The Reliability of Visually Comparing Small Frontal Sinuses*

Abstract: Several studies have investigated frontal sinus comparison for personal identification. One study addressed the statistical reliability of correct identification using automated digital methods and resulted in a 96% accuracy rate. Missed matches with the digital methods generally involved small, less featured sinuses. This study investigates the hypothesis that human examiners may be able to more accurately identify correct matches than digital methods, even when the comparisons involve small frontal sinuses. Participants were provided two sets of 28 radiographs and were instructed to identify matching radiographs and list the radiographs that did not have a corresponding match. Overall, error rates were low, with correct associations identified at a rate of 0.983. No incorrect associations (“false positives”) were made. Correct association rates were highest among participants “experienced” examining radiographs. Results support previous assertions that frontal sinus radiographs are a reliable means of personal identification even when the frontal sinuses are small.     

Social science and the Courts

Social scientists have increasingly become involved in the submission of amicus curiae or friend of the court briefs in legal cases being decided by state and federal courts. This increase has triggered considerable debate about the use of briefs to communicate relevant social science research. This article evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of various methods of summarizing social science research for the courts. It also reviews the procedures for submitting briefs developed by the American Psychology-Law Society which, in collaboration with the American Psychological Association, has submitted its first brief inMaryland v. Craig, a case recently decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.The authors wish to thank James Ogloff, Kathy Roesch, and Claudia Worrell for their comments on an earlier draft     

Seasonal patterns of arthropods occurring on sheltered and unsheltered pig carcasses in Buenos Aires Province (Argentina)

Differences in the succession of insects and other Arthropoda (invertebrate animals with jointed legs), on domestic pig carcasses placed under a roof and under the open sky have been studied in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina (latitude 34 degrees 45'S) in all the seasons of the year. Faunal associations proved different for each treatment in winter: the common bluebottle Calliphora vicina was found in both, but on the sheltered carcass Cochliomyia macellaria and the rare Phaenicia cluvia were found as well. In the fall, the difference between sheltered and unsheltered carcasses was small (six species on the former and five species on the latter); in spring and summer, the difference was negligible.     

Genetic diversity at two pentanucleotide STR and thirteen tetranucleotide STR loci by multiplex PCR in four predominant population groups of central India

Genetic diversity study at STR loci in 208 individuals belonging to two backward groups, one caste and one tribal community of Central India called "Chhattisgarh" has been carried out to evaluate significance of Powerplex System loci in human identification and population diversity. Populations are Agharia (72), Satmani (50), Dheria Gond (36) and Teli (50). Fifteen loci (Powerplex 16 Kit) studied are Penta E, D18S51, D21S11, THO1, D3S1358, FGA, TPOX, D8S1179, vWA, Amelogenin, Penta D, CSF1PO, D16S539, D7S820, D13S317 and D5S818. The studied penta nucleotide STR (two) and 13 tetranucleotide (CODIS ) STR are found to be highly polymorphic genetic markers in all studied populations. Most common allele for the four studied population has been found to be same at THO1 (allele 9), D8S1179 (allele 14), CSF1PO (allele 12), Penta E (allele 11) and D16S539 (allele 11). Penta E is found to be most polymorphic (PD=0.89373) among studied 15 STR loci in four populations of Central India.     

Having the cake and eating it too: efficient penalty clauses in Common and Civil contract law

In this paper we examine one of the areas where there is a marked difference between Civil and Common contract law, that of the enforcement of liquidated damages and more particularly of penalty clauses. Common law judges are quite reluctant to enforce liquidated damages, especially if they believe that they include penalty clauses which are not enforceable. On the contrary, in almost all European contract laws liquidated damages are readily enforced, as are penalty clauses when they are not manifestly excessive. Although most law and economics scholars have criticized Common law courts for the non-enforcement of penalty clauses, there is a sizable minority of scholars who have defended the Common law “non-enforcement” policy on the ground that penalty clauses are inefficient because they hinder efficient breach. However, and despite the merits of the arguments advanced by advocates of the non-enforcement of penalty clauses, we believe that Common law’s rejection of penalty clauses is inefficient. We further show that the Civil law solution to the problem is not only comparatively more efficient, but that it can also appease the worries of those scholars who are afraid that efficient breaches will be deterred. The solution that Civil law systems give to the problem manages to enforce the parties’ wishes and to avoid deterring efficient breaches. However, we point out that in order for the Civil law systems to take advantage of this superiority, the interpretation of their Civil Codes should be guided by economic analysis and the respect to the wishes of the contracting parties.