Metric forensic anthropology decisions: Reliability and biasability of sectioning-point-based sex estimates

Subjective decisions make human cognitive processes more susceptible to bias and error. Specifically, research indicates that additional context biases forensic anthropologists’ morphological analyses. To address whether metric analyses are also subject to bias, we conducted a pilot study in which 52 experienced osteologists measured a difficult-to-classify human femur, with or without additional contextual information. Using a metric sectioning-point sex-estimation method, participants provided a sex estimate for individual skeletal element(s) and, when given multiple elements, the combined skeletal assemblage. Control group participants (n = 24) measured only the femur. In addition to the femur, bias group participants (n = 28) either measured a female humerus and viewed a female-biasing photograph (n = 14) or measured a male humerus and viewed a male-biasing photograph (n = 14). We explored whether the experts in the different groups would differ in: (1) femoral measurements; (2) femoral sex-estimation conclusions; and (3) final sex-estimation conclusions for the skeletal assemblage. Although the femoral measurements and femoral sex estimates were comparable across groups, the overall sex estimates in the female-biased group were impacted by contextual information—differing from both the control and male-biased groups (p < 0.001). Our results demonstrate that cognitive bias can occur even in metric sex-estimation conclusions. Specifically, this occurred when the metric data and single-element sex estimates were synthesized into an overall estimate. Thus, our results suggest that metric methods are most vulnerable to bias when data are synthesized into an overall conclusion, highlighting the need for bias countermeasures and comprehensive statistical frameworks for synthesizing metric data to mitigate the effects of cognitive bias.     

Distribution of the Minutiae in Hypothenar Palm Prints in Slovak Adults: Indications for Personal Identification

Minutiae are small distinguishing features found along every ridge flow, which make each friction ridge print unique. The most common friction ridge prints found at the crime scene are fingerprints; therefore, the most of the minutiae studies are focused exactly on this kind of prints. The authors believe that further examination and enlargement of the palm print database could result in better use of the palm prints for personal identification. We analyzed a total of 160 palm prints from 40 females and 40 males aged between 18 and 70 years from Slovakia. For the evaluation of the minutiae, the area of the hypothenar had to be marked out. The classification of the minutiae used for this study was based on a modified version of the classification system using the total of 13 types of minutiae. The frequency of every minutiae type was calculated and, using the chi-square test with Yates's correction, bilateral and sex differences were assessed. The relationship between the different types of minutiae was examined with Pearson's correlation test. During the initial phases of the identification process, the focus should be on the least common types of minutiae (Y or M and return), which were found not to correlate; thus, their mutual occurrence is random (e.g., overlap—Y or M, crossbar—return, or Y or M—dock). The results of the present study show which specific minutiae types are the most suitable for personal identification. These findings may be beneficial in more effective outcome of the identification process.     

Peace Pedagogy and Interpretative Frameworks of Distrust: State–Society Relations in the Colombian Peace Process

The Havana Peace Accords of 2016 sought to end five decades of internal conflict in Colombia. As well as disarming the FARC, they promise to bring state institutions to abandoned regions and enable citizen participation. However, there is an obstacle to this which has consistently been overlooked by Juan Manuel Santos' government: a chronic distrust in the state dating back to colonialism. This article draws on ethnographic research with the Colombian government's ‘peace pedagogy’ team, tasked innovatively with educating citizens about the Havana Accords and incorporating them in the co-production of peace. It shows that citizens' learning about state policies, and reception of state efforts to shape that learning, are filtered through pre-existing perceptions of the state: in Colombia, interpretative frameworks of distrust. This ethnography illuminates state–society relations in the Colombian peace process, offering implications for ongoing implementation of the Accords, and posing questions for other countries in transition, arguing that historically-constituted perceptions of the state should be taken into account when communicating government policies to society.     

