Sexual dimorphism in human browridge volume measured from 3D models of dry crania: A new digital morphometrics approach

Sex estimation from the human skull is often a necessary step when constructing a biological profile from unidentified human remains. Traditional methods for determining the sex of a skull require observers to rank the expression of sexually dimorphic skeletal traits by subjectively assessing their qualitative differences. One of these traits is the prominence of the glabellar region above the browridge. In this paper, the volume of the browridge region was measured from digital 3D models of 128 dry crania (65 female, 63 male). The 3D models were created with a desktop laser scanner, and the browridge region of each 3D model was isolated using geometric planes defined by cranial landmarks. Statistical analysis of browridge-to-cranium volume ratios revealed significant differences between male and female crania. Differences were also observed between geographically distinct populations, and between temporally distinct populations from the same locale. The results suggest that in the future, sex determination of human crania may be assisted by quantitative computer-based volume calculations from 3D models, which can provide increased objectivity and repeatability when compared to traditional forensic techniques. The method presented in this paper can easily be extended to other volumetric regions of the human cranium.     

Current practices by forensic anthropologists in adult skeletal age estimation

When determining an age estimate from adult skeletal remains, forensic anthropologists face a series of methodological choices. These decisions, such as which skeletal region to evaluate, which methods to apply, what statistical information to use, and how to combine information from multiple methods, ultimately impacts the final reported age estimate. In this study, a questionnaire was administered to 145 forensic anthropologists, documenting current trends in adult age at death estimation procedures used throughout the field. Results indicate that the Suchey-Brooks pubic symphysis method (1990) remains the most highly favored aging technique, with cranial sutures and dental wear being the least preferred, regardless of experience. The majority of respondents stated that they vary their skeletal age estimate process case-by-case and ultimately present to officials both a narrow and broad possible age range. Overall, respondents displayed a very high degree of variation in how they generate their age estimates, and indicated that experience and expertise play a large role in skeletal age estimates.     

PRICE SQUEEZE: LESSONS FROM THE TELECOM ITALIA CASE

This paper analyzes a price squeeze case in the provision oftelecommunication services to the Italian Public Administration,in which Telecom Italia, the incumbent company, was condemnedfor bidding below costs. We develop the analysis of the casehighlighting the possible anticompetitive story and the alternativecompetitive explanation. We then construct a quantitative imputationtest to verify the alleged anticompetitive behavior. The methodologicalissues and the assumptions needed to implement the test arediscussed in detail, showing their link to a precise test ofthe anticompetitive story. We discuss the reasons why the AntitrustAuthority and our views diverge over the evaluation of TelecomItalia bidding. The role of judicial review in cases with complexeconomic arguments is discussed.     

诉讼权利的滥用:程序正义的比较标准

一、APR概述综观各种法律制度,给人总体感觉是:滥用诉讼权利(the Abuse of Procedural Right,缩写为APR)的问题随处可见。但各国并未真正意识到司法中的权利滥用现象,对于APR问题的意义和重要性的认识也未达成统一,那种相信在任何地方都存在能够预防和制裁诉讼权利滥用现象的有效可行的救济方式是没有根据的。有人也许会说,没有一个法律制度完全不关注APR问题,但这只是问题的开始,而不是问题的结束,因为,诉讼权利滥用的形式是多种多样的。实际上,各国的情况大不相同:有些国家,例如法国,明确规定了APR的一般规则并授予法院处罚权〔1…     

Environmental Insurance: A Risk Management Tool for Real Estate

Traditional risk management tools including contract allocation and reliance upon statutory defenses or government releases can be incomplete, contentious, and costly solutions to address risks associated with environmental liability and cleanup obligations in real estate transfer and property ownership. Such traditional methods leave environmental risk for the interested parties in the real estate transaction to bear over time and bring added new risks to the parties. Environmental insurance transfers all or part of the risk to a third-party insurance company (insurer) that is not a participating party in the transaction, thereby taking insurable environmental risk out of the transaction. Further, environmental insurance can add positive value to the transaction by bringing necessary risk identification and validation, and loss minimization and claims handling expertise to the transaction by virtue of the underwriting and claims management process, and add the financial strength and expertise of a qualified insurer. Insurance is often perceived by lenders, investors, developers, contractors, tenants, and future purchasers as a positive assurance against environmental risk associated with the property, allowing business relationships and financing to proceed more smoothly. In this way, environmental insurance serves as a more comprehensive and complete risk management tool for the real estate transaction and property ownership.     

The Intent Behind the Cryptic Concurrence That Provided a Reporter's Privilege

Justice Lewis Powell wrote a concurrence in Branzburg v. Hayes that, despite a majority opinion to the contrary, eventually provided room for journalists to claim a privilege against testifying in grand jury proceedings. For decades, scholars and judges have questioned what Justice Powell meant by his concurrence and whether he, in fact, supported a reporter's right to refuse to reveal confidential information. Justice Powell's personal papers and case files, as well as those of his fellow justices, observations of one of his former law clerks, and oral arguments shed light on the reasoning behind Justice Powell's enigmatic concurrence. This article concludes that Justice Powell supported a qualified reporter's privilege, applied on a case-by-case basis.     

A Heterotopian Analysis of Maritime Refugee Incidents

Given the persistent significance of states in the determination of legal identities of people on the move, a consideration of the construction of people as legal (or illegal) migrants, refugees, or asylum-seekers must also recognize that these determinations take place in conjunction with the simultaneous processes through which spaces such as sovereign states or ships carrying asylum-seekers are constructed. A heterotopian analysis of the Tampa and the SIEVX of 2001 allows for a consideration of the ways in which notions of sovereignty, territory and governmentality work to stabilize ambiguous situations produced by the conflictual discourses of human rights and state power.     

The interplay of (semiotic) technologies and genre: the case of the selfie

ABSTRACT

The selfie is one of the most widely publicized, criticized, and debated visual phenomena of our time. However, formulating a definition of the selfie is not straightforward, as visual clues – be they representational or compositional – alone are not sufficient for identification. Recognizing an image as a selfie, rather than a portrait, often requires viewers to interpret the image in relation to the technological and sociocutural context in which the photo was taken and shared. In this paper, we consider the technological conditions that have shaped the evolution of the selfie as a visual genre. Central to our discussion is the premise that the selfie is not simply a genre for self-representation, but means of generating various perspectives: that of the selfie maker, the represented visual participant, and the viewer identification. This unique perspective-generating affordance of the selfie is both facilitated and constrained by the various technologies involved in selfie practices. On the one hand, the technological and physical constraints of the smart phone camera give rise to a specific form of “distorted” look which makes certain types of selfie possible. On the other hand, social media platforms facilitate the sharing of selfies, which results in increasingly stylized and creative ways in which perspectives of the self can be represented, negotiated, and, in the case of selfies manipulated via apps, augmented.