Analysis of Three Commonly Used Tibia Length Measurement Techniques

This study analyzes three tibia length measurement techniques on a sample of 107 tibiae. Two of the techniques meet published criteria by resting the tibia on its posterior surface with the longitudinal axis parallel to an osteometric board. The third technique does not adequately keep the longitudinal axis parallel to the board. Statistical analyses show low levels of interobserver error for all techniques and statistically significant differences between the third technique and the other two techniques. Results report a maximum difference of 6 mm between measurement techniques with the third technique having greater than 95% directional bias. A survey sent out to the American Academy of Forensic Sciences forensic anthropology community reported more than 50% of respondents having been taught the third technique when an osteometric board with a slot/hole is not available. The intermixing of the third technique with the other two has likely contributed to higher levels of interobserver error in tibia length measurements.     

Z‐Transform Method for Pairwise Osteometric Pair‐matching,

A new pairwise osteometric pair‐matching approach based on the Z‐transform method is presented. In contrast to previous methods that perform a global t‐test on the summed skeletal element pair measurement distances, this approach performs t‐tests on each individual distance, facilitating the capture of measurement‐specific variation. This new approach is compared to published pairwise sorting methods using a standard reference dataset of postcranial remains maintained by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicates significantly improved performance for the clavicle and radius over all previous methods (p < 0.01). The z‐transform method weighted by the effect size outperformed the t‐test (Byrd and Adams) and the mean t‐test (Lynch) for all elements (p < 0.01). The method performed better than the absolute value t‐test (Lynch) for five elements (p < 0.01) and performed at least as well for the remainder. To facilitate usability all methods are available at: https://github.com/spawaskar-cora/z-transform-method .     

Ochronosis Presenting as Methemoglobinemia

Ochronosis is the blue‐gray discoloration of collagen‐containing tissues due to homogentisic acid (HGA) deposition, secondary to endogenous alkaptonuria or exogenous enzyme inhibition. In renal disease, accumulation of HGA in serum can cause methemoglobinemia. A 60‐year‐old woman with renal disease and anemia presented with 3 days of weakness and months of gray skin discoloration. Her hemoglobin was 8.1g/dl with 24.5% methemoglobin. Despite treatment with methylene blue, exchange transfusion, and continuous renal replacement therapy, the patient died. Autopsy revealed gray discoloration and ochronotic pigment in the ribs and cartilage. Based on these findings, the patient was diagnosed with ochronosis, suggestive of alkaptonuria, complicated by methemoglobinemia. The differential diagnosis for blue‐gray skin discoloration includes argyria, methemoglobinemia, and ochronosis. This patient's clinical and autopsy findings suggested alkaptonuria complicated by methemoglobinemia due to progressive renal dysfunction. Development of methemoglobinemia in the setting of chronic skin discoloration and renal failure should prompt consideration of alkaptonuria.     

A quasi-experimental evaluation of the impact of bike-sharing stations on micro-level robbery occurrence

Objectives

To examine if the implementation of bike-sharing stations is linked to robbery occurrence in micro-level street corner units in Cincinnati, OH, USA.

Methods

Propensity score matching was used to select comparison street corner units. The effect of bike-sharing station implementation on robbery occurrence across weekly, biweekly, and monthly observations was estimated using repeated measures multi-level logistic regression models.

Results

Bike-sharing stations did not statistically significantly link to robbery occurrence in immediate or nearby street corner units after implementation.

Conclusions

Numerous explanations consistent with Crime Pattern Theory may explain the null effect of bike-sharing stations on robbery occurrence. Future research should continue to examine how changes in the urban backcloth, such as bike-sharing stations, impact geographic crime patterns.

     

Cognitive Impact of Fatigue in Forensic Neuropsychology Context

Physical and mental fatigue are common factors affecting function and recovery in litigated injuries and illnesses. Despite the high prevalence of fatigue-related symptoms and anticipated impact on cognitive functioning, forensic neuropsychological assessments are often challenged by the following approaches to the evaluation of fatigue: (1) confusing physical and mental fatigue; (2) referencing fatigue as a factor in existence but disregarding its specific cognitive impact; (3) over-attribution of all identified problems to fatigue; and (4) neglecting the impact of fatigue on effort in testing. In the context of a wide range of idiosyncratic approaches applied by neuropsychologists with respect to the significance of fatigue factors and the role of the assessor in accounting for them, there is a risk of confusion. Yet, impairments caused by fatigue can be disabling and resistant to treatment, and even more so when the treatment is based on incorrect diagnostic, causality, and prognostic assumptions. The current review will focus on integrating the available empirical evidence from neuroscience and neuropsychology regarding our current understanding of the cognitive impact of fatigue. Our critical review will emphasize the implications of the accumulating new evidence for forensic assessment determinations regarding causality, diagnosis, and impact on function, as well as prognosis and treatment. To this end, electronic search engines including PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar (up to January 2018) have been screened and reviewed both for the neuroscience and neuropsychological literature related to mental fatigue.     

The Automation of Regression Modeling in Osteometric Sorting: An Ordination Approach

This study compares the original osteometric sorting association method with an ordination approach across all combinations of the humerus, ulna, radius, femur, tibia, and fibula. This includes both the original prediction interval and t‐statistic approaches. Standard measurements are utilized in the models with full measurements combined and without length measurements. The sample is the osteometric sorting reference from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. A full set of performance statistics is provided. Results indicate the ordination approach outperforms the original in the majority of bone combinations. Models with length measurements have more exclusion power than those without. It is recommended for the ordination approach to supersede the original when applied to large commingled assemblages.     

Beliefs about secondary confession evidence: a survey of laypeople and defense attorneys

We surveyed students, community members, and defense attorneys regarding beliefs about secondary confession evidence (i.e. when a third party tells authorities that a person has confessed to him or her) from jailhouse informants and other sources. Results indicated that laypeople perceive secondary confessions as less credible than other types of evidence (e.g. forensics, DNA, eyewitness testimony), and they are knowledgeable about factors that may influence the veracity of secondary confessions, such as incentives or previous testimony. However, they underestimated or were uncertain about how persuasive secondary confessions would be to themselves or other jurors. Compared to laypeople, defense attorneys were more sensitive about issues affecting the reliability of secondary confessions.     

Limitations on the ability to negotiate justice: attorney perspectives on guilt,innocence, and legal advice in the current plea system

In the American criminal justice system the vast majority of criminal convictions occur as the result of guilty pleas, often made as a result of plea bargains, rather than jury trials. The incentives offered in exchange for guilty pleas mean that both innocent and guilty defendants plead guilty. We investigate the role of attorneys in this context, through interviews with criminal defense attorneys. We examine defense attorney perspectives on the extent to which innocent defendants are (and should be) pleading guilty in the current legal framework and investigate their views of their own role in this complex system. We also use a hypothetical case to probe the ways in which defense attorneys consider guilt or innocence when providing advice on pleas. Results indicate that attorney advice is influenced by guilt or innocence, but also that attorneys are limited in the extent to which they can negotiate justice for their clients in a system in which uncertainty and large discrepancies between outcomes of guilty pleas and conviction at trial can make it a sensible option to plead guilty even when innocent. Results also suggest conflicting opinions over the role of the attorney in the plea-bargaining process.