Criteria of personal identification by the hyoid bone

We studied 16 sizes of the hyoid bone (HB) from 158 corpses of known gender, Russians, who had died at the age over 15 years by the K. Miller et al program (1998) and 205 back projection electroroentgenograms of the neck of patients of the traumatological hospital in the town of Kirov. HB skeletization was made by the enzymatic drug enzyme. SPSS package and multidimentional statistics (regression and discriminant analyses) were used for data processing. It was established that HB is an informative object of forensic medical personal identification allowing determination of the body length and gender as well as anatomical, x-ray and osteometric individual features. Precision of human body length diagnosis by HB is 6.71-7.26 cm. Therefore, this method should be used in combination with the diagnosis by long tubular bones. Diagnosis of human gender by osteometric signs of HB based on one-dimentional discriminant analysis is feasible in 80-85%, based on canonical discriminant analysis--in 91.1% cases. The method of anatomic, osteometric and roentgenological assessment of HB individuality can be used in personal identification by intravital x-ray of cervical organs and in traumatic defects of HB. The methods may be applied in forensic medical practice in expert examination of body fragments or isolated bone fragments.     

Biometric ranging of the corpses destroyed at the site of a catastrophe in terms of gender, longitudinal and circumferencial dimensions, and the degree of subcutaneous fat distribution

The quantitative criteria for biometric ranging of destroyed corpses in terms of anatomical localization, gender, longitudinal length, trunk circumference, and the folds of subcutaneous fat are proposed. The wealth of anthropometric materials obtained in the studies of various Caucasoid populations was used to calculate the normative tables for biometric ranging of the decomposed corpses. The proposed technology excludes the subjective assessments for the purpose of such classification at the sites of catastrophes. Moreover, it promotes the accumulation of the variety of valuable information, such as the size of the collar, headwear, and footwear, clothing size and height, and portrait features, that can be used for victim identification.     

Diagnostics of the skeletal massiveness and human somatotype using hand bones

The skeleton massiveness (SM) and the somatotype of human constitution were determined on the basis of osteometry of bones of carpal and metacarpal bones (MB) and of phalanxes. Seventy male and 13 female skeletons from the collection of the chair for anthropology, Moscow State University, were investigated. Described are the results of examinations of 8 carpal bones made according to 3 signs (length, width, and height), and of 5 metacarpal bones made according to 4 signs (length, base and head width, and base height); investigation findings of finger phalanxes (in full) are also presented. Methods of current multidimensional statistics were used within the case study, i.e. related with the key components--for SM specification and the discriminative analysis--for constitution specification. The SM determination accuracy according to type A was 40%, according to type B--80%, according to type C--37.5% and according to type D--52.9%. The classification accuracy of constitutions by carpal bones was 50.0%, by MB--46.4%, and by MB plus finger phalanxes--48.1%. It is pointed out that it was for the first time that the elaborated quantitative criteria of osteometry of hand bones could be used in the expertise practice for the purpose of personality identification by osseous remains.     

从模式化的八旗制度看满族法律程序意识

满族作为中国封建社会最后一个王朝的建立者,其政治制度、法律制度和民族文化一直是东亚各国研究的热门问题。从法文化的研究角度,对满族入关以前的政治制度和法律文化进行研究和分析,以八旗制度为切入点,思考满族共同体的模式化思维方式和法律程序意识之间的内在联系。     

Examination of ash mass for identification of remains

Diagnostic models designed for examining the ash mass (fragments of bones and osteal ash) as well as of sex, height and weight of burnt human being are described.     

Medical forensic investigations of body fragments in the situations of the massive arrivals of corpses

We propose for the first time a set of methods for the determination of sex, face shape, body length and weight for the purpose of forensic medical investigations of fragmented corpses from a mass fatality catastrophe site. The study has demonstrated a high degree of reliability of the assessment of the personality group signs based on a wealth of somatometric data with the use of the multivariate statistic methods. This work has no analogy in forensic medical studies.     

Craniometric diagnosis of skeletal and somatotype mass

The paper presents diagnostic models for evaluation of ash mass (bone fragments, bone ashes), sex, length and mass of the burned body. Individual data by M. Warren and W. Maples (1997) on 85 adult Americans were used. On the basis of a canonical discriminant analysis and multiple linear regression equations the authors have developed models for diagnosis of ash residue mass as well as the burned body's sex, body length and mass. The above models can be used directly on the place of the criminal body cremation. They do not require determination of anatomic appurtenance of bone fragments and their osteometric examination.     

The rule of law as a catalyst for sustainable democracy in Nigeria

Democracy and the rule of law are the pillars of sustainable development and the guarantee of fundamental freedoms in any society. The rule of law is one of the prerequisites to creating an enabling environment that supports socio‐economic growth and political development. The future of democracy rests with the ability of democratic governments to observe the rule of law. The rule of law is the fulcrum of democracy and the pillar upon which the structures of democracy stands. This article examines the crucial importance of the rule of law as a catalyst for the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.