The Impact of Racial Metric Variation in the Os Coxae on the Morphological Assessment of Sex*

Abstract: This study examines whether sex determination based on morphological traits in the os coxae is impacted by racial quantitative variation. Nineteen traits were evaluated independently by two observers in 876 os coxae. Chi‐square test was used on a random sample of 400 individuals to assess whether the distribution of correct sex assessment varied for white and black individuals based on each trait individually and all 19 traits collectively, as well as on inter‐observer agreement in correct sex assessment. Results indicate that accuracy of sex assessment varied between white and black individuals in certain individual traits; however, accuracy was not impacted when all traits were considered together. Furthermore, traits that showed significant variation in correct sex assessment between races generally were not related to size, but instead were “discrete.” Finally, analyses of inter‐observer variation suggest that disparities in sex assessment for some traits may be related to differences in trait interpretation between observers rather than morphological dissimilarities between races.     

Thyroid Cartilage Ossification and Multislice Computed Tomography Examination: A Useful Tool for Age Assessment?

Abstract: Many authors have studied the thyroid cartilage ossification process using radiographic features for age estimation of individuals. Their results were various: Sugiyama reported excellent correlation coefficients between ossification rates and civil age, unlike most other authors. We hypothesized that recent advances in imaging techniques would enable more precise evaluation of the ossification of the thyroid cartilage. We retrospectively analyzed the CT scans of 312 French patients using postprocessing software to examine the pattern of thyroid cartilage ossification, calculating the ossified volume of the cartilage on 3D reconstructions. Pearson’s correlation coefficients for volume were 0.73 for men and 0.75 for women (standard error 18.02 and 17.06), indicating considerable inter‐individual variability. Although a correlation between civil age and morphological changes was found, these methods based on thyroid cartilage ossification were not accurate enough for the assessment of individual age.     

TW2法3种标准用于中枢性性早熟患儿骨龄推断的比较

目的 探讨TW系列骨龄评分法中TW2(英国人标准)、TW2-CHN(中国人标准)和TW2-JP(日本人标准)3种标准对中枢性性早熟(central precocious puberty,CPP)惠儿骨龄评价的诊断价值,以及正常值临界点的确定.方法 选取确诊为CPP的病例组61例;对照组67例,其中同龄正常儿童61例,另6例为特殊对照组.两名医师独自阅每一对象左手腕部X线片,分别用3种标准测定骨龄;将骨龄与生理年龄的差值(d)用SPSS 13.0进行ROC分析.结果 (1)两名医师骨龄测定结果的K值为0.776(u=16.128,P<0.05):(2)TW2、TW2-CHN及TW2-JP 3种标准测得的ROC曲线下面积两两之间的差异无统计学意义;(3)TW2中d≥1.15岁、TW2-CHN中d≥1.25岁与TW2-JP中d≥0.65岁为敏感度、特异度都较高的点.结论 TW2、TW2-CHN及TW2-JP 3种标准时CPP患儿骨龄评价的诊断价值都较高,其中TW2-CHN对中国儿童的诊断价值最大.     

论公司对外担保的法律效力

《公司法》第16条规定由公司章程确定对外担保的决议机关。当实际决议的机关与章程不一致时,担保合同的法律效力如何?应当认为随着对"推定通知理论"和"越权理论"的抛弃,公司章程的公开行为本身不构成第三人知道的证据,第三人对公司章程不负有审查义务。进而需要区分公司内部行为和外部行为的法律效力,不能以担保决议违反章程为由主张对外签订的担保合同无效,两者之间无效力牵连。当章程对担保"沉默"时,我国采行"股东会中心主义",应当运用"营利性"原则将董事会的决议权限定在公司正常经营活动的范围之内。董事、经理擅自对外担保构成无权代理,未经公司追认对公司不生效力,应当自行承担对第三人造成的损失。     

中国男性青少年骨龄鉴定方法

目的研制我国当代男性青少年骨关节X线的法医学骨龄鉴定标准。方法摄取11～20周岁男性青少年X线片,根据继发骨化中心出现、干-骺闭合的影像学特征将骨发育程度分级,用SPSS、SAS软件统计分析。结果大部分指标与年龄呈中度以上相关;建立了推断年龄的最优多元回归方程及判定是否已满14、16和18周岁的判别方程。结论选用多部位、多指标综合推断骨龄可提高准确率;该法适用于国人青少年活体年龄的判定。     

