Age estimation by a dental method: a comparison of Lamendin's and Prince & Ubelaker's technique

Lamendin et al. (J Forensic Sci 1992;37:1373) developed a general technique to estimate age of adults at death using two dental features: periodontosis and translucency of the tooth root. Prince and Ubelaker (J Forensic Sci 2002;47:107) modified this method, creating a formula for each sex and for different ancestries, and obtained more precise age estimations. In the present study, the validity of each method was tested in 45 males and 34 females of Spanish Caucasian origin, and a novel formula, based on Prince and Ubelaker method, was specifically developed for a population of mixed racial origin (mestizo) from Colombia, and findings obtained were again compared with those yielded by Lamendin adult dental aging technique. The Prince and Ubelaker method proved more accurate than the Lamendin technique in the Spanish Caucasian population, and our Prince and Ubelaker-based formula was also more accurate than the Lamendin et al. In both populations, the Lamendin method showed a higher mean error in estimations of the age of youngest and oldest individuals. These findings confirm the need to create specific formulas for each human group in order to obtain more accurate age estimates.     

Constitutional Conventions and the Prince of Wales

The Upper Tribunal (Administrative Appeals Chamber) held in Evans v Information Commissioner that certain correspondence between Prince Charles and government officials must be disclosed under freedom of information legislation. Much of the judgment was devoted to a discussion of the constitutional conventions applicable to Prince Charles, and the case provides a useful example of how conventions and laws can interact. In this note, I argue that the Upper Tribunal misunderstood how conventions are distinguished from one another, and misapplied the test for the identification of conventions.     

The Applicability of the Lamendin Method to Skeletal Remains Buried for a 16-Year Period: A Cautionary Note

The Lamendin method is widely reported as one of the most reliable means of age estimation of skeletal remains, but very little is known concerning the influence of burial in soil. This study aimed at verifying the reliability of the Lamendin method on corpses buried for 16 years in a cemetery. The Lamendin and the Prince and Ubelaker methods were applied. In all age groups except the 40- to 49-year–olds, the error was higher in the buried sample. The age-at-death error ranged between 10.7 and 36.8 years for the Lamendin method (vs. the reported 7.3–18.9 years) and 9.5 and 35.7 for the Prince and Ubelaker one (vs. the original 5.2–32.6 years); in all age groups, the error is closer to that found on archeological populations. These results suggest caution in applying the Lamendin method to forensic cases of human remains buried even for a brief period under soil.     

川岛浪速与晚清警政建设

晚清创设中国近代警察制度多仿效日本。日本人川岛浪速创办的京师警务学堂是中国最早的警察教育机构,他的《上庆亲王书》提出了近代中国警政建设比较完整的方案。     

Validity Comparison of Three Dental Methods for Age Estimation Based on Tooth Root Translucency

Age estimation of nonliving subjects plays a very important role in identifying human remains. When adult remains are in question, this process becomes even more complex. Among the numerous dental methods that exist for adults aging, the evaluation of root translucency is one of the most useful. This study studies the correlation between age and root translucency by investigating monoradicular teeth affected by pathological processes using the equations proposed by Lamendin, Prince & Ubelaker and from Singhal et al. The average age values calculated according to the three methods were compared with the values of known age. Age estimation using the Student's t‐test resulted as more accurate in the methods by Singhal et al. and by Prince & Ubelaker, with respect to that of Lamendin. Age estimation based solely on the percentage of radicular dentinal translucency has been found to be more accurate when diseased teeth are involved.     

The Death of Freddie Gray and Its Impact on Homicides in Baltimore and Maryland

This study evaluated the impact that Freddie Gray’s death on April, 19, 2015, had on homicides within Baltimore, Prince George’s County, and the rest of Maryland. The numbers of these deaths were compared in the 2 years prior and after his death. The average number of homicide per month in Baltimore and Prince George’s County, but not the rest of Maryland, showed a statistically significant increase in the 2 years after his death, with a sudden spike in homicides in Baltimore immediately following his death. Spatial density (“heat”) maps of homicides showed an increase in clustering of deaths after Freddie Gray’s demise in portions of Baltimore, particularly near his arrest site. Hot spot maps showed a massive expansion of statistically significant clusters of homicides in areas of West and East Baltimore after his death. An emerging hot spot analysis revealed consecutive hot spots in large areas of West Baltimore with new hot spots prominent along the southern edge of this area. A review of the history of Baltimore, as well as discussions with Baltimore homicide detectives, revealed that prior socioeconomic and political trends likely primed Baltimore for the protests and violence that occurred after Freddie Gray’s death. It is probable that a perceived “overcharging” of officers involved in his death by the State’s Attorney resulted in a “pullback” from policing that directly led to increased homicides in Baltimore.     

