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Background The war in Syria caused the forced displacement of millions of Syrians to neighboring countries. Lebanon is the host country with the largest overall number of Syrian refugees per capita. Adolescent refugee girls experience a unique level of vulnerability during human emergencies and are at increased risk of suffering from poor sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes. We conducted an exploratory qualitative study to learn about the SRH perceptions and experiences of refugee adolescent girls living in Bourj Hammoud, an urban setting in Lebanon. Methods We employed a qualitative design with eight focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted with 40 Syrian Arab and Syrian Kurdish adolescent girls between January and March 2020. Every FGD consisted of five participants aged 13 to 17 years. A semi-structured guide was used covering multiple themes: menstruation, puberty, SRH awareness, and sexual harassment. FGDs were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings The participants discussed adolescent girls’ health and named six elements of good health, such as healthy activities and self-protection. The majority of the FGD participants reported a lack of awareness about menstruation when they experienced it for the first time and the social stigma associated with menstruation. When defining puberty, they indicated its social link to a girl’s readiness for marriage and her need to become cautious about sexual harassment. Most FGD participants had very poor knowledge of the female reproductive system. Mothers were the most approached persons to receive information on SRH issues; however, the girls indicated a wish to receive advice from specialists in a comfortable and private atmosphere. All the girls reported that either they themselves, or an acquaintance, had experienced some type of sexual harassment. The girls rarely reported those incidents due to fear of being blamed or subjected to mobility restrictions, or forced to drop out of school. Conclusions The findings show the refugee girls need for satisfactory knowledge on SRH issues and interventions to prevent sexual and gender-based violence that take into consideration the complexity of urban settings. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12978-021-01178-9., Plain language summary After almost 10 years of war, Syria’s neighboring countries are hosting millions of Syrians who were forcibly displaced. Most prominent among these countries is Lebanon. Adolescent refugee girls are exposed to precarious conditions, which make them more prone to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) problems. This qualitative study was performed in Bourj Hammoud, an urban setting in Lebanon, in order to explore Syrian refugee adolescent girls’ SRH perceptions and experiences. The agenda of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in addition to the Inter-Agency Field Manual on Reproductive Health in Humanitarian Settings (IAFM) and its Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Toolkit for Humanitarian Settings issued by the Inter-Agency Working Group on Reproductive Health in Crises (IAWG) formed the framework of this study. Focus group discussions were performed with 40 Syrian Arab and Syrian Kurdish adolescent girls, each group consisting of five participants aged 13 to 17 years. Different themes were discussed within the groups including menstruation, puberty, and sexual harassment. The participants talked about the social stigma related to menstruation and the social link between puberty, a girl’s readiness for marriage, and her need to be careful about sexual harassment. Most of the girls had insufficient information about the female reproductive system. The girls consulted their mothers to learn about SRH issues; however, they expressed a wish to receive well-informed advice from specialists in a safe atmosphere. All the girls reported incidents of sexual harassment, which happened either to them or to other girls they know; however, they were discouraged to report them because they feared other consequences, such as being blamed or not being allowed to go to school anymore. The outcomes of the study show the girls’ urgent need to have adequate information about SRH issues and appropriate interventions to prevent sexual and gender-based violence within complex urban settings. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12978-021-01178-9.

Collection of touch DNA from an offender on the victim's skin can provide relevant evidence for investigations of criminal cases. Therefore, the choice of the optimal sample collection method is crucial. In this study, we investigated the recovery of STR profiles from touch DNA on human skin by comparing nine different collection methods: the dry and wet cotton swabs in three different movements, the double-swab (wet-dry) method, the wet and dry Copan FLOQSwabs™, and the Scene Safe FAST™ minitapes. Mock assault scenarios were conducted with a male offender grasping the forearms of a female victim. Samples were collected from the assaulted area of the victim's skin, and the recovery of the offender's STR profile was evaluated. Our results indicate that the different swabs and swabbing techniques did not have a distinct impact on the STR recovery; however, the lowest STR recovery was achieved with Scene Safe FAST™ minitapes. In addition, we compared the double-swab method to the single-swab method by analyzing the DNA quantity of the wet and dry swabs separately. We found on average 13.7% more offender DNA using the double-swab method, but this did not translate into higher STR recovery. Our findings indicate that several methods perform equally well when collecting touch DNA from human skin, although SceneSafe FAST™ minitapes seem to be the least adequate for this purpose.

