Chemical trace XRF analysis to detect sharp force trauma in fresh and burned bone

Forensic anthropologists may not always be able to differentiate heat-induced fractures from fractures with other aetiologies, namely sharp force traumas, with clear nefarious impact on medico-legal conclusions. The objective of this study was to experimentally investigate if blade chemical traces are transferred to defleshed bone tissue and if they remain there after a burning event. This was accomplished by prompting sharp force traumas in 20 macerated fresh pig ribs with five different instruments, namely a stainless steel knife, an artisanal knife and a ceramic kitchen knife, a small axe and a large axe. Another pig rib was used as control, not being subjected to any trauma. All instruments were probed by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to establish the composition of each blade. Bone samples, both pre-burned and post-burned (at 500 °C, 700 °C, 900 °C and 1100 °C), were then probed by XRF. All sharp force instruments left detectable chemical traces on pre-burned bone, although not in all samples. Furthermore, traces were still detected after experimental burning in most cases. Potentially, XRF can provide relevant information about the aetiology of fractures in burned and unburned bones, although the effect of soft tissues and diagenesis must still be investigated.     

The use of casts in studying stab-cutting wounds of the lungs

Possibilities of using casts of wound canals after organ stretching and fixation for determination of type of instrument used in case of stab-cut lung injuries were studied. In 70% of cases it was possible to make a conclusion on type and some parameters of cutting surface of an instrument used.     

人体骨骼上菜刀痕迹的检验及同一认定

目的 对人体骨骼上刀痕进行致伤工具同一认定的检验和研究.方法 用同一把菜刀的相同部位分别砍击骨骼与新鲜灌木,通过对骨骼上刀痕进行组织学处理以显现致伤工具的痕迹,并使用比对显微镜将骨骼与灌木上的砍痕进行比对,分析骨质断面的痕迹特征.结果 菜刀在骨骼上形成的砍切痕迹线条与比对样本的砍切痕迹线条可以完全拼接.结论 显微镜下可直观、清晰地观察到致伤工具在骨骼上留下的痕迹,为致伤工具的推断提供了新的方法.     

Chronology of a homicide and an attempted suicide by DNA analysis of selected blood stains on the weapon (knife)]

A five-year-old boy was fatally injured by a stab and a cut to the throat. The suspected offender, an acquaintance of the victim's mother, stated that he had been disturbed by the boy while attempting suicide and had therefore killed the boy. The suspect showed superficial cuts on both wrists and three shallow stabs on the right-hand side of the abdomen. The purpose of the forensic investigations was to answer the question if the suspect's statement could be confirmed or if the attempted suicide took place after killing the boy. The blood-smeared blade of the knife was divided into different sectors with the cutting edge and the tip of the blade being examined separately from the sides. The blood traces from the different blade sectors were then typed in 12 different DNA regions by PCR (polymerase-chain-reaction). It could be demonstrated that the strong blood traces on the sides of the blade originated from the victim alone, whereas in the area of the edge and the tip of the blade the amount of the victim's blood was negligible compared with that of the suspected offender. The explanation for this finding is that in the areas of the edge and the tip of the knife the blood of the victim must have been replaced by the blood of the suspected perpetrator, which means that the suicidal injuries were the last to be caused by the knife.     

Determination of questionable suicide as a homicide by studies of criminal stains

In a woman found dead with cuts on both arms in a domestic sauna plastered with blood were assumed next to a bleed to death. The question self-infliction or by a third party of arm injuries could not be decided. By investigation of blood traces only could be clarified the cause of death. The husband had strangled his wife and inflicted several cuts on both arms with a razor blade to simulate suicide. Afterwards, he also inflicted several cuts on himself with a razor blade with the intention of suicide. He survived these injuries.     

The use of trace deposits for establishing the weapon of an injury]

The author analyzes the value of traces detectable on stabbing and cutting instruments (traces of blood, isolated cells of the injured organs and tissues of human body, trace particles of textile fabrics) for the identification of the instrument of injury. A comprehensive assessment of the fact of detection of material traces and of the specific features of injuries of victim's body and clothes helps in some cases identify the instrument of injury.     

The differential diagnosis and the identification importance of the track of the heel of stabbing-cutting weapons in skin wounds

Data on 123 cut-stab wounds and 52 knives were examined in the course of medicolegal expert evaluation. It was found that 30 knives possessed heels which could have two forms: symmetric and asymmetric. Heel traces were seen in 16 expert evaluations (34%) in 31 wounds (25.2%) and in some of them particular features of knife blade heel were represented. Differences between butt end and heel trace according to series of signs were noted.     

