Traumatic Death in Ankylosing Spondylitis

Abstract: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic rheumatic disease that causes spinal rigidity with an increased risk of spinal fractures. We present a case report where a middle‐aged man, in apparent good health, died following a fall from his bike. Postmortem computed tomography (CT) showed several fractures in the cervical and thoracic spine, with displacement into the spinal canal as well as spinal changes consistent with AS. The cause of death was determined to be upper spinal cord injury caused by cervical spinal fractures that were facilitated by spinal rigidity from AS. Further investigation into the medical records revealed that the decedent had previously been treated for AS. This case report illustrates the importance of obtaining a detailed medical history when investigating deaths, including nonfatal conditions, such as AS. Furthermore, it shows the value of CT in the evaluation of the mechanism and manner of death.     

An alternative approach to Computerized Tomography (CT) in forensic pathology

Computerized Tomography (CT) is used by some forensic pathology departments as a supplement to the forensic autopsy. Departments with a limited number of autopsies may find it relatively expensive to acquire and operate a CT-scanner. Furthermore, it requires a great deal of training and experience to interpret the radiological data. We are currently evaluating CT in order to decide whether the benefits match the efforts. In selected death-investigations the Department of Radiology at Aarhus University Hospital performs CT of the body on behalf of the Institute of Forensic Medicine at Aarhus University and a skilled radiologist interprets the data. We present our radiological findings in the 20 cases where we have used CT and compare them to the autopsy findings. The cases include fatalities from beatings, stabbings, gunshots, fires and traffic accidents. CT is an excellent tool for documenting and illustrating certain lesions, such as gunshot wounds and bone fractures, where we can obtain information that possibly would have been missed at the autopsy. We believe, however, that further research is required before we can recommend CT as a part of a standard forensic autopsy. The cooperation between forensic and radiological departments is a good approach for smaller forensic departments that insures a skilled interpretation without having to divert a lot of resources to equipment and training.     

Reactions to Crime as a Hierarchy Regulating Strategy: The Moderating Role of Social Dominance Orientation

Across two studies, we demonstrated that support for group-based hierarchies differentially affects evaluation of ingroup and outgroup criminal offenders and that this effect generalizes to overall evaluations of their respective groups. Drawing on social dominance theory, our results show that differential judgments of national ingroup and immigrant outgroup offenders reflect hierarchy regulating strategies. Study 1 (N = 94) revealed that egalitarians (low on SDO) were more lenient toward outgroup offenders and their ethnic group (Arab immigrants) when compared to ingroup offenders and their national group (Swiss citizens). The opposite was true for social dominators (high on SDO). Study 2 (N = 88) replicated the results of Study 1 and further demonstrated that the socio-economic status of the perpetrator did not affect perpetrator group evaluations suggesting that the arbitrary sets of ethnicity or nationality, not education level and employment status, were the important cues for hierarchy-regulating judgments of criminal offenders.     

Co-producing safety in the local community: A Q-methodology study on the incentives of Belgian and Dutch members of neighbourhood watch schemes

This study aims to explain citizens’ engagement in co-production activities in the domain of community safety. We use a multiple case study design by looking at neighbourhood watch schemes in Belgium and the Netherlands. We applied Q-methodology to map the opinions of citizens about their co-productive efforts, and to cluster these opinions into co-producers’ profiles. Discussing differences and similarities in profiles enables a more generalised understanding of the reasons why people co-produce. We conclude with some policy-relevant points about incentivation when local governments want to achieve an increase in citizen co-production.     

Electrical and thermal injuries in pig skin — Evaluated and compared by light microscopy

The morphology of pig skin after electrical (el) and thermal exposure was studied in order to find methods applicable for disclosing electrical torture.Biopsies from pig skin exposed 24 hours earlier to either heat or electrical current under general anesthesia were studied by light microscopy. The amount of energy used of either type ranged from about 6 to about 100 joule deposited on two circular areas of the skin measuring 12 mm in diameter.In sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin alterations were found in heat-influenced specimens following the administration of moderate and large doses of energy. Changes were observed in el-influenced specimens also after the administration of low amounts of energy, which did not lead to macroscopical changes in the skin. The two types of energy induced different patterns of alterations inside the epidermis. The most characteristic change following heat exposure was the presence of a granular or fibrillar eosinophilic cytoplasm and subepidermal clefts, while el-expoure often produced white homogeneous cytoplasm and shadowy nuclei (“white necrosis”) in the attached epidermis. The individual changes could be produced by both types of injury, but to a highly different degree. However, the alteration classified as “vesicular nuclei” was only observed in el-damaged skin. The dermis from the more severely injured skin of both groups showed a homogeneous appearance (“necrosis”). While the changes of epidermis and dermis in response to heat were diffusely distributed, the changes created by electrical injury were often present in segments. By electrical damage homogeneous areas with loss of stainability and shadowy nuclei were occasionally observed in sweat glands, hair sheaths and in vessel walls, structures which are suggested to serve as conductors for the electrical current. “Vesicular nuclei” were observed in similar structures.Some of the findings may be associated with differences in intensity of energy during exposure to heat and electricity. Furthermore, the existence of different biological patterns following the two types of exposure should be considered. The studies are being continued to elucidate these basic questions, and to study further the medical diagnostic potential of examining skin biopsies from tortured individuals.     

Tracing the use of electrical torture

With the aim of being able to trace skin sequelae to electrical torture, an interdisciplinary group of scientists (the "electrical group" of Anti-Torture Research, ATR) has performed controlled morphological studies on skin biopsies from experiments with fully anesthetized pigs. "Vesicular nuclei" in epidermis and a characteristic pattern of collagen calcification in dermis were found to be typical of electrical damage. These alterations were produced by alternating current as well as by direct current.     

Assessing and Appraising the Effects of Policy for Wicked Issues: Including Unforeseen Achievements in the Evaluation of the District Policy for Deprived Areas in The Netherlands

Urban regeneration is often acknowledged as a wicked policy issue that produces unanticipated outcomes. Most methods for policy evaluation treat those effects as flaws of planning or neglect them. We argue that wickedness is an inherent aspect of many policy issues and that it should be integrated in efforts to assess and appraise the effects of policy. We use a case of urban regeneration projects in The Netherlands to study how the unanticipated and unforeseen consequences of policy were accounted—or neglected—in the evaluation methods. Also, we present an alternative approach that takes into account the “by-effects” of policy.     

Informal socialization in public organizations: Exploring the impact of informal socialization on enforcement behaviour of Dutch veterinary inspectors

Organizations try to socialize employees' behaviour through formal practices such as training programmes and selection procedures. This article focuses on how times of informal socialization, outside the organization's direct sphere of influence, impact the behaviour of employees. The research is based on data from 67 semi‐structured interviews with Dutch veterinary inspectors in a cross‐sectional and a longitudinal panel. Their work is characterized by intensive and at times adverse contact with inspectees, yet limited interaction with their colleagues. The results show that informal socialization has an important impact on the organizational socialization of inspectors, and provides further insights into the dynamic interplay between formal socialization practices and informal socialization. In addition, the research provides empirical evidence for the role of emotional processes in organizational socialization.