The most discriminating method that is currently applied in routine forensic elemental analysis of glass is laser ablation in combination with quadrupole or sector field based inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) following the standard method ASTM E2927-16E1. Due to the sequential measurement method, sample size constraints of approximately 400 μm × 200 μm × 100 μm with six individual measurements have been reported to provide optimum parameters for glass discrimination. The necessary sample size is given by the spot size, number of laser pulses per replicate and number of replicate measurements. In this study, a single-pulse laser ablation inductively coupled plasma time of flight mass spectrometry (Single-Pulse LA-ICP-TOFMS) method was developed and applied for the matching and mismatching of forensic float glass evidence. 110 laser pulses with an ablation spot diameter of 90 μm were applied to float glass fragments of a size below 400 μm in diameter. 18 elements were quantified from each individual laser pulse in order to compare the corresponding concentrations between various glass fragments. In contrast to previous work, a modified 5-sigma criterion was used to successfully match fragments from the same source and mismatch fragments from differing sources. The data set generated within this study demonstrates new capabilities when using quasi simultaneous signal detection and reduced the necessary sample volume from 400 μm × 200 μm × 100 μm to 100 μm × 100 μm × 33 μm, which corresponds to a reduction in sample material from 20 μg to 0.8 μg. The proof of concept is shown for the application of a single-pulse based method for glass fragment analysis in a forensic context, which would allow the measurement of smaller fragments than previously possible., Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 35 (10), ISSN:0267-9477, ISSN:1364-5544

To analyze possible influencing factors on radiation exposure in pediatric chest CT using different approaches for radiation dose optimization and to determine major indicators for dose development. In this retrospective study at a clinic with maximum care facilities including pediatric radiology, 1695 chest CT examinations in 768 patients (median age: 10 years; range: 2 days to 17.9 years) were analyzed. Volume CT dose indices, effective dose, size-specific dose estimate, automatic dose modulation (AEC), and high-pitch protocols (pitch ≥ 3.0) were evaluated by univariate analysis. The image quality of low-dose examinations was compared to higher dose protocols by non-inferiority testing. Median dose-specific values annually decreased by an average of 12 %. High-pitch mode (n = 414) resulted in lower dose parameters (p 0.001). In unenhanced CT, AEC delivered higher dose values compared to scans with fixed parameters (p 0.001). In contrast-enhanced CT, the use of AEC yielded a significantly lower radiation dose only in patients older than 16 years (p = 0.04). In the age group 6 to 15 years, the values were higher (p 0.001). The diagnostic image quality of low-dose scans was non-inferior to high-dose scans (2.18 vs. 2.14). Radiation dose of chest CT was reduced without loss of image quality in the last decade. High-pitch scanning was an independent factor in this context. Dose reduction by AEC was limited and only relevant for patients over 16 years.· The radiation dose of pediatric chest CT was reduced in the last decade.. · High-pitch scanning is an independent factor of dose optimization.. · Dose reduction by AEC is limited and only relevant for older children..· Esser M, Hess S, Teufel M et al. Radiation Dose Optimization in Pediatric Chest CT: Major Indicators of Dose Exposure in 1695 CT Scans over Seven Years. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2018; 190: 1131 - 1140.ZIEL: Analyse möglicher Einflussfaktoren auf die Strahlenexposition bei der Thorax-CT des Kindes unter Anwendung verschiedener Methoden der Dosisoptimierung und Bestimmung von Kenngrößen für die Dosisentwicklung. In dieser retrospektiven Studie an einer Klinik der Maximalversorgung einschließlich einer Abteilung für Kinderradiologie wurden 1695 Thorax-CTs von 768 Patienten (mittleres Alter, 10 Jahre; Spannweite, zwei Tage bis 17,9 Jahre) analysiert. Volumen-CT-Dosisindex, effektive Dosis und size-specific dose estimate, automatische Dosismodulation (AEC), sowie High-Pitch-Protokolle (Pitch ≥ 3,0) wurden mittels univariater Analyse ausgewertet. Die Bildqualität von Niedrigdosis-Untersuchungen wurde zu Protokollen mit höherer Dosis mittels „Non-Inferiority“-Analyse verglichen. Die medianen Dosiswerte sanken pro Jahr um durchschnittlich 12 %. Untersuchungen mit High-Pitch-Modus (n = 414) lieferten geringere Dosiswerte (p 0,001). In nativen Untersuchungen mit AEC ergaben sich höhere Dosiswerte im Vergleich zu Untersuchungen mit manuell festgelegten Parametern (p 0,001). In kontrastangehobenen CTs erzielte die AEC nur bei Patienten über 16 Jahren signifikant niedrigere Dosiswerte (p = 0,04). Im Alter von 6 bis 15 Jahren waren die Dosiswerte mit AEC höher (p 0,001). Die diagnostische Bildqualität von Niedrigdosis-Untersuchungen war den CTs mit höherer Dosis nicht unterlegen (2,18 vs. 2,14). Im letzen Jahrzehnt wurden die Dosiswerte der Thorax-CT ohne Verlust der Bildqualität reduziert. High-Pitch-Protokolle sind in diesem Zusammenhang ein unabhängiger Einflussfaktor. Die Dosisreduktion mittels AEC war beschränkt und nur für Patienten über 16 Jahren relevant.· Im letzten Jahrzehnt konnte die Strahlendosis der Thorax-CT bei Kindern reduziert werden.. · Die Untersuchung mit hohen Pitch-Werten ist ein unabhängiger Faktor der Dosisoptimierung.. · Die Dosisreduktion der AEC ist beschränkt und nur für ältere Kinder relevant..

