Experimental Study of Bite Mark Injuries by Digital Analysis

Abstract: This study was based on a morphometric analysis of bite marks starting from the quantitative definition of the anterior teeth by the geometric acquisition of the “injuries,” using bite marks impressed on pig skin and plastic. Each mark was photographed and acquired. A dedicated program automatically supplied the values of the shape factors and the areas of the pattern geometric figures. The values obtained for the homologous samples were compared to the heterologous values. Statistical comparison was made of the sets by linear regression, determining the correlation coefficient and the determination coefficient for each value. Results showed only 4.8% and 2% of overlap between homologous and heterologous values. This study was carried out in attempting to quantitatively define the anterior teeth of the human dentition and the procedure described and the results obtained support the advantage of morphometric studies and computer‐aided programs in this study of bite marks.     

Scavenger Species-typical Alteration to Bone: Using Bite Mark Dimensions to Identify Scavengers

Scavenger-induced alteration to bone occurs while scavengers access soft tissue and during the scattering and re-scavenging of skeletal remains. Using bite mark, dimensional data to assist in the more accurate identification of a scavenger can improve interpretations of trauma and enhance search and recovery methods. This study analyzed bite marks produced on both dry and fresh surface deposited remains by wild and captive red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and Eurasian badger (Meles meles), as well as domestic dog (Canis familiaris). The bite marks produced by foxes were distinguishable from those made by badgers and dogs based on ranges of mean length and breadth of pits. The dimensional data of bite marks produced by badgers and dogs were less discernible. Bone modifications vary due to a variety of factors which must be considered, such as scavenger species-typical scavenging behavior, scavenger species' dentition, condition and deposition of remains, and environmental factors.     

Contrast Enhancement of Bite Mark Images Using the Grayscale Mixer in ACR in Photoshop®

Enhanced images may improve bite mark edge definition, assisting forensic analysis. Current contrast enhancement involves color extraction, viewing layered images by channel. A novel technique, producing a single enhanced image using the grayscale mix panel within Adobe Camera Raw^®, has been developed and assessed here, allowing adjustments of multiple color channels simultaneously. Stage 1 measured RGB values in 72 versions of a color chart image; eight sliders in Photoshop^® were adjusted at 25% intervals, all corresponding colors affected. Stage 2 used a bite mark image, and found only red, orange, and yellow sliders had discernable effects. Stage 3 assessed modality preference between color, grayscale, and enhanced images; on average, the 22 survey participants chose the enhanced image as better defined for nine out of 10 bite marks. The study has shown potential benefits for this new technique. However, further research is needed before use in the analysis of bite marks.     

Bite Mark Analysis in Foodstuffs and Inanimate Objects and the Underlying Proofs for Validity and Judicial Acceptance

Even though one of the first bite mark cases was Doyle v. State in 1954 (a bitten cheese case), the research has focused on bite marks inflicted in human skin. As published Papers, Case Reports, or Technical Notes can constitute precedents which are relied upon in making the legal arguments and a considerable amount of case law exists in this area, we present a systematic review on bite mark analysis in foodstuffs and inanimate objects and their underlying proofs for validity and judicial acceptance according to Daubert rulings. Results showed that there is vulnerability in these procedures, and it is essential to demand for focus scrutiny on the known error rates when such evidence is presented in trials. These kinds of bite marks are well documented; however, there has been little research in this field knowing that the protocols of analysis and comparison are the responsibility of the forensic odontologists.     

All Bark and No Bite: Notes on the Federal Constitutional Court's 'Banana Decision'

The Federal Constitutional Court's banana decision of 7 June 2000 continues the complex theme of national fundamental‐rights control over Community law. Whereas in the ‘Solange II’ decision (BVerfGE 73, 339) the Federal Constitutional Court had lowered its standard of review to the general guarantee of the constitutionally mandatorily required minimum, the Maastricht judgment (BVerfGE 89, 155) had raised doubts as to the continued validity of this case law. In the banana decision, which was based on the submission of the EC banana market regulation by the Frankfurt‐am‐Main administrative court for constitutional review, the Federal Constitutional Court has now confirmed the ‘Solange II’decision and restrictively specified the admissibility conditions for constitutional review of Community law as follows. Constitutional complaints and judicial applications for review of European legislation alleging fundamental‐rights infringements are inadmissible unless they show that the development of European law including Court of Justice case law has since the ‘Solange II’ decision generally fallen below the mandatorily required fundamental‐rights standard of the Basic Law in a given field. This would require a comprehensive comparison of European and national fundamental‐rights protection. This paper criticises this formula as being logically problematic and scarcely compatible with the Basic Law. Starting from the position that national constitutional courts active even in European matters should be among the essential vertical ‘checks and balances’ in the European multi‐level system, a practical alternative to the Federal Constitutional Court's retreat is developed. This involves at the first stage a submission by the Federal Constitutional Court to the Court of Justice, something that in the banana case might have taken up questions on the method of fundamental‐rights review and the internal Community effect of WTO dispute settlement decisions. Should national constitutional identity not be upheld even by this, then at a second stage, as ultima ratio taking recourse to general international law, the call is made for the decision of constitutional conflicts by an independent mediating body.     

