Considerations on the application of a mutation model for Y-STR interpretation.

If Y-STR profiling is to be more effective in criminal casework, the methods used to evaluate evidential weight require improvement. Many forensic scientists assign an evidential weight by estimating the number of times a Y-STR profile obtained from a questioned sample has been observed in YHRD datasets. More sophisticated models have been suggested but not yet implemented into routine casework, e.

COVID-19's Impact on the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance: Challenging Times and Resilience from Its Members.

The worldwide pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 challenged conservation organizations. The lack of tourism has benefited or negatively affected wildlife organizations in various ways, with several primate sanctuaries struggling to cope with the COVID-19 crisis and to keep providing for their inhabitants. In addition, the genetic similarity between great apes and humans puts them at higher risk than any other species for the transmission of COVID-19.

Development and validation of multivariable machine learning algorithms to predict risk of cancer in symptomatic patients referred urgently from primary care: a diagnostic accuracy study.

Objectives: To develop and validate tests to assess the risk of any cancer for patients referred to the NHS Urgent Suspected Cancer (2-week wait, 2WW) clinical pathways.

Setting: Primary and secondary care, one participating regional centre.

Participants: Retrospective analysis of data from 371 799 consecutive 2WW referrals in the Leeds region from 2011 to 2019.

Reducing the primate pet trade: Actions for primatologists.

This commentary emerged from a panel presentation at the International Primatological Society Congress in Nairobi, Kenya, 2018. The goal was to provide regional updates on the status of primate removal from habitat countries, especially for the pet trade, and develop guidelines that could help primatologists address this critical problem. The trade in live primates includes those used as pets, in entertainment, and as subjects of biomedical experimentation, but here we focus on those primates destined for the pet trade.

Accurate Assessment of Blood Loss during Cesarean Delivery Improves Estimation of Postoperative Hemoglobin.

Objective: To determine if accurate blood loss determination during cesarean delivery can improve the prediction of postoperative hemoglobin levels.

Study Design: This is a retrospective cohort study using visually estimated blood loss (traditional,  = 2,025) versus estimates using a mobile application that photographs sponges and canisters and calculates their hemoglobin content (device,  = 756).

Results: The correlation between the actual and predicted postoperative day 1 hemoglobin value (PPO1 Hgb) was better in the device group (  = 0.

In Vitro Evaluation of a Novel Image Processing Device to Estimate Surgical Blood Loss in Suction Canisters.

Background: Clinicians are tasked with monitoring surgical blood loss. Unfortunately, there is no reliable method available to assure an accurate result. Most blood lost during surgery ends up on surgical sponges and within suction canisters.

Clinical Experience with the Implementation of Accurate Measurement of Blood Loss during Cesarean Delivery: Influences on Hemorrhage Recognition and Allogeneic Transfusion.

Objective: This article compares hemorrhage recognition and transfusion using accurate, contemporaneous blood loss measurement versus visual estimation during cesarean deliveries.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study using visually estimated blood loss (traditional,  = 2,025) versus estimates using a mobile application that photographs sponges and canisters and calculates their hemoglobin content (device,  = 756).

Results: Blood loss > 1,000 mL was recognized in 1.

Real-time evaluation of an image analysis system for monitoring surgical hemoglobin loss.

Monitoring blood loss is important for management of surgical patients. This study reviews a device (Triton) that uses computer analysis of a photograph to estimate hemoglobin (Hb) mass present on surgical sponges. The device essentially does what a clinician does when trying to make a visual estimation of blood loss by looking at a sponge, albeit with less subjective variation.

Ultrarapid Induction of Hypothermia Using Continuous Automated Peritoneal Lavage With Ice-Cold Fluids: Final Results of the Cooling for Cardiac Arrest or Acute ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Trial.

Objectives: Hypothermia (32-34 °C) can mitigate ischemic brain injury, and some evidence suggests that it can reduce infarct size in acute myocardial infarction and acute ischemic stroke. For some indications, speed of cooling may be crucial in determining efficacy. We performed a multicenter prospective intervention study to test an ultrarapid cooling technology, the Velomedix Automated Peritoneal Lavage System using ice-cold fluids continuously circulating through the peritoneal cavity to rapidly induce and maintain hypothermia in comatose patients after cardiac arrest and a small number of awake patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled pilot trial of peritoneal hypothermia in patients with ST-segment- elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Systemic hypothermia may reduce infarct size if established before reperfusion. The large surface area of the bowel may facilitate rapid hypothermia. We therefore examined the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of hypothermia induced by an automated peritoneal lavage system in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Cameraless peritoneal entry in abdominal laparoscopy.

Background And Objectives: Despite significant advances in laparoscopic instrumentation and techniques, injury to intraabdominal structures remains a potentially serious complication of peritoneal access. Consensus on the best method to obtain peritoneal access is lacking. A safe technique that does not rely on direct visualization of the abdominal layers could shorten the learning curve for surgeons and potentially be adopted by other physicians for a variety of nonsurgical indications for peritoneal entry.

Consideration of the probative value of single donor 15-plex STR profiles in UK populations and its presentation in UK courts.

The adoption of new 15 locus STR multiplex systems into UK forensic science would be facilitated by agreed guidelines for reporting the strength of DNA evidence using likelihood ratios. To facilitate such an agreement, we present an analysis of previously published UK allele frequencies for white Caucasian, Afro-Caribbean and Indo-Pakistani populations and investigate their effect on likelihood ratios for single donor profiles. We consider the implication of the five additional loci and suggest a procedure for reporting likelihood ratios for 15-plex STR profiles.

An automated instrument for human STR identification: design, characterization, and experimental validation.

The microfluidic integration of an entire DNA analysis workflow on a fully integrated miniaturized instrument is reported using lab-on-a-chip automation to perform DNA fingerprinting compatible with CODIS standard relevant to the forensic community. The instrument aims to improve the cost, duration, and ease of use to perform a "sample-to-profile" analysis with no need for human intervention. The present publication describes the operation of the three major components of the system: the electronic control components, the microfluidic cartridge and CE microchip, and the optical excitation/detection module.

Analysis and interpretation of mixed profiles generated by 34 cycle SGM Plus(®) amplification.

Interpretation rules for standard 28 cycle PCR have been described previously for the analysis of mixed STR profiles. In this study the same guidelines are applied to 200 mixtures derived from pairs of known donors combined in ratios of 1:1, 2:1 and 5:1 which have been profiled in duplicate with SGM Plus(®) at total inputs ranging from 1ng to 50pg. The paired profiles were distributed among 35 FSS (Forensic Science Service) reporting officers trained in low copy number (LCN) interpretation who analysed them blind following standard casework procedures.