Observer determination of the make,model, and year of questioned vehicles

Often, criminal acts involving a vehicle are caught on digital video surveillance systems. While potentially useful for an investigation, the recording conditions are typically less than optimal for the extraction of key information for the identification of the perpetrator, such as a license plate. Providing the make, model and year of a questioned vehicle is a common request for examiners, to narrow the field of potential suspect vehicles. This study seeks to compare the performance of a nonpeer-reviewed make, model, and year determination between two separate groups, specifically, trained forensic image examiners and nontrained individuals. Results show that even with varied image capture conditions and quality, the trained forensic image examiners more correctly and completely identified the test group of questioned vehicles make, model, and year.     

市售乌梢蛇的微性状鉴别研究

目的 探寻一种简单有效的方法，以快速鉴别市售乌梢蛇的真伪。方法 通过微性状鉴定法，对市售乌梢蛇的真伪进行鉴别。结果 乌梢蛇在市场上的伪品有灰鼠蛇、滑鼠蛇、眼镜蛇、赤链华游蛇、白链蛇等。通过微性状鉴别研究发现，湖南和四川产乌梢蛇体背的单鳞蛇皮均呈紫黑色，腹部均呈淡蓝色，具杂乱分布的斑点群，且湖南产乌梢蛇中央纵线处为黄棕色，具整齐分布的黑色斑点群；乌梢蛇伪品的单鳞蛇皮在其色泽与斑纹上与正品具有明显差异。结论 微性状鉴别方法可有效且精准地鉴别市售乌梢蛇的真伪，弥补传统经验鉴别的不足。     

Empirical validation of a family-member prioritization approach to maximize statistical power in missing person cases

In order to prioritize the exhumation of the most informative reference relatives to increase the statistical power of a reference group, a conditional simulation approach for missing person identification that combines both exclusion and inclusion power in reference families has been previously developed. The aim of this study is to empirically validate this approach by comparing its predicted theoretical prioritization model with the observed changes in statistical power in real cases of our laboratory, in which new relatives had already been added. We conclude that this approach is a reliable tool to choose the most appropriate reference relatives to complete a family group and improve the identification power of a Missing Person (MP).     

文化融入策略与恐怖组织的认同

恐怖组织的认同构建过程可分为三个阶段：个体恐怖分子在群体中找到自我、组织内部同一性的构建以及组织一致对外的恐怖主义活动。在整个认同构建过程中，始终贯穿着恐怖组织内外群体文化融入策略选择的矛盾，具体表现为：第一阶段，潜在恐怖分子在主流文化中认同受挫，转而寻求加入恐怖组织。第二阶段，恐怖组织以自身所处的宗教文化为基础，构建其组织文化，并积极通过各种方式加深组织成员对这一文化的认同，但与此相对，恐怖组织外群体却很难认同其组织文化。第三阶段，恐怖组织内外群体文化融入策略选择的矛盾持续激化，最终导致恐怖组织采取一致对外的恐怖主义活动。通过“伊斯兰国”作为案例，对上述恐怖组织的认同过程进行分析后发现，“伊斯兰国”的“成功”是与其“成功”的文化融入策略密切相关，而其在阿富汗的受挫，在很大程度上也是由于文化融入策略“失当”所导致的，即“伊斯兰国”在阿富汗不但无力完成与塔利班的竞争，而且无法解决组织面临的跨文化冲突问题。因此，在打击“伊斯兰国”等暴恐极端势力时，关注文化融入策略的影响并有针对性地采取对策，具有重要意义和价值。     

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.     

新就业形态劳动者的劳动权益保障 ：内容、现状及策略

新就业形态劳动者的劳动权益保障问题已成为政府和社会公众密切关注的重要问题。新就业形 态劳动者的劳动权益包括劳动就业权、劳动报酬权、劳动条件权和劳动救济权 4 类，并可以细分为 13 项权利。 本研究以外卖骑手为代表，进一步分析了新就业形态劳动者劳动就业权、劳动报酬权和劳动条件权中的社会保 障权的现状。研究发现，新就业形态劳动者的劳动就业权、劳动报酬权和社会保障权相比该群体劳动者的平均 情况都得到了改善。研究认为提升新就业形态劳动者的劳动权益保障水平需要更复杂的策略行动，包括继续发 挥好市场作用、处理好短期与长期的关系，以及政府与平台企业协同治理等。     