父親的正義感，照我一生

中國政法大學潘漢典教授是《元照英美法詞典》的總審訂人，也是《君主論》、《比較法總論》等多部名著的漢鋒者.通擅英、法、日、德、俄等多種語言。潘先生今已89歲高齡，他早年從東吴大學法學院獲得碩士學位，先後在北京大學、中國社會科學院法學研究所、中國政法大學問學論道，終身與法結绎. 本刊約請潘先生憶往，温故知新。法學舊事，亦豐厚，亦温文。     

Neighborhood structure differences between homicide victims and non-victims

While there were numerous studies documenting the neighborhood characteristics that led to increased risk of crime victimization, very little was done to compare the neighborhoods of homicide victims to non-victims. The current research used the case-control design to alleviate this gap in the research. A sample of homicide victims and non-victims collected from Prince George's County, Maryland, in 1993, was used to make these comparisons. Significant differences were noted in the macro-level measures of education, unemployment, household income, and percentage of female-headed households in the neighborhoods of victims and non-victims. Individual elements, such as age, race, gender, and arrest were also strongly associated with the risk of homicide victimization. Both macro and micro level variables needed to be included when studying factors that increased the risk of homicide victimization.     

The emergency petition process in Maryland

Maryland's Emergency Petition statute allows a violent or suicidal person with a mental disorder to be brought to an emergency facility for rapid evaluation regarding the need for emergency treatment. Although many states have similar laws, little has been written in the psychiatric literature about the emergency petition process. The investigators evaluated emergency petition documents, demographic data, and the adequacy of emergency room records for all patients brought to a large county hospital in Prince Georges County, Maryland, by emergency petition during a one-month period. All emergency petition patients in Prince Georges County are brought to this hospital site. Of 94 petitioned patients examined during the study period, 92 records were available for review. The emergency petition was found to meet appropriate legal criteria in 94 percent of cases. More than half of all patients evaluated were intoxicated on alcohol or illicit drugs, and the majority of these patients were released from the emergency room as no longer dangerous after their acute intoxication resolved. In contrast to previous studies most of the patients evaluated were affluent, had health insurance, and were employed.     

死后不同时间的组织细胞DNA含量分析

本文应用流式细胞仪对大鼠死亡后不同时间的心、肝、肾组织细胞DNA含量进行了分析。结果显示:与死后0点细胞DNA含量值相比,6小时细胞DNA含量下降到99.5％,12小时为91.3％,18小时为87.1％,24小时为81.3％,30小时为76.7％,36小时为74.3％,48小时为72.3％。上述规律性变化,将可能对早期死亡时间的推断提供客观可靠的依据。     

Pathways to early delinquency: Exploring the individual and collective contributions of difficult temperament,low maternal involvement,and externalizing behavior

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of difficult temperament and maternal involvement, measured at ages one and three years, respectively, on externalizing behavior at age five and early delinquency at age nine.MethodsMaternal- and child-reports from 4,897 members of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) were included in a path analysis of four of five waves of FFCWS data: Wave 2 (difficult temperament at age 1), Wave 3 (maternal involvement at age 3), Wave 4 (externalizing behavior at age 5), and Wave 5 (delinquency at age 9).FindingsAlthough difficult temperament at age 1 displayed a weak zero-order correlation with delinquency at age 9 and low maternal involvement at age 3 failed to correlate with delinquency at age 9, both entered into significant chained relationships with delinquency via externalizing behavior at age 5. In addition, difficult temperament at age 1 seemed to evoke low parental involvement at age 3.ConclusionsThe respective roles of a difficult temperament, maternal involvement, and externalizing behavior in a proximal chaining process may be partially responsible for the continuity that has been observed in antisocial behavior over time.     

Deaths among narcotic addicts in Denmark in 1978 and 1979

Objective measurements were carried out to study the evolution of rigor mortis on rats at various temperatures.Our experiments showed that:(1) at 6 °C rigor mortis reaches full development between 48 and 60 hours post mortem, and is resolved at 168 hours post mortem; (2) at 24 °C rigor mortis reaches full development at 5 hours post mortem, and is resolved at 16 hours post mortem; (3) at 37 °C rigor mortis reaches full development at 3 hours post mortem, and is resolved at 6 hours post mortem; (4) the intensity of rigor mortis grows with increase in temperature (difference between values obtained at 24 °C and 37 °C); and (5) at 6 °C a “cold rigidity” was found, in addition to and independent of rigor mortis.     

