A review of the use of sus scrofa as an analogue to human decomposition studies

Taphonomy comes from the Greek word taphos (τάφος) meaning grave but has more commonly been accepted as the study of an organism from the time of its death to the point of its discovery. A multifaceted area, it incorporates decomposition, burial, transportations, and the chemical, physical, and biological factors that go alongside. In many experimental studies, animals are used as analogues when human remains are either unavailable or unlicensed. At research facilities across the globe, such as the Wrexham Glyndŵr University’s Forensic Science and Crime Scene Research Area, other easily accessible mammals are used in the place of human cadavers. Most research is commonly conducted on pigs, rabbits, mice, or rats, either dealing with the carcass as a whole or select anatomic sections, for example, trotters. The choice of these is often dependent on the cost, availability, and scale of the experiment. While these studies present intriguing patterns, there is still a need for research conducted within human samples, using larger sample sizes, and in differing environments. Additionally, longitudinal studies are warranted in dry areas where desiccation occurs, and bodies take much longer than 5 months to skeletonize. With further research, it may be possible in the future to use animal models as accurate analogues for human cadavers to measure specific measurements. For example, pigs have shown similar insect successions to humans, and insects of forensic interest are also common to dog. It may become possible to tailor decomposition studies using animal models to more precisely mimic specific artifacts of human decomposition

Abstracts of the International Halal Science Conference 2023

This book presents the extended abstracts of the selected contributions to the International Halal Science Conference, held on 22-23 August 2023 by the International Institute for Halal Research and Training (INHART), IIUM, Malaysia in collaboration with Halalan Thayyiban Research Centre, University Islam Sultan Sharif (UNISSA), Brunei Darussalam. With the increasing global interest in halal products and services, this conference is timely. Conference Title:  International Halal Science ConferenceConference Acronym: IHASC23Conference Theme: Halal Industry Sustainability Through ScienceConference Date: 22-23 August 2023Conference Venue: International Islamic University (IIUM), MalaysiaConference Organizer: International Institute for Halal Research and Training (INHART), International Islamic University (IIUM), Malaysi

Comprehensive genomic characterization defines human glioblastoma genes and core pathways

Human cancer cells typically harbour multiple chromosomal aberrations, nucleotide substitutions and epigenetic modifications that drive malignant transformation. The Cancer Genome Atlas ( TCGA) pilot project aims to assess the value of large- scale multi- dimensional analysis of these molecular characteristics in human cancer and to provide the data rapidly to the research community. Here we report the interim integrative analysis of DNA copy number, gene expression and DNA methylation aberrations in 206 glioblastomas - the most common type of primary adult brain cancer - and nucleotide sequence aberrations in 91 of the 206 glioblastomas. This analysis provides new insights into the roles of ERBB2, NF1 and TP53, uncovers frequent mutations of the phosphatidylinositol- 3- OH kinase regulatory subunit gene PIK3R1, and provides a network view of the pathways altered in the development of glioblastoma. Furthermore, integration of mutation, DNA methylation and clinical treatment data reveals a link between MGMT promoter methylation and a hypermutator phenotype consequent to mismatch repair deficiency in treated glioblastomas, an observation with potential clinical implications. Together, these findings establish the feasibility and power of TCGA, demonstrating that it can rapidly expand knowledge of the molecular basis of cancer