto-child transmission （MTCT） of hepatitis B virus （HBV）. METHODS： Studies were identified by searching available databases up to January 2011. Inclusive criteria were HBV-carrier mothers who had been involved in randomized controlled clinical trials （RCTs） with lamivudine treatment in late pregnancy, and newborns or infants whose serum hepatitis B surface antigen （HBsAg）, hepatitis B e antigen （HBeAg） or HBV DNA had been documented. The relative risks （RRs） for inerruption of MTCT as indicated by HBsAg, HBV DNA or HBeAg of newborns or infants were calculated with 95% confidence interval （CI） to estimate the efficacy of lamivudine treatment. RESULTS： Fifteen RCTs including 1693 HBV-carrier mothers were included in this meta-analysis. The overall RR was 0.43 （95% CI, 0.25-0.76; 8 RCTs; Phet- erogeneity= 0.04） and 0.33 （95% CI, 0.23-0.47; 6 RCTs; Pheterogeneity = 0.93） indicated by newborn HBsAg or HBV DNA. The RR was 0.33 （95% CI, 0.21-0.50; 6 RCTs; Pheterogeneity = 0.46） and 0.32 （95% CI, 0.20-0.50; 4 RCTs; Pheterogeneity = 0.33） indicated by serum HBsAg or HBV DNA of infants 6-12 mo after birth. The RR （lamivudine vs hepatitis B immunoglobulin） was 0.27 （95% CI, 0.16-0.46; 5 RCTs; Pheterogeneity = 0.94） and 0.24 （95% CI, 0.07-0.79; 3 RCTs; Pheterogeneity = 0.60） indicated by newborn HBsAg or HBV DNA, respectively. In the mothers with viral load 〈 106 copies/mL after lamivudine treatment, the efficacy （RR, 95% CI） was 0.33, 0.21-0.53 （5 RCTs; Pheterogeneity = 0.82） for the interruption of MTCT, however, this value was not significant if maternal viral load was 〉 106 copies/mL after lamivudine treatment （P = 0.45, 2 RCTs）, as indicated by newborn serum HBsAg. The RR （lamivudine initiated from 28 wk of gestation vs control） was 0.34 （95% CI, 0.22-0.52; 7 RCTs; Pheterogeneity = 0.92） and 0.33 （95% CI, 0.22-0.50; 5 RCTs; Pheterogeneity = 0.86） indicated by newborn HBsAg or HBV DNA. The incidence of adverse effects of lamivudine was not higher in the mothers than in controls （P = 0.97）. Only one study reported side effects of lamivudine in newborns. CONCLUSION： Lamivudine treatment in HBV carrier- mothers from 28 wk of gestation may interrupt MTCT of HBV efficiently. Lamivudine is safe and more efficient than hepatitis B immunoglobulin in interrupting MTCT. HBV MTCT might be interrupted efficiently if maternal viral load is reduced to 〈 106 copies/mL by lamivudine treatment.

Preparation of Iminodiacetic Acid-Polyethylene Glycol for Immobilized Metal Ion Affinity Partitioning

The synthesis route was investigated and optimized for the preparation of iminodiacetic acid-polyethylene glycol (IDA-PEG) for immobilized metal ion affinity partitioning in aqueous two-phase systems. IDA-PEG was synthesized from PEG in two steps by the reaction of iminodiacetic acid with a monosubstituted derivative of epichlorohydrin-activated PEG. The Cu2+ content combined with IDA-PEG was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry as 0.5 mol·mol^-1 (PEG). Furthermore, the affinity partitioning behavior of lactate dehydrogenase in polyethylene glycol/hydroxypropyl starch aqueous two-phase systems was studied to clarify the affinity effect of the Cu(Ⅱ)-IDA-PEG.

Enantioselective extraction of clorprenaline enantiomers with hydrophilic selector of sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin by experiment and modeling

Enantioselective extraction of hydrophobic clorprenaline （CPE） enantiomers from organic phase to aqueous phases with sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin （SBE-β-CD） as the selector was investigated with insight into a number of important process variables, such as the type of organic solvent, concentration of selector, pH, and temperature. Equilibrium of the extraction system was modeled using a reactive extraction modcl with a homogeneous aqueous phase reaction. The important parameters of this model were determined experimentally. The physical distribution coefficients for molecular and ionic CPE were determined as 0.3 and 8.93, respectively. The equilibrium constants of the complexation reaction with SBE-β-CD were determined as 152 and 110 L/mol for R- and S-CPE, respectively. Results show that the experimental data agree with the model predictions perfectly. Comprehensively considering the experiment and model, the extraction conditions are optimized and the best extraction conditions are： pH of 6.0, SBE-β-CD concentration of 0.04 tool/L, and temperature of 5 ℃, providing the enantioselectivity （a） of 1.25, the fraction of R-CPE （φR） in aqueous phase of 0.71 and performance factor （pf） of 0.025.

Mothers overcoming remorse to care for self and baby:An emerging concept

Objectives:Mothers with substance use disorder(SUD)experience a range of emotions such as feeling ostracized,diminished,and distressed while watching their baby experience withdrawal from substances.Being fully present in the now moment is to trust self to do what is best by moving beyond perceived boundaries to care for self and baby.The process of concept building arose from nursing practice encounters in a special care nursery(SCN)for babies who experienced withdrawal from substances.Method:Liehr and Smith’s 10-phase concept building approach was used to guide the development of this concept.Concept building began with a practice story.The emerging concept was named,core qualities identified,and supported through a literature review.The middle range theory of uncertainty in illness was chosen to serve as theoretical support for the concept.A model was created to provide clarity on the relationships within the concept.Result:A mini-saga was gathered from a mother in the SCN whose newborn had experienced withdrawal from substances.The minisaga follows:Due to the baby’s discomfort and judging eyes of the staff,she was unable to mother her baby.As the baby recovered,she asked for help,comforted her baby,and gained confidence to move beyond perceived boundaries to become the mother she envisioned.Overcoming perceived boundaries to attend to self and baby is trusting oneself to do what is best in spite of feeling ostracized,diminished,and distressed while watching baby withdraw from substances.Conclusion:This concept provides the perspective of mothers with SUD through intermodernism from experiences in nursing practice.The Uncertainty in Illness theory further allows practitioners to gain an understanding of the role uncertainty plays in this unique situation.

