Craniofacial identification by comparison of antemortem and postmortem radiographs: two case reports dealing with burnt bodies

Two cases of positive identification of burnt bodies by radiographic comparison are reported. They emphasize that antemortem radiographs of the head are an important but sometimes overlooked source of information which can frequently provide useful objective data for comparison purposes. A positive identification can easily be achieved by medical examiners through visual comparison of the antemortem with the postmortem cranial and facial structures, even of bodies severely damaged by fire. In these bodies the radiographs of the skull can graphically depict structures which are often unique to the individual, such as the frontal sinus pattern and the morphology of dental restorations. However, the process of identification through radiographs is appropriate only in burnt bodies in which antemortem radiographs of the alleged deceased are available for comparison and unique craniofacial structures are still present on the body in a well-preserved state or at least not completely destroyed by fire, depending on the extent of the burn injury. Matching of corresponding features seems preferable to other methods of personal identification such as skull-photo superimposition, morphometric analysis, and/or other computer-aided methods since these techniques need trained personnel, as well as expensive equipment which is not invariably available in the medical examiner's office or department of anthropology.     

Analysis of body fluid mixtures by mtDNA sequencing: An inter-laboratory study of the GEP-ISFG working group

The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) working group of the GEP-ISFG (Spanish and Portuguese Group of the International Society for Forensic Genetics) carried out an inter-laboratory exercise consisting of the analysis of mtDNA sequencing patterns in mixed stains (saliva/semen and blood/semen). Mixtures were prepared with saliva or blood from a female donor and three different semen dilutions (pure, 1:10 and 1:20) in order to simulate forensic casework. All labs extracted the DNA by preferential lysis and amplified and sequenced the first mtDNA hypervariable region (HVS-I). Autosomal and Y-STR markers were also analysed in order to compare nuclear and mitochondrial results from the same DNA extracts. A mixed stain prepared using semen from a vasectomized individual was also analysed. The results were reasonably consistent among labs for the first fractions but not for the second ones, for which some laboratories reported contamination problems. In the first fractions, both the female and male haplotypes were generally detected in those samples prepared with undiluted semen. In contrast, most of the mixtures prepared with diluted semen only yielded the female haplotype, suggesting that the mtDNA copy number per cell is smaller in semen than in saliva or blood. Although the detection level of the male component decreased in accordance with the degree of semen dilution, it was found that the loss of signal was not consistently uniform throughout each electropherogram. Moreover, differences between mixtures prepared from different donors and different body fluids were also observed. We conclude that the particular characteristics of each mixed stain can deeply influence the interpretation of the mtDNA evidence in forensic mixtures (leading in some cases to false exclusions). In this sense, the implementation of preliminary tests with the aim of identifying the fluids involved in the mixture is an essential tool. In addition, in order to prevent incorrect conclusions in the interpretation of electropherograms we strongly recommend: (i) the use of additional sequencing primers to confirm the sequencing results and (ii) interpreting the results to the light of the phylogenetic perspective.     

村落视野下的社会流动与社会分化——对安徽宅坦村一项历史社会学的考察

以安徽省宅坦村为个案考察了村庄人的社会流动,并探讨了社会流动对村落社会结构的影响。研究表明,宅坦村的社会流动包括经商型社会流动、教育型社会流动、战乱型社会流动、开族型社会流动。社会流动促使村落社会结构的变化,一方面村落原有的门派权力结构发生了变化,另一方面村落中的＂习惯＂又保证了村落结构的非阶级化冲突。     

显微共焦激光拉曼光谱仪分析激光打印黑色墨粉字迹

激光打印机是常用办公设备,案件中经常会涉及到激光打印文件的检验,运用显微共焦激光拉曼光谱仪检验激光打印黑色墨粉字迹是一种快速、无损、灵敏度高的检验方法,可以对墨粉成分进行定性分析,在司法实践中,此种方法对激光打印黑色墨粉具有较好的检验效果,应用前景广阔。     

车辆上脱落细胞STR检验

目的对汽车方向盘及变速杆把手上的皮肤脱落细胞进行STR检验研究。方法用EZ-tape采集车辆方向盘及变速杆上的脱落细胞,Chelex-100法与磁珠法结合提取DNA,延长保温时间。定量后调整PCR反应体系,适当增加PCR循环数,增加PCR产物量及延长进样时间进行电泳检测,使用GeneMapperIDV3.2软件进行STR分型。同时,对比使用多重置换扩增技术对提取的DNA进行全基因组扩增。结果对33份车辆方向盘和变速杆上脱落细胞的检测,其中19份检出全部基因座的基因分型结果,9份检出部分基因型,5份未检出DNA分型结果。而利用多重置换扩增技术未获得满意图谱。结论本研究建立的脱落细胞收集、DNA提取、PCR扩增及检测方法适合于车辆上脱落细胞的检验,其结果优于使用多重置换扩增技术获得的分型。     

Self‐harm Risk Among Adolescents and the Phenomenon of the “Blue Whale Challenge”: Case Series and Review of the Literature

The “Blue Whale Challenge” is a dangerous Internet phenomenon. As per media reports, it involves a series of life‐threatening tasks imposed by a “curator” to “players,” who must fulfill the whole list, and it ends with the suicide of the player. The authors report the data of five suspected cases of “Blue Whales” managed from January 2016 to December 2017 by the staff of a unit (the “Bambi Unit” of the Pediatric Hospital “Regina Margherita” of Turin, Italy) that is dedicated to the evaluation of suspected abused children. Then, they analyzed this data in the light of the literature regarding self‐harm. This comparison highlights the role of the Internet in the spreading of self‐harm behavior among vulnerable adolescents who are characterized by epidemiological, psychological, psychiatric, social, and cultural risk factors. In conclusion, the authors suggest a multidisciplinary and specialized approach in the evaluation of adolescents who committed self‐harm activities.     

A Retrospective Study of Intentional Body Dismemberment in New York City: 1996–2017

A review of New York City dismemberment cases occurring between 1996 and 2017 was conducted, which resulted in a total of 55 dismembered decedents in a 22‐year period. Annual trends indicate an average of 2.5 dismembered decedents. Additional results show that 53% of cases involved transection only, 35% involved disarticulation only, and 13% involved a combination of both. When the entire body could be accounted for, the average number of body portions per case was 5.5. Frequent locations for dismemberment were the neck, shoulders, hips, and knees. Dismemberment locations showed a general trend of anatomical symmetry. Seventy‐eight percent of the dismemberments involve disposal of body parts in an outside location. Eighty‐four percent were concealed from view with some type of covering. The findings from New York City are compared with other studies.     

新时代政策下的偶像养成模式研究 ——以节目《创造101》为例

偶像养成模式在新时代政策影响下发生了巨大变化,它把握新时代政策对公民的要求,培养出的新时代偶像成为弘扬正能量的使者。偶像养成模式对社会产生了一定的积极影响,但也对以青少年为代表的"追星"人群产生了消极影响。     

东北地区城镇体系发展的产业支撑体系培育

东北地区城镇体系与产业发展呈现出较强的适应与反馈的互动关联态势,伴随着产业结构的高级化,必将促进东北地区城镇空间结构载体功能强化以及城镇体系发展的外向化,并认为产业空间协调与城市群整合、产业体系重构与地域优化及产业升级与城市职能体系优化等是产业支撑东北地区城镇体系发展的重点。