Validation of Walkway Tribometers: Establishing a Reference Standard*

Abstract: Tribometers are mechanical devices used to measure walkway coefficient of friction (COF) for the purpose of assessing slip risk. The purpose of this study was to define a tribometer reference standard and use it to assess the performance of various tribometers. Eighty subjects were randomly assigned to walk across one of four wet walkway surfaces (polished black granite, porcelain, vinyl composition tile, and ceramic tile) to establish the relative slipperiness of each surface. Eleven tribometers were subsequently used to measure and rank the COF of all four surfaces. Our results revealed that only four of the 11 tribometers (Wessex pendulum, Sigler pendulum, Mark II, and Mark III) met our compliance criteria by both correctly ranking all four surfaces and differentiating between surfaces of varying degrees of slipperiness. Our protocol demonstrates that human gait‐based measures of slipperiness can be used to create reference standards against which tribometer measurements can be validated.     

论监察案件的证据标准——以刑事诉讼证据为参照

监察证据无需转化便可直接获得刑事诉讼证据资格,但作为职务犯罪定案的根据,必须具备刑事诉讼证据的形式条件和实质条件。监察机关的调查权与刑事侦查权具有相同的性质和功能,监察机关调查取证虽然不直接适用刑事诉讼法,但必须参照刑事诉讼法的侦查取证规则。为保障调查取证的合法性,应当对调查活动进行合理规制,对于非法获取的证据应当按照刑事诉讼法及相关司法解释确定的非法证据排除规则予以排除。监察机关调查终结的案件,应当达到刑事侦查终结的证明标准,应当低于法院判决有罪的标准,但不能比其他普通刑事案件的证明标准更高。     

Bite marks: physical properties of ring adhesion to skin--phase 2

Abstract: Bite Marks: This study demonstrated that surface wetness was the most influential factor affecting ring adhesion to skin. Also, chemical depilatories and shaving creams were to be avoided when cleaning the skin. The second phase of this research examines the tensile stress needed to rupture the bond between TAK^® hydroplastic, three new cyanoacrylates, and pigskin with particular consideration for temperature variations. This study also considers solubility issues of different cyanoacrylates in 10% formalin. Finally, the Dorion Type V bitemark excision technique could significantly reduce the risks of tissue distortion when used in conjunction with the following methods and materials. The skin should be devoid of moisture, razor shaved, and cleaned with dishwashing detergent and 98.9% ethanol while avoiding the use of shaving creams and/or chemical depilatories where ring placement is anticipated. The use of unopened cyanoacrylate is encouraged with Permabond^® as the cyanoacrylate of choice.     

中欧标准必要专利比较研究与借鉴

标准必要专利建立的目的是为了推广技术,使得技术产品具有兼容性和统一性,避免资源浪费,提高生产效率。标准必要专利具有社会公共属性,其本身具有标准的公益性与专利权的私有性相统合的特性。对中国和欧洲地区标准必要专利的立法、司法实践进行系统梳理和比较,可以为我国标准必要专利的立法和实践提供借鉴建议。对于标准必要专利的认定,应当充分考虑技术的不可替代性,同时考量法律保护的地域性和国际规则;标准必要专利许可费率的确定要对不同收费标准予以具体分析,尽量对许可费进行事前市场考量,减少主观认知偏差和事后判断产生的问题;另外可以借鉴欧洲国家司法经验,详细规定专利权人如何遵守FRAND原则的规范指南;市场地位的判定不仅需要考虑市场占有率,还应当结合时间要素判断;对于滥用市场地位的认定应当考察是否“具有滥用之恶意”。     

