An autopsy case of heart rupture from a scooter accident with 3 riders

A 15-year-old male died of cardiac rupture due to blunt chest trauma from a traffic accident involving a low-speed scooter carrying 3 people and a head-on collision with a tree. The victim was sitting on the footrest of the scooter. It was concluded that the victim was compressed between the handlebar of the scooter and the other 2 passengers, causing cardiac ruptures via bidirectional compression and intravascular hydrostatic pressure. The victim may have served as a cushion for the other 2 passengers, who were not thrown from the scooter and sustained only minor injuries.     

基于固定参数的汽车与行人碰撞计算机模拟实验

目的选定固定参数进行计算机模拟碰撞实验．分析不同车型、碰撞车速以及碰撞接触位置对事故过程及人体损伤情况的影响。方法基于多刚体动力学方法建立汽车（大客车、小客车、小轿车和货车）和人体模型,并按照不同碰撞车速（20、30、40、50和60km／h）和不同碰撞接触位置（行人正前方、侧方和正后方）进行模拟碰撞．分析碰撞运动过程以及生物力学响应情况（头部、颈部及下肢）。结果碰撞车型和碰撞接触位置一致的情况下碰撞过程相似（碰撞车速≤60km／h）．头部加速度、上颈部轴向受力以及下肢轴向受力呈现一定的生物力学响应规律。结论基于多刚体动力学方法的模拟碰撞技术研究可再现事故过程中人体的生物力学响应规律。     

Fatal falls from a height: two case studies

Two case studies are presented involving fatal falls of adult females from a height. One involved a launch at low speed from a balcony, and one involved a launch at high speed from the top of a cliff. Crime scene evidence obtained on the balcony itself provided a strong indication of homicide, but subsequent investigation showed that the fall was accidental. No crime scene evidence was obtained for the cliff fall since the fall initially appeared to be just another suicide from a popular suicide spot. Subsequent investigations indicated homicide based on measurements of cliff height, horizontal distance to the impact, and available runup distance, plus measurements of possible run, jump, and throw speeds. It was found that a female weighing 61 kg (134 lb) can be thrown at speeds up to 4.85 m/s by a strong male, more than enough to account for the estimated launch speed (4.5 m/s). Given the available 4.0 m runup distance, it was found that women of better than average rather than elite athletic ability can dive at speeds of about 3.5 m/s or jump feet first at speeds of about 4.0 m/s, both being less than the estimated launch speed. The decedent had no athletic ability and landed head first after falling through a height of 29 m.     

A traffic accident caused by fatigue failure of axle

An investigation of a traffic accident involving a tractor-trailer and a passenger car that were traveling at high speed is presented. The cause was the fracture of a trailer axle. The investigation showed that the fracture was because of the fatigue failure. In addition, cracks were found in the remaining three trailer wheels. Hardness measurements showed that, because of inadequate heat treatment of the metal, they were prone to failure.     

A typology of drivers' responses to speed cameras: Implications for speed limit enforcement and road safety

Abstract

Speeding is usually perceived as a minor crime but it is a major cause of road death. Reduced speeds should therefore lead to casualty reduction, and automatic speed cameras were introduced in England and Wales under the Road Traffic Act 1991 to help achieve this aim. A quasi-experimental study is described that assessed die impact of several kinds of speed camera deployment strategy in England on different types of driver. Twelve surveys were carried out in five police force areas, and more than 6800 drivels participated. While all modes of camera deployment led to lower speeds, driver types who ‘manipulated’ or ‘defied’ the cameras were least responsive to and respectful of than. Conversely, those who described themselves as ‘conforming’ to speed limits or ‘deterred’ by cameras approved of them most. Background characteristics of driver types, their perceptions of camera operation and behavioural responses to cameras arc discussed. The implications for speed limit enforcement and casualty reduction are considered in light of the findings.     

Kinematics of four methods of stabbing: a preliminary study

Despite considerable research and development into stab-resistant clothing, no data exists which provides valid data for knife-body contact speeds which may be used to ensure that an appropriate and standard protection level is provided. Such data can only be obtained by a quantitative kinematic analysis of the stabbing movement. Two-dimensional video techniques (50 Hz) were used to record images of subjects (n = 10) performing each of four stabbing actions; Long Over (LO), Long Under (LU), Short Over (SO), Short Under (SU). Images were digitised from a minimum of ten frames pre-, to at least six frames post-blade entry. A two-way analysis of variance applied to selected kinematic parameters revealed significantly higher (P < 0.01) blade entry speeds for LO and LU as compared to SO and SU, respectively. This was due to the extra distance over which knife speed could be increased in the former conditions. Significantly greater shoulder joint angular velocities were found for LU and SU conditions, whilst for the elbow joint, conditions LO and SO were significantly greater (P = 0.000008). This suggests that the entry speeds during LO and SO are derived from a greater contribution from elbow extensor muscles, whilst those for LU and SU are derived from a greater contribution from the shoulder flexors. It was concluded that two separate kinematic strategies were employed by subjects, and that the maximum speed which may be generated during stabbing is influenced by the manner in which the knife is held.     