PREPARATION OF CHITOSAN COATED METAL AFFINITY CHROMATOGRAPHY ADSORBENT

A new and an inexpensive adsorbent of chitosan coated silica for immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMIC) was studied. After a double coating, the chitosan coated on silica beads could be up to 53. 4 mg/g silica beads.When pH＞3. 8, the metal ligand Cu2+ was chelated on the coated chitosan witha bound capacity of 14. 6 mg/g chitosan without introducing iminodiacetic acid(IDA).

Paternity Testing of Selected Abaca （Musa textilis L. Nee） Hybrids Using Morphometric Markers

Investigation into the paternity of four abaca （Musa textilis L, Nee） hybrids was done to ascertain the mode of transmission of selected morpho-agronomic traits and to detect possible heterosis. In situ morphological characterization was undertaken using twenty five qualitative and six quantitative characters. Results revealed that a great majority of the qualitative traits were shared by both parents and their hybrids. For the rest, the qualitative traits were inherited from one or the other parent though some variant phenotypes （i.e. chimerism） were also noted in the hybrids. Cases ofheterosis were also observed and this could be exploited to increase fiber yield in the hybrids. Though inconclusive due to factors such as the heterogenous nature of abaca plants in the field and the susceptibility of morphological traits to environmental fluctuations, this study has provided baseline information on abaca hybridity that can be verified using more robust technologies as molecular markers.

A new method of immobilizing HEK293 cells on the inner wall of a capillary column as stationary phase for drug screening

It is a new strategy to immobilize cells on the inner wall of a capillary column and use affinity capillary electrophoresis（ACE） to study receptor-ligand interactions or to screen natural products and compounds synthesized by combinatorial chemistry. In this paper, we developed a new method of immobilizing HEK293 cells on the inner wall of a capillary column. Four important experimental conditions were optimized, including cell injection density, PLL concentration, cell culturing time and sterile processing method. Immobilized cell-coated capillary columns prepared under the optimized experimental conditions exhibited good uniformity, stability and durability, which were suitable for capillary electrophoresis. The method could also be used to immobilize HEK293 cells over-expressing certain membrane receptors on the inner wall of a capillary. In this way, cell-coated capillary columns could be applied to ACE drug screening targeting certain membrane proteins.

Study of parameters affecting infection risk from contaminated injectable products using multiple spot contamination model: a case study of insulin vials

Infections of patients from consumption of contaminated pharmaceutical products constituted major health risk problems. Medicinal products are liable to microbial intrusion during in-use application. The current study focused on repeated contamination with constant level of microbiological burden by two bacteria viz. Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were used as dose-response models for infection through two different routes of administration. Nine different forms of insulin vials were subjected to this type of simulation study at constant assumed level of contaminations, preservative efficacy test(PET) and dose potency. Multi-spot contamination imitation study showed that initial fast rise in contamination, followed shortly by longer but steeper slope which finally turned into higher rate of contamination during the few last doses of the unit dosage forms, where the volume of the product became increasingly and progressively very small. When the probability of infection curves was constructed, both S. aureus and P. aeruginosa showed same pattern, with notably higher risk from septicemia route of the latter rather than subcutaneous route of the former. The present simulation study showed that continuous use of the same contaminated syringe progressively increased the risk of infection, especially at final few doses(between 3th and 10 th last doses depending on the dosage form sizes in the vials and the administration volumes) of the product. Small volume parenterals(SVP) are especially products at higher risk than the larger volume ones.

Affairs happen---to whom？ A study on extrapair paternity in common nightingales

Most birds engage in extrapair copulations despite great differences across and within species. Besides cost and benefit considerations of the two sex environmental factors have been found to alter mating strategies within or between populations and/or over time. For socially monogamous species, the main advantage that females might gain from mating with multiple males is probably increasing their offspring＇s genetic fitness. Since male （genetic） quality is mostly not directly meas- urable for female birds, （extrapair） mate choice is based on male secondary traits. In passerines male song is such a sexual ornament indicating male phenotypic and/or genetic quality and song repertoires seem to affect female mate choice in a number of species. Yet their role in extrapair mating behavior is not well understood. In this study, we investigated the proportion of extrapair paternity （EPP） in a population of common nightingales Luscinia megarhynchos. We found that EPP rate was rather high （21.5% of all offspring tested） for a species without sexual dimorphism and high levels of paternal care. Furthermore, the occurrence of EPP was strongly related to the spatial distribution of male territories with males settling in densely occupied areas having higher proportions of extrapair young within their own brood. Also, song repertoire size affected EPP： here larger repertoires of social mates were negatively related to the probability of being cuck- olded. When directly comparing repertoires sizes of social and extrapair mates, extrapair mates tended to have larger repertoires. We finally discuss our results as a hint for a flexible mating strat- egy in nightingales where several factors--including ecological as well as male song features-- need to be considered when studying reproductive behavior in monogamous species with complex song.