Morphologic, experimental-comparative investigation as an identification of the injuring instrument method

Aiming to identify the injuring tool characteristics and the tool itself morphologic, experimental-comparative investigations of the skin wound, rib and cartilage injuries taken during the autopsy are performed. During 1995-2004, 489 investigations were performed for this purpose. In 418 cases, knives were submitted for identification of the specific injuring tool (in total-835 knives). In 205 cases the investigation included not only skin wounds, but also the injured rib cartilages. Identification investigations were performed by investigating both the skin wounds morphologic characteristics and dynamic traces-trails in the rib cartilage tissue left by the micro relief of the knife blade edge. In the case of the investigated and experimental skin wounds characteristics coincidence the experimental and comparative dynamic traces investigation was performed when the traces were suitable for the tool identification purposes. In the case of the investigated and experimental skin wounds, dynamic traces coincidence, the totality of the coincided characteristics was considered individual. In those cases, the conclusion included the fact that the injury had been made by a particular knife. According to our data during 1995-2004 in 23 cases-15.9% (5.5% out of the total investigated cases), the knife identification was based on the skin wound characteristics and dynamic traces in the rib cartilage tissue. In our opinion, the dynamic traces in the rib cartilage tissue investigations supplement the identification field and are valuable in the tool identification. In 11 (2.6% out of the total investigated cases) cases knives were identified only by the skin wounds morphologic characteristics, the ribs being not injured or dynamic traces being not suitable for the tool identification.     

Investigation of trauma weapons with cauterizing surface

The results of 12 expert examinations of trauma instruments with a cauterizing surface were analyzed. Application traces were examined by using the biological, cytological and histological methods. Despite the destructive cell changes caused by a high temperature, such approach to the mentioned biological material ensured results, that can be a foundation for reliable expert conclusions.     

Roentgen imaging of stab wounds in parenchymatous organs

Stab wounds were made in parenchymatous organs (e.g. liver, spleen, kidneys, lungs) using a variety of instruments. The shape of the resulting canal was investigated by X-ray analysis after introduction of an X-ray contrast medium. The best contrast was obtained using a contrast medium containing barium. The shape of the canal gave a direct representation of the outline of the instrument used. The width of the canal was however, always several millimeters smaller than the corresponding blade of the instrument. The position of the blade back in single-edged blades could be demonstrated with stronger contrast.     

Human organ and tissue antigens

Necessity of a new trend in detection of organ and tissue traces on trauma instruments by serological methods using present-day literary data is stressed.     

绿色贸易壁垒的法经济学分析

随着世界范围内贸易自由化进程的推进,传统的非关税壁垒的作用被逐步削减,绿色贸易壁垒以其鲜明的时代特征日益成为国际贸易发展的主要技术性贸易壁垒。它是一把双刃剑,一方面体现了消费者保护环境、维护健康等正当合理的要求,另一方面又可以成为某些国家推行新的贸易保护主义、阻止外国商品进口的"挡箭牌"。法经济学认为,处理经济问题的法律规则,其实质内容的合理性和必要性,应靠科学的经济理论与实践来鉴别。本文运用法经济学供给需求、成本收益、公共选择等理论,对绿色贸易壁垒进行规范分析和实证分析,探讨绿色贸易壁垒的形成机制及其制度的公平性和效率。     

The legal status of clinical and ethics policies, codes, and guidelines in medical practice and research

This article examines the legal status of "soft law" in the fields of medicine and medical research. Many areas of clinical practice and research involve complex and rapidly changing issues for which the law provides no guidance. Instead, guidance for physicians and researchers comes from what has often been called "soft law"--non-legislative, non-regulatory sources, such as ethics policy statements, codes, and guidelines from professional or quasi-governmental bodies. This article traces the evolution of these "soft law" instruments: how they are created, how they are adopted within the professional community, and how they become accepted by the courts. It studies the relationship between soft law instruments and the courts. It includes an examination of the approaches to judicial analysis used by the courts in theory and in practice. The authors then examine the jurisprudence to see how courts will adopt professional norms as the legal standard of care in some circumstances and not others. They consider the legal concerns and ethical issues surrounding the weight attached to professional practices and norms in law. The authors demonstrate how practices and policies that guide professional conduct may ultimately bear weight as norms recognizable and enforceable within the legal sphere.     

Family breakdown and the ‘Welfare Child’ in 19th and 20th century Britain

This article traces new cycles of interest in past children as distinct from past childhood. Recent work highlighting that a conceptualisation of childhood existed even in periods with few written records closes the chapter begun by Philippe Ariès in 1960. Instead, there has been a new surge of interest in children on the edges of family life, as well as children in similarly liminal positions between the worlds of adults and children: runaways, delinquents and orphans. Several themes in the literature are identified, based on the conflicting ideas of ‘body/mind’, ‘victim/threat’, ‘needs/rights’. It is noted that researchers are using more imaginative ways of reaching the lived experience of children than the family or institutional framework, and that an increasing link is drawn between historical and modern concerns such as child abuse and the care of ‘at risk’ children.     