Sterilisation of the intellectually disabled: the need for legislative reform

This article examines the recent decision of the Full Court of the Family Court in Re Marion dealing with the question of sterilisation of intellectually disabled minors and in particular, the question of whether a parent or guardian can lawfully consent to a sterilisation operation upon an intellectually disabled minor or whether court approval is required before such an operation can lawfully be performed. The article goes on to critically examine legislation in force in various Australian jurisdictions concerning involuntary sterilisations and substituted consent as well as legislative reforms that have been proposed in this area.     

Crime, Prison, and Female Labor Supply

This paper introduces the vector autoregressive (VAR) methodology into themainstream of applied criminological research as an alternative to theestimation of structural models of crime. The paper presents cointegrationtest statistics for a second-order VAR of crime, prison population, femalelabor force participation, and durable consumption. Our results for theimpact of imprisonment on the crime rate are similar to Levitt's (1996)and substantially larger than previous estimates (e.g., Marvell and Moody,1994). We find that the short-run response of the crime rate to increasedlabor force participation of women is larger than the long-run effect. Theimplication is that major social changes, like the increased labor supply ofwomen, may have surprising impacts and that social institutions may takesome substantial period of time to adjust to such major changes.     

Utilized coefficient of friction during walking: static estimates exceed measured values

This study compared utilized coefficient of friction (COF) measured during nonslip pedestrian gait to estimated utilized COF values calculated using anthropometric (i.e., leg length) and stride characteristic data (i.e., impact angle, step length). Twenty healthy adults walked at slow, medium, and fast speeds with kinematic and kinetic data recorded simultaneously. Estimated and measured impact angle varied with walking speed, with greater angles evident with faster speeds (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). The estimated impact angle was greater than the measured impact angle (p < 0.05). Estimated and measured peak utilized COF values varied with walking speed, with higher utilized COF values evident with faster speeds (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). Estimated utilized COF values were 86, 118, and 131% greater than measured peak utilized COF values for slow, medium, and fast speeds, respectively (p < 0.001). Higher estimated utilized COF values varied moderately with increased measured peak utilized COF values (r = 0.522; p < 0.001). These data suggest that impact angle and step length alone cannot be used to accurately assess the utilized COF on level walking surfaces.     

Examination of lightbulb filaments after a car crash: difficulties in interpreting the results

A drunk car driver was involved in a fatal crash with a scooter at night. Examination of the lightbulbs from the vehicles revealed some mechanical and analytical incompatibilities. The laboratory's initial observations led to complementary police investigations which finally solved the first incompatibility. The different precautions taken by the technical police investigators on the crime scene finally allowed the forensic scientists to establish the functional state of the lightbulbs during the crash.     

Unusual basal skull fracture in a vehicle equipped with an air bag

A woman who was the lap/shoulder belt-restrained driver of a car equipped with a full-size air bag was involved in an oblique frontal collision with a tractor-trailer combination. She was extremely out of position, i.e., witnessed to be slumped over the steering wheel before impact. This preimpact positioning led to fatal injuries resulting from the inflating air bag. Postmortem examination showed an unusual partial ring fracture of the base of the skull, which to the authors' knowledge has not previously been reported.     

骑跨伤在机动车碰撞自行车事故中的特征及生物力学分析

目的以真实案例为基础,研究自行车与机动车碰撞交通事故中,不同机动车型、交通方式等因子造成自行车骑车人下肢内侧骑跨伤的特征,分析其生物力学机制。方法选取上海地区发生的自行车与机动车碰撞交通事故案例140例,全面收集现场、自行车、机动车、人体、交通方向等信息,运用回顾性研究方法分析,同时,选取其中典型案例,通过计算机仿真技术模拟事故发生过程,提取人体各受伤部位的动力学响应数值,如加速度、力和力矩等,与案例研究结果对比。结果全部事故中出现骑跨伤与无骑跨伤案例频数相等;侧面撞击与前后方向撞击骑跨伤的发生情况无显著性差别;大型车辆撞击事故中出现骑跨伤频率较低;骑跨伤的发生频率随车速加大而增高;就骑跨伤的分布来说,撞击侧下肢骑跨伤位置低(链条、脚蹬管等损伤),而对侧骑跨伤位置高(鞍座损伤),在小型车辆撞击时该特点更明显。结论分析自行车骑车人的骑跨伤特征和生物力学机制有望对道路交通行为方式鉴定提供新依据。     

Situational and officer-based determinants of police coercion

Using data collected as part of an observational study of the police in Indianapolis, Indiana, and St. Petersburg, Florida, this article examines police use of force to gain a better understanding of why the police resort to force. Like analyses from previous observational studies, the present inquiry borrows from both sociological and psychological theoretical orientations to explore various determinants of force. Unlike previous examinations, the universe of behaviors considered is substantially expanded to include numerous types or levels of force, ranging from verbal commands and threats to the use of impact methods. An ordered probit analysis of 3,116 police-suspect encounters shows that officers often respond to legal stimuli (e.g., suspects' resistance, safety concerns) when applying force. Countering previous findings, it found that officers were not more coercive toward disrespectful suspects. However, the analysis revealed that officers were also influenced by extra-legal factors. Male, nonwhite, poor, and younger suspects were all treated more forcefully, irrespective of their behavior. In addition, encounters involving inexperienced and less-educated officers resulted in increased levels of police force. The implications of these findings, for both policy and future research, are considered.     

