Intersexuality as a potential source of error in sex determination using forensic multiplex kits

Validation of the AMP FlSTR ® SGM Plus™ system for use in forensic casework

Context.Filamentary structures are an important part of star-forming interstellar clouds. The properties of filaments hold clues to their formation mechanisms and their role in the star-formation process.Aims.We compare the properties of filaments in the Orion Molecular Cloud 3 (OMC-3), as seen in mid-infrared (MIR) absorption and far-infrared (FIR) dust emission. We also wish to characterise some potential sources of systematic errors in filament studies.Methods.We calculated optical depth maps of the OMC-3 filaments based on the MIR absorption seen inSpitzerdata and FIR dust emission observed withBerscheland the ArTéMiS instrument. We then compared the filament properties extracted from the data. Potential sources of error were investigated more generally with the help of radiative transfer models.Results.The widths of the selected OMC-3 filament segments are in the range 0.03–0.1 pc, with similar average values seen in both MIR and FIR analyses. Compared to the widths, the individual parameters of the fitted Plummer functions are much more uncertain. The asymptotic power-law index has typically valuesp ~3 but with a large scatter. Modelling shows that the FIR observations can systematically overestimate the filament widths. The effect is potentially tens of per cent at column densities aboveN(H2) ~ 1022cm–2but is reduced in more intense radiation fields, such as the Orion region. Spatial variations in dust properties could cause errors of similar magnitude. In the MIR analysis, dust scattering should generally not be a significant factor, unless there are high-mass stars nearby or the dust MIR scattering efficiency is higher than in the tested dust models. Thermal MIR dust emission can be a more significant source of error, especially close to embedded sources.Conclusions.The analysis of interstellar filaments can be affected by several sources of systematic error, but mainly at high column densities and, in the case of FIR observations, in weak radiation fields. The widths of the OMC-3 filaments were consistent between the MIR and FIR analyses and did not reveal any systematic dependence on the angular resolution of the observations.

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 565:95-111 (2017) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12043 Misidentification of megalopae as a potential source of error in studies of population genetics and ecology of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus Timothy J. Sullivan*, Joseph E. Neigel Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70503, USA *Corresponding author: tsulli1988@gmail.com ABSTRACT: Inaccuracy in taxonomic identification is an unknown but potentially important source of error in studies of planktonic larval ecology and evolution. We address the misidentification of blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) megalopae (post-larvae) as a source of error in investigations of genetic variation and factors influencing settlement. Callinectes spp. megalopae were sampled monthly in spring and summer from the water column at 2 locations on the Texas (USA) coast and identified by 16S mitochondrial sequences. Most of the megalopae could be assigned to C. sapidus (62%), C. similis (36%), C. rathbunae (1.5%), or C. danae (0.12%), while 5 (0.8%) were ambiguously grouped with both C. similis and C. danae. Previously used morphological characters (rostrum length, carapace length, and their ratio) were not diagnostic. Species composition differed between locations and among monthly samples. A recurring seasonal pattern in species composition was discerned, with ~95% C. similis in April shifting to ~95% C. sapidus by May/June, and variable proportions in August. This pattern strongly parallels changes in allozyme allele frequencies previously reported for blue crab megalopae at the same locations. Models selected by the Akaike information criterion indicated lunar phase, temperature, salinity, storms, and wind stress components all affecting megalopal abundance. The importance and sign of these factors differed between species. Temperature, the most important factor for each species analyzed separately, was not important when species were combined. This study demonstrates that misidentification of larvae could create the appearance of temporal genetic variation, inflate estimates of abundance, and obscure factors influencing settlement. KEY WORDS: Larval ecology · Larval invertebrates · Larval settlement · Gulf of Mexico · Callinectes spp. · 16S rRNA gene · Barcoding · Blue crab Full text in pdf format Supplementary material PreviousNextCite this article as: Sullivan TJ, Neigel JE (2017) Misidentification of megalopae as a potential source of error in studies of population genetics and ecology of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 565:95-111. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12043 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 565. Online publication date: February 17, 2017 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2017 Inter-Research.

In an effort to understand the contribution of the primer-binding site (PBS) region to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication, we have constructed a mutant HIV proviral DNA with an alteration in the 5' end of the PBS. The PBS mutant proviral DNA was characterized by transfection of the viral DNA into CD4+ and non-CD4+ target cells. The results indicate that mutation in the PBS reduced the level of viral particles released into the medium of transfected cells in comparison to wild-type proviral DNA. The viral particles were noninfectious upon transmission to established CD4+ cell lines and phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes. Electron microscopic analysis of the transfected cells revealed no abnormalities in the structure of the virion directed by the mutant proviral DNA. Also, the protein and RNA contents of the mutant virions were similar to the wild type. The quantitation of intracellular viral structural protein in the transfected cells, however, indicated that the PBS mutation may have an effect on the assembly of viral particles in addition to completely abolishing reverse transcription of viral RNA into DNA. These results provide evidence that the PBS region of the viral genome has multiple functions in HIV-1 replication.