Molecular analysis of the RNA transcriptome from a putative tissue fragment should permit assignment to a specific organ since each tissue will exhibit a unique pattern of gene expression. Determination of the organ source of tissues from crime scenes may aid in shooting and stabbing investigations. We have developed a new prototype massively parallel sequencing (MPS) mRNA profiling assay for organ tissue identification, designed to definitively identify 13 organ/tissue types using a targeted panel of 48 mRNA biomarkers. The identifiable organs and tissues include brain, spinal cord, lung, trachea, liver, skeletal muscle, heart, kidney, adipose, intestine, stomach, skin and spleen. The biomarkers were chosen after iterative specificity testing of numerous candidate genes in various tissue types. The assay is very specific with little cross reactivity with non-targeted tissue, and can detect RNA mixtures from different tissues, including two- to five-tissue admixtures. The sensitivity of the assay was evaluated as well as assay reproducibility between library preparations and sequencing runs. We also demonstrate the ability of the assay to successfully identify the tissue source of origin in cadaver samples, tissue samples with varying post mortem intervals (PMI) and mock and bona fide casework samples. We are using the data to train a multivariate statistical model that predicts the tissue type based on the mRNA profile. By considering co-expression of markers the model can recognize distinct expression patterns in each tissue.

Trace DNA is often found in forensic science investigations. Experience has shown that it is difficult to retrieve a DNA profile when trace DNA is collected from clothing. The aim of this study was to compare four different DNA collection techniques on six different types of clothing in order to determine the best trace DNA recovery method. The classical stain recovery technique using a wet cotton swab was tested against dry swabbing, scraping and a new method, referred to as the mini-tape lifting technique. Physical contact was simulated with three different "perpetrators" on 18 machine-washed garments. DNA was collected with the four different DNA recovery methods and subjected to standard PCR-based DNA profiling. The comparison of STR results showed best results for the mini-tape lifting and scraping methods independent of the type of clothing. The new mini-tape lifting technique proved to be an easy and reliable DNA collection method for textiles.

Was this group of target fibers transferred during a criminal action? Is it possible that it was transferred during another legitimate activity? Acquiring knowledge about the activity, whether legitimate or criminal, leading to the transfer of a group of fibers is a recurring challenge encountered throughout the evidence interpretation process. Trace evidence such as fibers may assist with generating a reasoning of the activity which produced the trace, but this assumes that one already has a thorough understanding of the transfer phenomenon. How to generate and then use such relevant knowledge? What are the influencing parameters and which ones should (or can) be controlled? The present work focuses on homicides by smothering using a pillow and the transfer of fibers on the face of the victim in such events. A legitimate activity – represented by a night’s sleep on a pillow – was also investigated since such legitimate, alternative explanations concerning the presence of fibers could likely be formulated by the suspect. The number and distribution of fibers transferred onto the victim’s face in either scenario were investigated and interpreted using a Bayesian approach. Results showed that the shedding capacity of the pillowcase strongly impact the number of fibers recovered. The nature of the action, modus operandi and amount of friction could not be excluded in their influence on the transfer of fibers. Finally, likelihood ratios indicating the number of fibers recovered from the victim’s face can provide relevant information by supporting either criminal or legitimate proposition (i.e., smothering or night’s sleep scenario).