Family breakdown and the ‘Welfare Child’ in 19th and 20th century Britain

This article traces new cycles of interest in past children as distinct from past childhood. Recent work highlighting that a conceptualisation of childhood existed even in periods with few written records closes the chapter begun by Philippe Ariès in 1960. Instead, there has been a new surge of interest in children on the edges of family life, as well as children in similarly liminal positions between the worlds of adults and children: runaways, delinquents and orphans. Several themes in the literature are identified, based on the conflicting ideas of ‘body/mind’, ‘victim/threat’, ‘needs/rights’. It is noted that researchers are using more imaginative ways of reaching the lived experience of children than the family or institutional framework, and that an increasing link is drawn between historical and modern concerns such as child abuse and the care of ‘at risk’ children.     

Assessment of Wear‐Related Features of the Kerf Wall from Saw Marks in Bone*†

Abstract: Analyses of saw marks in bone may yield important information about the class characteristics of saws used in postmortem dismemberments, yet little research has been directed at identifying saws’ individualizing characteristics. This study adds to existing saw mark analysis methodologies by examining wear‐related features of kerf walls using light‐ and environmental scanning electron microscopy. A crosscut saw and hacksaw were used to create sequences of 30 cuts in bone; these sequences reveal patterns of progressive loss of fine details of kerf wall morphology with increasing saw blade wear, because of the rounding of sharp points and edges. Nevertheless, diagnostic kerf wall features used to establish class characteristics persist despite these wear‐related changes. Unsuccessful attempts at statistical analysis of wear‐related changes, based on striae width and density, suggest these patterns are not readily quantifiable. Additionally, despite the scanning electron microscope’s superior imaging capabilities, it provided few practical, methodological gains over traditional light microscopy.     

The emergence of biobanks in the legal landscape: towards a new model of governance

Biobanks are increasingly seen as new tools for medical research. Their main purpose is to collect, store, and distribute human body materials. These activities are regulated by legal instruments which are heterogeneous in source (national and international), and in form (binding and non-binding). We analyse these to underline the need for a new model of governance for modern biobanks. The protection initially ensured by respect for fundamental rights will need to focus on more interactions with society in order to ensure biobanks' sustainability. International regulation is more oriented on ethical principles and traces the limits of the uses of genetics, while European regulation is more concerned with the protection of fundamental rights and the elaboration of standards for biobanks' quality assurance. But is this protection adequate and sufficient? Do we need to move from the biomedical research analogy to new forms of legal protection, and governance systems which involve citizens?     

高仿真制模伪造指印的识别研究

目的 探究高仿真制模伪造指印的识别方法.方法 选取多个印泥指印作为母版,分别采用曝光法制作指模,将母版指印与对应的伪造指印进行整体比较及显微比较.结果 伪造指印较母版指印尺寸存在差异、纹线略变粗、纹线间隔略变小、细节特征易黏连、细小痕迹及细微特征不反映或反映不全、单根纹线的墨迹分布平实且缺少细微漏白等.结论 识别伪造指...     

Special design characteristics of the Japanese "Tan-to" (knife) as criteria for dangerousness

The great angle gauge of the blade top and the asymmetrical sharpening of the edge, the thickness of the blade (nearly 0.3 cm) and especially the short sharpened blade top give excellent stability of the cutting edge of this instrument and of its blade top. Flat bones can be perforated very easily without damaging the blade top. In recent times a newly developed Japanese tan-to is available in the FRG. The blade of this dagger can be fixed at right angles to the knife-handle, ready for use just as an "American San Francisco Push-Dagger" or an Indian "katar", obviously very dangerous weapons. The possession of this new generation of Japanese tan-to should be legally prohibited.     

The analysis of tire rubber traces collected after braking incidents using Pyrolysis-GasChromatography/Mass Spectrometry

Automobile tire marks can routinely be found at the scenes of crime, particularly hit-and-run accidents and are left on road surfaces because of sudden braking or the wheels spinning. The tire marks are left due to the friction between the tire rubber and the solid road surface, and do not always demonstrate the tire tread pattern. However, the tire mark will contain traces of the tire. In this study, Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry was used to analyze 12 tires from different manufacturer's and their traces collected after braking incidents. Tire marks were left on a conglomerate road surface with sudden braking. The samples were pyrolysed without removal of contaminant in a micro-furnace type pyrolyser. Quantitative and qualitative analysis were performed on all the samples. All 12 samples were distinguished from each other. Each of the tire traces were identified as coming from there original source.