骨龄自动化评估的研究进展

骨龄是反映人体生长发育的一项重要指标,能够较为客观地反映个体生长发育水平及成熟度。传统的人工骨龄评估通常是将左手腕X线片与参考标准进行比较,从而获得相应的骨龄值,该方法既耗时又存在观察者间的差异。近年来,随着计算机科学的不断发展,促使骨龄评估开始由传统的人工评估向自动化评估转变。虽然骨龄自动化评估的研究已相当多,但大部分仍处于实验阶段。本文综述了近年来国内外学者在骨龄自动化评估方面的相关研究与进展,以期为相关研究人员提供参考与研究思路。     

百草枯中毒分析检测方法的研究进展

本文介绍了最近20年来国内外有关生物检材中百草枯的提取、净化及定性定量分析检测方法的研究进展,从而为进一步研究百草枯中毒的分析检验方法提供参考。     

抗O型口蹄疫病毒单克隆抗体的制备及其生物学特性分析

用灭活O型口蹄疫病毒为抗原免疫BALB/c小鼠4次后,取致敏的脾B淋巴细胞和SP2/0小鼠骨髓瘤细胞进行融合,在HAT选择培养基中培养2周,经间接ELISA法筛选,最终获得了3株抗O型FMDV的阳性杂交瘤细胞株,命名为2F1、2G7和6H4。血清学试验证明该McAbs能与FMDV抗原结合,具有高度特异性。     

单管实时PCR快速检验ABO基因型

目的建立快捷特异的ABO基因分型检测方法。方法根据ABO基因结构特点,设计特异性引物和四色双链探针,采用单管实时PCR方法检测ABO基因,结果与传统免疫学方法相对比。结果该方法可检出常见的3个等位基因,区分常见的6种基因型,全部检测过程可在100min内完成。110例中国人的随机个体定型结果与传统免疫学方法一致。结论实时PCR法进行ABO基因分型,简便快捷,灵敏度高,可以有效地为侦查破案服务。     

实验室条件下长角血蜱甘肃株孤雌生殖种群的生物学特性

在实验室条件下,对我国北方长角血蜱甘肃株孤雌生殖种群的生活史进行了首次观察。研究发现,行孤雌生殖的长角血蜱为三宿主蜱;在兔体完成1个世代共需106~154 d,饥饿期的幼蜱、若蜱与两性生殖的饥饿幼蜱、若蜱体重的差异不显著(P>0.05),而饱血体重与两性生殖的长角血蜱种群饱血体重差异极显著(P<0.01);雌蜱饱血体重可达吸血前的108.46±19.72倍,与两性生殖的种群饱血体重差异亦极显著(P<0.01)。雌蜱产卵量与饱食体重之间呈极显著正相关r=0.897 0(P<0.01);生殖效率指数REI=6.76,生殖适合度指数RFI=6.29;蜱发育时间在不同季节无明显变化。     

生物基因资源获取和利益分享的国际法规制--兼论对我国基因资源保护的启示

在国际法上,基因资源的获取和利益分享涉及三个主要的国际公约,即《生物多样性公约》(CBD)、《粮食和农业植物遗传资源国际公约》和《TRIPS协议》,其中以CBD为核心,确立了基因资源的国家主权控制、事先知情同意和合理分享利益的原则和制度,确立了基因资源保护机制和产权设定的基本框架,对保护我国的基因资源具有重要的借鉴意义。     

3种常用PCR扩增试剂盒检验血样DNA的结果比较

目的探讨常用的ProfilerPlusTM、IdentifilerTM与Powerplex(16试剂盒检验血样DNA的差异。方法510名无关中国汉族个体血样,分别用ProfilerPlusTM与Powerplex(16试剂盒进行DNA检验,然后对有不同检验结果的同一样本,再用ProfilerPlusTM、IdentifilerTM与Powerplex(16等三种试剂盒进行检验,并比较其结果。结果在510名个体血样的DNA检测结果中,发现同一样本有不同结果的有7例,其差异率为1.3725%;ProfilerPlusTM、IdentifilerTM与Powerplex(16各有1例在D13S317或FGA基因座上出现等位基因缺失现象,缺失率为0.1961%;ProfilerPlusTM有5例在D8S1179基因座上出现扩增严重不平衡现象,相应的IdentifilerTM与Powerplex(16试剂盒的检验结果为正常杂合子。结论ProfilerPlusTM、IdentifilerTM与Powerplex(16试剂盒检验血样DNA均会出现扩增不平衡和/或基因丢失现象,其发生几率IdentifilerTM与Powerplex(16试剂盒较ProfilerPlusTM少。