Sex Determination from Hand Dimensions of North and South Indians

Abstract:  When dismembered human remains are encountered, the decedent's sex may not be obvious. For these scenarios, techniques for sex determination may play a vital part of the medicolegal investigation. Five hundred hands (230 males, 270 females) from North and South Indian region were studied to investigate sexual dimorphism in hand dimensions (hand length, hand breadth, and palm length). The hand index (hand breadth/hand length × 100) and the palm index (hand breadth/palm length × 100) were derived. The hand dimensions show a higher accuracy in sex determination when compared to indices. Of all hand dimensions, hand breadth has the highest accuracy of sex determination in the study group. The sex differences were found to be statistically significant only for the hand index on the left side. The morphometric parameters of the hand show considerable sexual dimorphism in the Indian population while the hand and palm index remain poor sex indicators. The study thus has medicolegal implications when a dismembered hand is brought for examination.     

Development of the femur--implications for age and sex determination

Growth of four variables of the femur (diapyseal length, diaphyseal length plus distal epiphysis, maximum length and vertical diameter of the head) was analyzed by polynomial regression for the purpose of evaluating its significance and capacity for age and sex determination throughout the entire life continuum. Materials included in analysis consisted of 346 specimens ranging from birth to 97 years of age from five documented osteological collections of Western European descent. Linear growth was displayed by each of the four variables. Significant sexual dimorphism was identified in two of the femoral measurements, including maximum length and vertical diameter of the head, from age 15 onward. These results indicate that the two variables may be of use in the determination of sex in sex determination from that age onward. Strong correlation coefficients were identified between femoral size and age for each of the four metric variables. These results indicate that any of the femoral measurements is likely to serve as a useful source to estimate sub-adult age in both archaeological and forensic samples.     

Morphometric analysis of third molar root development by an experimental method using digital orthopantomographs

Abstract:  The aim of the study was to conduct a morphometric analysis of the root development of the third molar, with the purpose of overcoming the limits of an exclusively morphological analysis. The study was divided in two phases. The first one was the verification of the existence of a constant crown-root (C/R) ratio on a sample of 100 third molars, characterized by a complete root development. The value obtained was used in the second phase to predict the final root's length, knowing the crown height. So we have calculated, on a sample of 322 third molars with developing roots, the final ratios between incomplete roots and complete roots. Statistical analysis was then made with 90%, 95%, and 99% confidence intervals. The results showed a significant difference according to the age of the subject and the limit values, lower and upper, for subjects aged 16 and 17 years versus those aged 18 and 19. For each analysis, the width of the class of tolerance and other statistical indicators were calculated. The results we obtained support the advantage of a morphometric study as opposed to an exclusively morphological study, but all the techniques used to determine the age of a living subject can provide only indications of the biological age, but no certainties as regards chronological age.     

Determination of sex for the 12th thoracic vertebra by morphometry of three-dimensional reconstructed vertebral models

Thirty-three linear measurements and two ratios were derived from 102 12th thoracic vertebrae of the Digital Korean database at the Catholic Institute for Applied Anatomy. Of 35 linear traits, 23 were sexually dimorphic. We created 23 discriminant function equations that predicted sex with 62.7-85.3% accuracy. The analysis using combinations of two factors gave higher accuracies: most equations with accuracies over 80% included at least one measurement involving the coronal diameter of the vertebral endplate. Using stepwise method of discriminant function analysis, three variables predicted sex with 90.0% accuracy: the coronal diameter of the superior endplate of the vertebral body, the ratio of anterior to middle height of the body, and the length of the left mammillary process and pedicle. Coronal dimensions of the vertebral body represented the major sex difference. These equations will help forensic discrimination of the sex of this vertebra among Koreans.     

Determination of male age at death in Chinese Han population: using quantitative variables statistical analysis from pubic bones

Determination of age at death by skeletal features is difficult, but important, both in forensic and physical anthropology. Pubic symphysis is a widely accepted morphological indicator, which provides the best result for personal age identification. Age prediction in this study used nine indicators of morphological changes, viz: ridges and furrows on the symphysial surface, ridge of pubic tubercle, lower extremity, ventral beveling, ossific nodules, dorsal margin, ventral rampart, general macroscopic changes of symphysial surface, and bone density of the symphysial surface. Samples were drawn from 262 male individuals. The study procedures are as follows: Firstly, we examined the morphological features of pubic symphysis using criteria similar to Hanihara's and Suchey-Brooks (SB). Secondly, we evaluated each stage with an appropriate score. Thirdly, we deduced four equations of male age assessment of morphological features by statistic analysis. The results were compared with Hanihara's and Suchey-Brooks method; the similarities and differences among them were discussed objectively. The method produced consistent results as well as developing the criteria of Hanihara's and Suchey-Brooks'.