Comprehensive annotated STR physical map of the human Y chromosome: Forensic implications

Amplification failure of the amelogenin gene (<i>AMELX</i>) caused by a primer binding site mutation

Chapter 10 Interlaboratory and intralaboratory surveys Reference methods and reference materials

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVArticleSolvent extraction of coals during analytical solvent swelling. A potential source of error [Erratum to document cited in CA114(6):46240d]John W. Larsen, Jane C. Cheng, and Cheng Sheng PanCite this: Energy Fuels 1991, 5, 2, 354Publication Date (Print):March 1, 1991Publication History Published online1 May 2002Published inissue 1 March 1991https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ef00026a023https://doi.org/10.1021/ef00026a023research-articleACS PublicationsRequest reuse permissionsArticle Views20Altmetric-Citations-LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InRedditEmail Other access optionsGet e-Alertsclose Get e-Alerts

Ocean color remote sensing is important for monitoring marine biogeochemical processes. The accuracy of remote sensing reflectance (Rrs), a fundamental data product, is critical yet challenged by the scale mismatch between in situ point measurements and satellite-based areal observations from pixels. This mismatch introduces uncertainty, notably from the non-uniform spatial response within a pixel—a potential error source at pixel boundaries that remains poorly quantified. To address this issue, we introduced the pixel-level spatial mismatch index (PSMI) to assess spatial representativeness errors induced by the pixel boundary effect (PBE). Using AERONET-OC (AErosol RObotic NETwork-Ocean Color) data alongside MODIS/Aqua and OLCI/Sentinel-3A observations, we showed that the PSMI effectively identified a systematic Rrs deviation peak when a site lay within a pixel’s edge attenuation zone. This phenomenon, observed across sensors with different resolutions (MODIS and OLCI), exhibited sensor- and band-dependent peak characteristics. We further proposed a quantitative framework called a Riemann Stieltjes integral-based index to measure the spatial concentration of this deviation peak, and a baseline method to objectively define the PBE window. Our analyses revealed that PBE not only acts as an independent error source but also interacts with atmospheric and geometric errors, forming new multifactor interactions that significantly modulate the overall uncertainty in Rrs products. Consequently, pixel-scale effects should be incorporated into future validation protocols, and the PSMI framework can provide an intrinsic tool for this purpose.

Measurement, generalization, and publication: Sources of error in benefit transfers and their management

We assessed four potential sources of error in estimating size of the population of Devils Hole pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis): net, time of day, diver, and order of diver. Experimental dives (3/day) were conducted during 4 days in July 2009. Effects of the four sources of error on estimates from dive surveys were analyzed using a split-split plot ANOVA. Diver and order of diver had no significant influence on estimates, whereas the effect of presence or absence of a net was significant. Effects of time of day and presence or absence of a net showed a significant interaction with depth of water. Results indicated that pupfish may move upward during the dive, and as a result, the standard methods of dive surveys may underestimate abundance.

This paper explored sample composition as a potential source of error in coefficient estimation and hypothesis testing by correlation with a dummy variable. Specific examples were provided to demonstrate to researchers the significance of this source of error. Although the problem is examined in light of the statistical consequences, composition of the sample, which is the actual source of error, is a methodological issue.

The aim of the study was to test the efficacy, reliability, and applicability of the Kvaal and Tooth Coronal Index (TCI) age determination techniques, and then to compare them with each other, as well as with the conventional anthropological age and sex determination techniques. The analyzed material originates from the medieval necropolis of the Vinča-Belo brdo site. During the research, 60 periapical (PA) and 30 orthopantomographic (OPT) images were analyzed. On each analyzed tooth, age assessment was performed using both TCI and Kvaal techniques. The obtained values of dental estimated age were compared with age estimated by anthropological analysis, and the deviations between the estimated and chronological age were analyzed in relation to the assessment technique, type of dental radiograph, tooth group, sex, and age. The mean error between TCI and the osteological method was 8.44 (SD = 7.56, Min = 0.169, Max = 36.4) and between Kvaal and the osteological method was 7.71 (SD = 5.57, Min = 0.133, Max = 26.7). The average value of age recorded by TCI method was 32.5years and by Kvaal method was 34.7years. There was no statistically significant difference based on the two radiographic methods, gender, individual teeth, or tooth group pairs. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between age and the error present. Gender determination based only on the mandible has a high correlation with the anthropological gender determination. The Kvaal method and the TCI method have proven their efficiency, reliability, and applicability. Significant correlation has been observed between dental and anthropological age and sex determination methods.

Effective stabilization of ethanol levels in multiple-well tissue culture plates

In the past, it was almost impossible for forensic scientists to separate DNA from an undefined number of different individuals in mixed stains where, for example, two or more suspects had handled the same weapon. Such samples often contain complex mixtures with the consequence of ambiguous or inconclusive mixed DNA profiles. Using the method described of comprehensive and/or targeted screening of shed cells adhering to tapings of garments or objects enables such stains to be individualized. To evaluate the method, 500 microscopically selected single skin flakes were analyzed using two different commercial STR kits to compare the success rates for each PCR typing system. The method has been validated for use in routine casework and has been shown to be rapid, sensitive, and reproducible. It can be predicted that many cases in the archives with body tapings, which have not yet been examined will benefit from this new or perhaps more appropriate, reanimated, technical development, and of particular importance are serious crimes, the so-called cold cases. The remarkable forensic value of this simple but time-consuming technique is exemplified by 2 out of approximately 100 cases already successfully solved using this approach.