Psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Decent Work Questionnaire and its effect on job satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: Work to develop a universal tool for the psychological evaluation and measurement of decent work is relatively new. In addition, the Decent Work Questionnaire, which evaluates decent work using a psychological approach, has not yet been adapted and validated in the Turkish sample group. OBJECTIVE: To adapt and validate the Turkish version of the Decent Work Questionnaire and to evaluate the effect of decent work on the job satisfaction among knowledge workers. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 906 knowledge workers. In the process of adapting and validating the Decent Work Questionnaire, the structural validity, internal consistency, convergent validity, divergent validity, and compatibility of the sample group data were tested. The effect of decent work on job satisfaction of knowledge workers was examined using structural equation modeling. RESULTS: The Decent Work Questionnaire was validated in the Turkish sample. The results showed that the reliability coefficients and dimensions of the Decent Work Questionnaire were highly satisfactory and consistent with the scale developers' study. According to another result of the study, decent work was found to have a significant and positive effect on Turkish knowledge workers' job satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: This study will fill gaps in the literature and will also contribute to the evaluation of decent work in all areas of the labor market, identifying its shortcomings and contributing to the development of effective human resource policies.

MAPlex - A massively parallel sequencing ancestry analysis multiplex for Asia-Pacific populations.

Current forensic ancestry-informative panels are limited in their ability to differentiate populations in the Asia-Pacific region. MAPlex (Multiplex for the Asia-Pacific), a massively parallel sequencing (MPS) assay, was developed to improve differentiation of East Asian, South Asian and Near Oceanian populations found in the extensive cross-continental Asian region that shows complex patterns of admixture at its margins. This study reports the development of MAPlex; the selection of SNPs in combination with microhaplotype markers; assay design considerations for reducing the lengths of microhaplotypes while preserving their ancestry-informativeness; adoption of new population-informative multiple-allele SNPs; compilation of South Asian-informative SNPs suitable for forensic AIMs panels; and the compilation of extensive reference and test population genotypes from online whole-genome-sequence data for MAPlex markers. STRUCTURE genetic clustering software was used to gauge the ability of MAPlex to differentiate a broad set of populations from South and East Asia, the West Pacific regions of Near Oceania, as well as the other globally distributed population groups. Preliminary assessment of MAPlex indicates enhanced South Asian differentiation with increased divergence between West Eurasian, South Asian and East Asian populations, compared to previous forensic SNP panels of comparable scale. In addition, MAPlex shows efficient differentiation of Middle Eastern individuals from Europeans. MAPlex is the first forensic AIM assay to combine binary and multiple-allele SNPs with microhaplotypes, adding the potential to detect and analyze mixed source forensic DNA.

La respuesta inmune T1 inducida durante el tratamiento con PEG-IFNα m¨¢s ribavirina controla la replicaci¨®n viral en pacientes con hepatitis cr¨®nica C / Maintenance of T1 response as induced during PEG-IFNα plus ribavirin therapy controls viral replication in genotype-1 patients with chronic hepatitis C

