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The DNA contamination of evidentiary trace samples, included those collected in the autopsy room, has significant detrimental consequences for forensic genetics investigation. After the COVID-19 pandemic, methods to prevent environmental contamination in the autopsy room have been developed and intensified. This study aimed to evaluate the level of human DNA contamination of a postmortem examination facility before and after the introduction of COVID-19-related disinfection and cleaning procedures. Ninety-one swabs were collected from the surfaces and the dissecting instruments, analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR (q-PCR) and typed for 21 autosomal STRs. Sixty-seven out of 91 samples resulted in quantifiable human DNA, ranging from 1 pg/μl to 12.4 ng/μl, including all the samples collected before the implementation of COVID-19 cleaning procedures (n = 38) and 29 out of 53 (54.7%) samples taken afterward. All samples containing human DNA were amplified, resulting in mixed (83.6%), single (13.4%), and incomplete (3%) profiles. A statistically significant decrease in DNA contamination was found for dissecting instruments after treatment with chlorhexidine and autoclave (p 0.05). Environmental decontamination strategies adopted during COVID-19 pandemic only partially solved the long-standing issue of DNA contamination of postmortem examination facilities. The pandemic represents an opportunity to further stress the need for standardized evidence-based protocols targeted to overcome the problem of DNA contamination in the autopsy room.

Der sich seit Jahren durchgesetzte Begriff des Literaturtransfers wird hier aus verschiedenen Perspektiven besprochen. Es geht um die Möglichkeit der Erschließung von Texten, um die Rezeption seitens des Publikums, um das Editionswesen und nicht zuletzt um die Kunst des Übersetzens. Der achte Band enthält Beiträge zu folgenden Themen: - Der Taugenichts bei, vor und seit Eichendorff in Deutschland und anderswo; - Edition und Interpretation; - Übersetzungen literarischer Texte und deren Edition; - Modelle, Figuren und Praktiken des deutsch-italienischen Literaturtransfers; - Florenz und die Deutsch-Florentiner. Eine Austauschbühne zwischen Risorgimento und Gründerzeit

Das Schicksal der Flüchtlinge auf ihrem Weg über das Mittelmeer wird in Liebe deinen Nächsten (2017) lebhaft gezeigt, in dem Gaby von Borstel und Peter Eickmeyer ihre dreiwöchige Erfahrung auf einem Rettungsschiff wiedergeben. Die Spannung zwischen Sprache, Schrift und Bild, der wechselnde Gehalt des Pronomens ‚wir‘ und des Substantivs ‚Meer‘, die entscheidende Rolle des Erzählens, das Zusammenspiel zwischen dem Buch und dem Blog der Autoren, der praktische Nutzen des Bandes für eine Spendenaktion sind einige bedeutende Aspekte dieser Graphic Novel, die zeigen, wie vielseitig und kraftvoll die Darstellung der „fragmentierten Flucht nach Europa“ (B. Etzold) ist, die Liebe deinen Nächsten dem Leser anbietet.

Femicide is defined as the gender-related killings of women and girls or as an any intentional murder of women and it represents a worldwide health issue. Although it has gained a growing attention across the public and the media, true data on its prevalence and a characterization of the phenomenon are still scarce. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the characteristics of female homicides and femicides, which are necessary to design and monitor effective preventive efforts. Post-mortem examination reports of female homicides occurred in the judicial district of Bologna over a period of 70 years were revised. Characteristics of victims and perpetrators, circumstantial and post-mortem data were extracted. Overall, 172 female homicides were observed, including 103 femicides, with no significant changes over time. The mean age of victims increased over time and showed a statistically significant association with the victim-perpetrator relationship. Homicides committed by non-intimate partner family members increased. Our study unveiled that, in the past decades, femicide was a hidden but constant social phenomenon, despite the social, cultural and juridical changes. The research in forensic pathology could help bring to light trends, characteristics and risk factors to be considered for strategies to counteract violence against women.