自主合成标准物质鉴定缴获物中的新精神活性物质ADB-FUBINACA

目的新精神活性物质在世界范围内蔓延迅速,但相关标准物质的短缺制约着其分析方法的研究和案件检验。本文以我国首次出现的N-(1-氨甲酰基-2,2-二甲基丙基)-1-(4-氟苄基)吲唑-3-甲酰胺(ADB-FUBINACA)制毒案件为例,介绍在无法及时获得商业化标准物质的情况下,不得不通过自主合成制备标准物质解决案件检验难题,建立该新精神活性物质检验的方法。方法建立气相色谱-质谱检验方法,分析条件:色谱柱为Aglient DB-5MS石英毛细管柱(30.00m×0.25mm×0.25μm);初始柱温60℃,按15℃/min升至300℃,保持15min;载气为氦,流速1.0mL/min,分流进样,进样量1.0μL,分流比20∶1;进样口温度280℃;电子轰击(EI)离子源,电子能量70eV,离子源温度230℃,四级杆温度150℃,传输线温度280℃,质量扫描范围m/z 40~500amu,全扫描模式(SCAN)采集总离子流图,溶剂延迟3.0min。案件缴获的送检未知样品经甲醇提取,超声、离心后,取上清液以GC-MS分析;将所得主要质谱特征碎片峰(m/z)通过NIST质谱库、SWGDRUG质谱数据库以及相关文献进行检索,初步确定待测目标物。采用有机合成技术制备ADB-FUBINACA标准物质,合成路线为:吲唑-3-甲酸甲酯与4-氟苄溴发生取代反应,生成1-(4-氟苄基)-1H-吲唑-3-甲酸甲酯;取代产物在碱性条件下经水解反应得到有机酸1-(4-氟苄基)-1H-吲唑-3-甲酸;在催化剂作用下,有机酸与L-叔亮酰胺发生酰化反应,制得化合物ADB-FUBINACA。经气相色谱-质谱(GC-MS)、液相色谱-离子阱-飞行时间质谱(LCMS-IT-TOF)、核磁共振(NMR)等分析,合成化合物的结构得以确证;同时采用超高效液相色谱-二极管阵列检测器(HPLC-PDA)进行分析,对其归一化纯度进行测定。将案件未知样品和合成标准物质分别用甲醇提取,超声、离心后,再行上清液GC-MS分析。结果经GC-MS分析,案件未知样品(RT=19.818min)的质谱特征碎片峰(m/z)信息为109.0(基峰)、253.1、338.1、309.1和145.0,经与合成标准物质的保留时间及质谱图检测比对,证实为N-(1-氨甲酰基-2,2-二甲基丙基)-1-(4-氟苄基)吲唑-3-甲酰胺;通过查阅相关资料,对上述质谱特征碎片峰的产生机制进行了推断,并对1H-NMR、13C-NMR和DEPT-135等一维核磁谱图的信号进行了归属分析。结论本文报道的新精神活性物质ADB-FUBINACA其GC-MS分析方法,可用于实际案件检验鉴定;合成化合物的结构表征方法也可用于固体ADB-FUBINACA的定性分析。基于有机合成技术的新精神活性物质制备与案件检验方法,可缓解有关标准物质短缺制约该类案件检验鉴定的现状。     

行政程序中间行为可诉性标准探讨——结合最高法院第69号指导案例的分析

最高法院第69号指导案例形式上提出了行政程序中间行为可诉性的新标准,但该标准并未改变行政行为成熟性的可诉性规则,秉持的仍然是行政程序中间行为原则上不可诉,只有对相对人权利义务产生实际影响的才可以纳入行政诉讼范围。实践中纷繁复杂的行政程序中间行为实践样态,需要结合个案把握该指导案例的适用标准,特别是该指导案例裁判要旨中的且字只具有强调意味,不能被其字面逻辑所迷惑,如此才能准确发挥该案例的指导价值。而且,第69号指导案例的实践意义远不仅仅在于明晰行政行为成熟性和可诉性的标准,更深远的价值在于引发诉讼类型化的进一步思考。     

美国驰名商标法则、TRIPS协议与香烟平装立法

驰名商标法则缘自《巴黎公约》,其国际应用由来已久,但是它在美国的司法适用却在绵延不断的判例中摇摆不定,迟迟无法得到承认。21世纪著名的Grupo案、ITC案和Fiat案虽能对这一问题起到一定的导向性作用,但是鉴于美国的立法程序、司法体制和国内产业利益方面的考量,法则的适用仍会是一个悬而未决的问题。有关国际商标制度变迁的另一个热点话题是香烟平装立法,澳大利亚政府作为此项规定的积极推行者,其法律遭到了多方企业和国家的反对,香烟平装立法因与TRIPS协议第8条、第20条的相互关系而备受关注,而WTO专家小组在此项争议解决中的最终态度也将直接影响各国的有关立法。