The expert identification of the remains of the imperial family by means of molecular genetic verification of genealogical relations

The paper presents the results of international complex molecular genetic expert identification of skeletal remains of 9 subjects buried near the Koptiaki road in Ekaterinburg region, presumably belonging to the Romanov Royal Family and persons in their attendance. The armory of methods based on analysis of the least permissible amounts of DNA by the polymerase chain reaction and direct fluorescent sequencing of amplified DNA fragments included the latest scientific technologies. In addition, new methods were developed and used, which have no analogs in the world expert practice. The strategy included identification of biological gender of skeletons, of familial group among exhumed individuals, and of ties of relationship of this family with two independent maternal branches of the Romanov genealogical tree using tracing kindred markers based on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The study was carried out in two stages: in 1992-1993 at Aldermaston Criminology Center of Home Office of the UK with participation of British specialists and in 1995 at Military Medical Institute of Ministry of Defence of the USA in Washington with participation of American specialists. In 1993 five skeletons were identified as Emperor Nicholas II, Empress Alexandra Fedorovna, and their three daughters with 99.6% certainty. From modern criminological viewpoint, the result could not be considered as sufficiently certain for such an extraordinary case, and therefore in 1995 molecular genetic studies of presumable remains of Nicholas II and his brother Prince Georgi? Romanov were carried out again. The results showed absolute positional identity of mtDNA genetic code of these two men due to an extremely rare genetic abnormality (heteroplasmia), and thus the problem of appurtenance of the remains to the Romanov royal family was solved.     

Afterload reduction in the management of postinfarction ventricular septal defect

The primary goal in the medical management of ventricular septal defect complicating myocardial infarction is to support cardiac function and control symptoms, if possible, for a period of 4 to 6 weeks. If the patient survives this period, surgical correction of the defect is technically easier and safer. In many cases, However, cardiac function is severly compromised, intractable biventricular failure develops,early operation is necessary and the likelihood of successful repair is diminished.     

Behavioral and sociometric methods of identifying cooperators, competitors, and individualists: Support for the validity of the social orientation construct.

Cooperative, competitive, and individualistic social orientation of 132 4th–6th graders was assessed using a behavioral choice point and a sociometric measure. The classifications based on responses to the 2 measures are consistently related, and results are interpreted in terms of the convergent validity of the social orientation construct. (8 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A picture integration task for measuring iconic memory in schizophrenics.

Two previous studies by the 1st author et al (1977) and G. Sperling (1960) using different techniques (partial report and backward masking) have found at least some subgroups of schizophrenics deficient in iconic memory. Both hypothesized that the icon in some schizophrenics might be either weakly formed, limited in capacity, or abnormal in duration, but neither study was able to test the qualities of the icon independent of possible transfer difficulties. The present study with 50 male 18–55 yr old psychiatric patients (35 schizophrenics and 15 nonpsychotics) developed a picture integration task that was analogous to C. W. Eriksen and J. F. Collins's (1973) random dot integration. With this task, the capacity and decay of the icon independent of transfer to short-term store was assessed. The icon itself was found intact in all schizophrenics. Other explanations are suggested for schizophrenics' inadequate partial report and backward masking performance. (25 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Measurement of the absorption spectrum of polytetrafluoroethylene in the near millimetre region by an untuned cavity

The absorption spectrum of polytetrafluoroethylene has been measured between 3 and 15 cm^?1, a region which until now has been virtually unexplored. Absorption was found to arise almost entirely from amorphous regions of the sample and absorption in crystalline regions is small. A novel feature of the investigation is that measurements are made in an untuned cavity which has the advantage for low loss materials, that losses from reflection, scatter, and diffraction become unimportant. Loss measurements can be made on samples even when they are in the form of fine powder.