Objetivos: analizar el perfil de citocinas T1/T2 producidaspor los linfocitos T CD8+ de sangre perif¨¦rica en pacientes conhepatitis cr¨®nica C (HCC) y genotipo 1 durante el tratamiento coninterfer¨®n pegilado (Peg-IFN) α2a y ribavirina (RBV) y compararloscon controles sanos. Correlacionar el balance T1/T2 con larespuesta virol¨®gica al tratamiento combinado.Pacientes y m¨¦todos: en este estudio prospectivo longitudinalse incluyeron 28 pacientes naïve con HCC genotipo 1 tratadoscon Peg-IFNα2a (180 µg/semana) m¨¢s RBV (1-1,2 g/d¨ªa) durante48 semanas. Los 28 pacientes (edad media 45 ¡À 8 años)finalizaron el tratamiento y seguimiento: 12 (43%) presentaronrespuesta viral sostenida (RVS), 13 recidivaron (47%) y s¨®lo 3 fueronno respondedores (10%). Se estudiaron 16 controles sanos(edad media de 39 ¡À 17 años). Se analiz¨® mediante citometr¨ªa deflujo la producci¨®n intracitopl¨¢smica de IL-4, IFNγ y TNFα por loslinfocitos T CD8+ en reposo y tras ser estimulados con un ¨¦sterde forbol. An¨¢lisis estad¨ªstico: t de Student, test de χ2 y ANOVA;se agrupan los pacientes recidivantes y no respondedores paraobtener mayor potencia estad¨ªstica.Resultados: no se encontraron diferencias significativas entrelos niveles de citocinas de controles sanos y pacientes conHCC. Al tercer mes de tratamiento, los niveles de IL-4 inducidostend¨ªan a ser menores en los pacientes que obtuvieron una RVSque en el resto de pacientes (0,97 vs. 2,58; p = 0,1); tampocose encontr¨® significaci¨®n estad¨ªstica en relaci¨®n a los niveles deIFNγ y de TNFα. Al final del tratamiento, la producci¨®n de IFNγestimulado fue significativamente mayor en los pacientes queobtuvieron una RVS (20 vs. 8; p < 0,05). Por el contrario, laproducci¨®n de IL-4 fue mayor en los pacientes no respondedores,aunque estos datos no alcanzaron significaci¨®n estad¨ªstica(p < 0,1). No se encontraron diferencias en relaci¨®n con los nivelesde TNFα (14 vs. 7; p < 0,2).Conclusiones: el mantenimiento de la respuesta inmune tipoT1 durante el tratamiento combinado, medida en funci¨®n de las¨ªntesis de IFNγ por los linfocitos T CD8, se asocia con RVS y sugiereel control de la replicaci¨®n y el aclaramiento posterior de lospacientes infectados con el genotipo 1 del VHC

Objectives: to analyze the T1/T2 cytokine profile in CD8 Tcells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients withgenotype-1 CHC during treatment with pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) α2a plus ribavirin (RBV). To correlate Th1/Th2 balance withvirological response.Patients and methods: in this prospective longitudinalstudy, a total of 28 naïve genotype-1 CHC patients received Peg-IFNα2a (180 µg/week) plus RBV (1-1.2 g/day) for 48 weeks. Allpatients (mean age 45 ¡À 8 years) completed treatment and followup:12 (43%) achieved a sustained virological response (SVR), 13relapsed after end of treatment (47%), and only 3 (10%) werenon-responders. Sixteen healthy controls were also analyzed(mean age 39 ¡À 17 years). The production of IL-4, IFNγ, andTNFα by CD8 T cells was measured by intracytoplasmic detectionusing flow cytometry in both resting and stimulated cells with aphorbol ester. Statistics: Student¡¯s t test for independent values, χ2test, and ANOVA test were used; relapsers and non-responderswere joined to achieve a higher statistical power.Results: at third month during treatment, phorbol ester-stimulated-IL-4 levels tend to be lower in patients who presented withSVR versus those who did not (0.97 vs 2.58; p = 0.1). No statisticallysignificant differences were found in IFNγ and TNFα levelsat month 3. At EOT, the stimulated-IFNγ production was significantlyhigher in patients with SVR (20 vs. 8; p < 0.05). Conversely,IL-4 production was higher in NR patients although these datadid not reach statistical significance (p < 0.1). No significant differenceswere found in TNFα (14 vs. 7; p < 0.2).Conclusions: Cytokine T1 induced-response maintenanceduring combination treatment, measured as IFNγ production byCD8+ T lymphocytes, is associated with SVR and suggests thereplication control and later clearance of patients infected bygenotype-1 HCV

Allele frequencies of nine STR loci of Jewish and Arab populations in Israel.

DNA typing of nine short tandem repeat (STR) loci was carried out on unrelated Israeli Jewish and Arab individuals. All loci were highly polymorphic and the distribution of the obtained genotypes did not deviate from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. A comparison between Jewish and Arab population data revealed statistically significant differences in allele frequency distributions for some of the loci. The results presented in this study enable the use of these nine STR loci for forensic, identification and paternity cases in the Jewish and the Arab populations of Israel.