水泥地面上滴落状血迹形态的模拟实验

目的观察水泥地面上不同高度、速度对滴落状血迹的形态和大小,应用于现场勘验。方法采用等量抗凝人血,在静态和动态条件下,进行滴落状血迹的模拟实验,观察血迹的形态,测量其直径,用专业统计软件进行分析。结果在静态条件下,滴落状血迹呈圆形,其周围有毛刺状突起;滴落状血迹的大小(直径)与滴落高度之间有较好的线性关系,可得出回归方程。在慢走、急走、跑、快跑动态条件下,滴落状血迹为圆形或椭圆形,沿运动方向的一侧出现突起;高度、速度分别对血迹形态有影响,而且两者有交互作用。结论滴落状血迹形态和大小的观察和测量,可用推断出血部位的高度、运动速度和方向。     

A five-year study of mortality in a busy ski population.

A 5-year study of a busy ski population in Utah revealed a total at-risk period of approximately 3.5 million skier-days. While the morbidity (fractures, strains, sprains, and occasionally more severe injuries) associated with skiing is well recognized and considered by most physicians concerned to be distributed somewhat unevenly within the various skills of skiing, the authors have identified an exceedingly low mortality among the same population. Six individuals died as a result of injuries directly attributable to skiing. Three of these were considered to be advanced skiers and three were of intermediate skill. In three instances the environment was considered to play a role in the accident. Two of these victims were skiing out of control, one as a result of ice-covered snow and one as a result of speed in combination with a small jump. The third victim was crushed in an avalanche. One accident was completely unexplained, the skier having skied without apparent attempt at checking or change of course into a nonrecreational area. The two remaining skiers of intermediate skill both suffered injuries incident to falling forward with considerable force onto a relatively flat, hard snow surface. Notwithstanding the intense and sometimes prolonged exertion at relatively high altitudes (9,400 to 11,000 ft or 2.9 to 3.3 km), only one skier with a previous history of atherosclerotic heart disease died while skiing. One additional middle-aged skier with similar history died at the conclusion of the day.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Implementing the Mental Health Act 2007 in British general practice: Lessons from Ireland

Changes in mental health legislation (e.g. Mental Health Act 2007 in England and Wales, Mental Health Act 2001 in Ireland) have generally improved adherence to international human rights standards, but also present challenges to primary care providers. When mental health legislation was substantially reformed in Ireland, 62.9% of general practitioners (GPs) felt the new legislation was not user-friendly. Majorities of GPs who felt the legislation affected their practice reported increased workloads (85%) and various other difficulties (53%). GPs who had received training about the legislation were more likely to find it user-friendly (43% versus 30.9%), and informal training (e.g. from colleagues) was just as likely as formal training to be associated with a GP finding it user-friendly. With similar changes to mental health legislation being introduced in England and Wales, it is significant that informal training is just as good as formal training in helping GPs work with new mental health legislation.     

Applying Kalman Filter on Solving Simultaneous Equations with Overidentifying Rank Restrictions: The Analysis of the Demand and Supply Model of Medium-size Scooter Market in Taiwan

Once the structure form of demand and supply is translated into areduced form, one can solve the reduced form with a state space modelof the Kalman filter method. This paper discusses an innovationrepresentation that links the structure form with the state space model.For the state space model, the recursive Expectation Maximization(EM) algorithm is used to estimate the parameters of a structure form.This research successfully applied the Kalman filter method to theestimation of the coefficients of simultaneous equations withoveridentifying rank restrictions. The empirical monthly data set camefrom the medium-size scooter market in Taiwan during 1987 to 1992period.     

Preventing Genocide: Measuring Success by What Does Not Happen

Although the concept of genocide prevention is recognized in international jurisprudence and the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine, its content remains vague and peripheral to legal scholarship and policy-making. Effective prevention is particularly challenging to grasp because success must be measured by what does not happen. Reaction to mass-atrocities must be replaced by early warning and rapid engagement through modest and feasible measures. With escalating violence, there may be greater attention to a situation, but also less willingness to intervene as humanitarian intervention through force and similar means becomes increasingly costly. A better understanding of the norms, institutions, and tools within reasonable reach of decision-makers is essential to translating genocide prevention from an elusive ideal into reality. This article evaluates and elucidates the law and practice of early warning and genocide prevention. First, the far-reaching potential of a preventive approach is illustrated based on the example of Rwanda where measures as modest as jamming radio broadcasts inciting hatred could have substantially constrained genocidal violence. Second, scholarship on the indicia and prediction of mass atrocities will be explored with a view to understanding the timeliness of action. Third, the legal and institutional dimensions of an obligation to prevent genocide and other mass-crimes will be addressed with a focus on recent developments within the UN system. And fourth, success stories from Macedonia, Côte d??Ivoire and Burundi will be examined in order to demonstrate the practical impact of early warning and prevention