实验性小白鼠死后肝脏酶组织化学改变

作者用60只小鼠实验,分组观察环境温度为4℃和20℃、死后0、6、12、24、48和72h 肝脏的PPr、ATPase、CCO、ACP、ANAE、G-6-Pase、LDH、SDH、G6PD 和NADHD 等10种酶活性的组织化学改变。在4℃组,PPr 活性在死后6h 开始下降;死后72h,PPr 仅在少数肝细胞呈阳性反应;其余9种酶活性无明显改变。在20℃组,死后6h,PPr 活性明显下降,死后12h 变为阴性。死后48h,LDH 和ATPase 活性明显下降,死后72h 变为阴性。作者认为,死后组织中酶的改变规律有助于推断死后经过时间。     

面向海洋世纪 确立海法研究体系

海上活动的多样化和复杂化以及海洋经济的蓬勃发展,突出了海法研究体系的重要地位。在分析海法的概念、所调整的社会关系、确立海法体系的必要性的基础上,将海法研究体系归纳为三个层次,并分别进行探讨。     

脑干损伤后神经元及轴突改变的组织化学观察

采用针刺法造成大鼠脑干损伤,用尼氏体染色、嗜银染色和改良三色法观察脑干神经元及轴突在伤后不同时间的病理改变。结果发现,嗜银染色显示伤后 1～ 3h部分神经纤维不规则增粗、少数断裂, 6h断端膨大呈球形, 15h收缩球较为明显,至 24h收缩球明显且数量增多;改良三色法显示伤后 3～ 6h部分髓鞘与轴突之间的间隙增宽, 15h髓鞘明显弯曲、不完全地附着在轴突表面,甚至剥脱,持续到伤后 24h;尼氏体染色显示神经元核周尼氏体在伤后 24h减少。该结果提示,组织化学染色能观察到脑干损伤后的病理改变,并且有可能用于推断脑干损伤时间。     

我国海上犯罪体系亟需健全与完善

我国海上犯罪体系指由国际刑法规范和我国刑法规范所调整的各种具体涉海犯罪构成的统一体。我国现行海上犯罪体系存在诸多缺陷和不足,难以适应我国实施海洋发展战略、履行国际条约义务和维护我国海洋权益之需要,亟需健全与完善。     

大鼠脑挫伤后脑组织β-APP表达与损伤时间的关系

目的观察大鼠实验性脑挫伤后不同时间内脑组织β淀粉样前体蛋白（β-APP）表达的变化,探讨β-APP与脑损伤经过时间的关系。方法参照Feeney’s法建立大鼠脑挫伤模型,在伤后1h,4h,12h,48h,72h,7d,14d,运用免疫组化SABC法和Westernblot法检测β-APP的表达,以非损伤组做对照。结果β-APP出现于损伤后1h,4h开始增加至12h达到高峰,随后阳性反应细胞逐渐减少,7d后仍有少量表达但仍高于对照组,14d后表达基本恢复至接近对照组水平,各实验组与对照组比较有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论β-APP在脑挫伤后随时间的变化,其表达呈现先逐渐增加后又减少的一定规律性变化。     

Mitochondrial DNA and STR analyses of maggot crop contents: effect of specimen preservation technique

DNA analysis of maggot crop contents can be used to identify a missing body or aid entomologists with interpreting evidence used for PMI estimations. Entomological evidence is often collected and preserved to keep identifiable external features intact. The preservation methods currently in use may not be suitable for preserving DNA in the maggot crop for later analysis. In this study, carrion maggots raised on human tissue were preserved under the following 8 preservation conditions: no fluid at -70 degrees C, no fluid at 4 degrees C, no fluid at 24 degrees C, 70% ethanol at 4 degrees C, 70% ethanol at 24 degrees C, 95% ethanol at 24 degrees C, Kahle's solution at 24 degrees C and formaldehyde at 24 degrees C. Maggots were dissected following 2 weeks, 8 weeks and 6 months of preservation. The maggot crops were extracted, human DNA was quantitated, and an attempt was made at amplifying mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and short tandem repeat (STR) loci. Both mtDNA and STRs were successfully amplified from maggots stored in ethanol or without any preservation fluid. Formalin-containing preservation solutions reduced the recovery of DNA. The best results were observed from maggots stored without any preservation fluid at -70 degrees C.     

Long-term storage of blood samples as whole blood at extremely low temperatures for methemoglobin determination

Changes in methemoglobin (Met-Hb) concentrations during storage of whole blood and a hemolysate at refrigerated or various freezing temperatures were examined using experimentally prepared blood samples. When whole blood was stored at 3 degrees C, rapid reduction of Met-Hb was observed in the nitrite-treated blood whereas neither reduction nor formation of Met-Hb was observed in the untreated and heated blood within 7 days. When hemolysate was stored at 3 degrees C, Met-Hb concentrations were stable within a few days regardless of the initial values. However, slight autoxidation was observed 7 days after storage in the untreated and heated blood. When whole blood was stored at various freezing temperatures, Met-Hb concentrations were practically stable until at least 30 days at -80 degrees C or -196 degrees C regardless of the initial values, although considerable autoxidation was observed at -30 degrees C especially in the blood containing small amounts of Met-Hb. Based on the results obtained, a new method was devised for long-term storage of whole blood at extremely low temperatures for Met-Hb determinations.