Survey on the use of complementary and alternative medicine among patients with headache syndromes.

The objective was to determine headache patients' knowledge, prevalence of use and perceived effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicine. Seventy-three patients with headache syndromes attending a head and neck pain clinic were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire. Alternative medical therapies were used by 85% of surveyed patients for the relief of their head pain. In 60%, the therapies were perceived to have a benefit. Almost 100% of the patients were familiar with one or more of the presented alternative treatments. Eighty-eight per cent perceived at least one of the complementary treatments to be an effective remedy for headache pain. Exposure to and interest in alternative treatments are common among patients with headache syndromes, despite the lack of scientific evidence of benefit and assessments of risks for many of the treatments. Neurologists and general physicians should be aware of the increasing role of alternative medicine in the healthcare system. There is still an urgent need for objective, integrative and critical research with regard to complementary and alternative medicine.

Threat mail and forensic science: DNA profiling from items of evidence after treatment with DFO.

Two cases of threatening letters with their accompanying envelopes were received to the Division of Forensic Identification unit of the Israel Police. The envelopes, including the stamps, and the letters were initially examined for latent fingerprints by the DFO reagent, known to cause degradation of DNA. Although no latent fingerprints could be visualized on any of the items, the biology laboratory using organic DNA extraction, was successful in defining genetic profiles from all the items employing six STR loci, even after treatment with DFO. In a controlled experiment, a known donor attached a stamp, by licking, to an envelope. This item was treated with DFO and then profiled using STR loci. The results showed that previous DFO treatment on the control stamp before DNA analysis had no negative effects on obtaining the DNA profile of the known donor using STR loci.

An evaluation of the relevance of routine DNA typing of fingernail clippings for forensic casework.

DNA extracted from fingernail clippings of victims in forensic cases is a possible source of DNA from the perpetrator in cases where victims struggled or defended themselves. The source of this DNA on a victim's fingernails could possibly originate from contact with the suspect's blood, saliva, semen or scratched skin. In this technical note we evaluate the relevance of routine DNA typing of fingernail clippings in the forensic biology laboratory when, in real casework, normally only small quantities of nail material is sent. This was carried out by extracting DNA from fingernail clippings from a number of volunteers, before and after aggressively scratching other volunteers. No blood was drawn from the scratching, but skin flakes were observed under the nails before cutting and subsequent DNA typing. The DNA extracted was then typed using the STR systems: HUMTHO1, HUMTPOX and HUMCSF1PO (CTT triplex) and the system of D1S80. These profiles were compared with profiles achieved by similar typing of buccal swabs as a reference from each volunteer. In this study, the profile detected from each volunteer's clippings was the same before and after scratching, and matched the profile of the corresponding volunteer as defined by typing each volunteer's reference buccal swab. Fingernail clippings that are sent to our lab in actual casework are usually so small that additional treatment by swabbing or removing debris from below the clipping is not possible. For this reason, in this simulation the entire clippings were used for DNA extraction, to maximize the possibility of finding an additional profile. In conclusion, the findings from this study show that although the profiles obtained when typing fingernail clippings are those of the donors themselves, we suggest that typing of fingernail clippings should be carried out in forensic cases only when relevant. We would suggest that fingernail clippings not be routinely sent to the biology laboratory as items of evidence to be tested.

Forensic identification of a rapist using unusual evidence.

This case report demonstrates a rape case, where no semen, hair, or fingerprints were left by the perpetrator at the crime scene, but rather uncharacteristic biological and physical evidence in the form of a lollipop and a pair of glasses. Three separate forensic laboratories collaborated using conventional forensic methods of PCR DNA typing, photography, and toolmark comparisons to provide investigators with scientific evidence which in turn was instrumental in bringing a violent criminal to justice. The importance of evaluating each item of evidence and realizing its forensic value is stressed in this case report.