专家参与刑事司法的多元功能及其体系化

从1979年刑事诉讼法颁布至今,专家参与我国刑事司法的制度功能变得开放而多元。专家制度功能的多元化,根源于刑事司法的三重逻辑:弥合法律人与专家之间知识鸿沟的“认知逻辑”;落实公检法机关“分工负责,互相配合,互相制约”原则的“权力逻辑”;保障当事人合法权益与实现控辩平等的“权利逻辑”。从结构主义与整体主义的视角看,当前,刑事专家制度存在明显的体系化缺陷,主要表现为专家制度过度权力化、专家制度功能尚未结构化、专家制度不够规范化。改进刑事专家制度,应当采取体系化路径:首先,将多元专家参与模式调整为鉴定人与专家辅助人二元专家模式;其次,彰显专家制度的“权利逻辑”,矫正过度权力化倾向;最后,构建系统化的专家制度,为专家服务刑事司法创造制度条件。     

Fingerprint error rate on close non‐matches

The accuracy of fingerprint identifications is critically important to the administration of criminal justice. Accuracy is challenging when two prints from different sources have many common features and few dissimilar features. Such print pairs, known as close non‐matches (CNMs), are increasingly likely to arise as ever‐growing databases are searched with greater frequency. In this study, 125 fingerprint agencies completed a mandatory proficiency test that included two pairs of CNMs. The false‐positive error rates on the two CNMs were 15.9% (17 out of 107, 95% C.I.: 9.5%, 24.2%) and 28.1% (27 out of 96, 95% C.I.: 19.4%, 38.2%), respectively. These CNM error rates are (a) inconsistent with the popular notion that fingerprint evidence is nearly infallible, and (b) larger than error rates reported in leading fingerprint studies. We conclude that, when the risk of CNMs is high, the probative value of a reported fingerprint identification may be severely diminished due to an elevated false‐positive error risk. We call for additional CNM research, including a replication and expansion of the present study using a representative selection of CNMs from database searches.     

论公共性的回归与重塑

公共性与私人性作为个体存在的两种形态,是异常复杂地糅合在一起的,但在人类社会尤其是西方社会由传统走向现代的进程中,却出现了私人性超越并侵蚀公共性的现象。究其原因,传统公共性的剥削属性、浪漫主义发展、科学技术进步和工业革命的兴起都在不同程度上推动了私人性对公共性的侵蚀。这虽有利于个体理性发展和人性解放,但同时也导致了公共性的衰落,从而引发信仰缺失、私人性膨胀、合作失灵等一系列公共危机,给社会发展带来无法预测的风险。故应以西方现代化发展中的这一弊端为鉴,重新审视公共性对我国现代生活的重要性,并从公共价值观创造、公共道德培育和公共秩序规划入手,努力构建公共性与私人性和谐统一的现代生活。     

Dental hygiene students' matching accuracy when comparing antemortem dental radiographs and oral photographs to simulated postmortem WinID3® odontograms

Matching dental antemortem (AM) and postmortem (PM) data for human identification is especially challenging when the workforce is limited. Dental hygienists have served mass fatality incidents (MFIs) due to dental-related expertise. However, forensics within dental hygiene education and research on transferable skills is limited. This qualitative balance design study assessed senior dental hygiene students' match accuracy of simulated cases varying in dental identifiers based on AM full mouth series (FMS) radiographs and oral photographs to PM WinID3^® odontograms to demonstrate possible disaster victim identification (DVI) transferable skills gained during formal education. A convenience sample of senior dental hygiene students (n = 31) was presented information on WinID3^® interpretation, then presented with 5 mismatched cases and asked to visually interpret each to make 10 total matches; five based on AM FMS with simulated PM WinID3^® odontograms and five based on AM photographs with PM WinID3^® odontograms. Match accuracy scores ranged from 41.9% to 58.1% for cases with 1–10 identifiers, and 77.4% to 93.5% for cases with 11–40 identifiers. Accuracy when matching AM radiographs to PM odontograms versus AM photographs to PM odontograms was compared and revealed no statistical differences in match accuracy depending on image type (p = 0.388 to 1.000). Results of this pilot study suggests transferable match accuracy skills resulted from the participants' dental hygiene formal education. These baseline skills with additional specialized training support the rationale for dental hygienists serving on DVI teams. More research is needed in education and practice when preparing dental hygienists for forensic-based service.