Feasibility of Contactless 3D Optical Measurement for the Analysis of Bone and Soft Tissue Lesions: New Technologies and Perspectives in Forensic Sciences

Abstract:  In forensic pathology and anthropology, a correct analysis of lesions on soft tissues and bones is of the utmost importance, in order to verify the cause and manner of death. Photographs, videos, and photogrammetry may be an optimal manner of immortalizing a lesion, both on cadavers and skeletal remains; however, none of these can supply a detailed three-dimensional (3D) modeling of the lesion. Up to now, only the use of casts has given us the possibility of studying deep lesions such as saw marks with an accurate and complete 3D reconstruction of bone structure. The present study aims at verifying the applicability of 3D optical contactless measurement for the accurate recording of soft tissue and bone lesions, in order to develop a unique and precise method of registering and analyzing lesions, both in forensic pathology and anthropology. Three cases were analyzed: the first, a car accident with blunt force skin injuries; the second, a murder with blunt force injury to the head applied with a metal rod; the third, a series of sharp force knife and saw lesions on bone. Results confirm that 3D optical digitizing technology is a crucial tool in the immortalization of wound morphology in the medico-legal context even on "difficult" substrates such as cut marks and saw marks on bone.     

Facial soft tissue depths in craniofacial identification (part I): An analytical review of the published adult data

With the ever increasing production of average soft tissue depth studies, data are becoming increasingly complex, less standardized, and more unwieldy. So far, no overarching review has been attempted to determine: the validity of continued data collection; the usefulness of the existing data subcategorizations; or if a synthesis is possible to produce a manageable soft tissue depth library. While a principal components analysis would provide the best foundation for such an assessment, this type of investigation is not currently possible because of a lack of easily accessible raw data (first, many studies are narrow; second, raw data are infrequently published and/or stored and are not always shared by some authors). This paper provides an alternate means of investigation using an hierarchical approach to review and compare the effects of single variables on published mean values for adults whilst acknowledging measurement errors and within-group variation. The results revealed: (i) no clear secular trends at frequently investigated landmarks; (ii) wide variation in soft tissue depth measures between different measurement techniques irrespective of whether living persons or cadavers were considered; (iii) no clear clustering of non-Caucasoid data far from the Caucasoid means; and (iv) minor differences between males and females. Consequently, the data were pooled across studies using weighted means and standard deviations to cancel out random and opposing study-specific errors, and to produce a single soft tissue depth table with increased sample sizes (e.g., 6786 individuals at pogonion).     

Red Lines and Compromises: Mapping Underlying Complexities of Brexit Preferences

The political discourse is characterised by two opposing ideals of hard and soft Brexit. In this article, we present evidence of attitudinal types that map neatly onto these archetypal views. The hard Brexit view is defined by issues that eurosceptics prioritise, most prominently sovereignty. By contrast, europhiles prioritise cooperation with Europe in terms of scientific collaboration and market access. However, attitudinal types are not either/or in the minds of the British public, and many prioritise all or none of the issues. Further, the two opposing positions together account for 37 per cent of the public's view. That is, just over one‐third differentiate between the salient issues in ways congruent with political ideals. National identity plays a particular role in the sociodemographic profiles of these attitude types. Older people have a strong stance in any direction (sovereignty, cooperation, or both), but national identity is linked to differentiated positions (sovereignty only or cooperation only).     

“New Terrorism” = Higher Brutality? An Empirical Test of the “Brutalization Thesis”

This article focuses on the so-called “brutalization” of terrorism. The brutalization thesis as part of the larger theoretical concept of “new terrorism” argues that “new terrorism” is more brutal than “old terrorism.” Many scholars claim that the 9/11 attacks mark the beginning of a new era of terrorism that has lifted international as well as domestic terrorism to a new level of violent brutality. Others argue that this process had already started in the early 1990s. After discussing possible ways to operationalize a brutalization of terrorism, for example focusing on suicide bombings or terrorist attacks against soft targets, this article tests the empirical credibility of the brutalization thesis regarding both potential starting points. Data from the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) shows that only three out of nine indicators increased significantly during the 1990s, partially backing the idea of a general brutalization, whereas increasing numbers of suicide attacks and beheadings after 9/11 support the notion of a qualitative change in terrorism and its brutality connected with the idea of maximizing media and public attention. Yet, these developments are regionally limited and the brutality of this “new terrorism” exceeds the levels known from the zenith of “old terrorism” in the 1970s and 1980s in only a few cases.     

试论公安院校学生耐力素质训练

为适应今后公安工作的需要,警察院校的学生体能训练中耐力素质训练应一直延伸至毕业,并改革训练方法,通过对比发展普遍提高学生的耐力素质。     

企业员工PO匹配偏好的对偶比较研究——基于员工职业发展水平与组织文化强度的视角

以1000名企业员工为调查对象,采用对偶比较法探讨了职业发展水平和组织文化强度对员工PO匹配偏好的影响.运用SPSS11.5对收集的780份有效问卷进行因素分析及独立样本T检验,结果显示:(1)当前我国员工整体更加偏好采用能力匹配的方式实现PO匹配;(2)职业发展水平较高的员工更加偏好价值观匹配,职业发展水平较低的员工更加偏好能力匹配;(3)在组织文化强度较高的企业中员工更加偏好价值观匹配,在组织文化强度较低的企业中员工更加偏好能力匹配.最后,对研究的理论和实践意义作了探讨.     

我国文化软实力的动力缺失及对策研究

加快提升我国文化软实力,已经成为事关全党和国家发展的重大而紧迫的课题。我国文化软实力在发展中存在动力缺失的问题,必须加以重视并及时改进,并以此促进我国文化软实力的整体发展。     

软法语境下高校自治规则的合法性重塑

高校内部自治规则本身的合法性问题引发了高校治理的合法性危机。传统的行政法研究进路虽解决了高等学校作为行政诉讼被告的必要性问题,但对高校自治规则本身合法性问题的回避,使其无法在最终意义上为高校依法善治开出一剂良药。相较之下,软法则为高校自治规则的合法性构建提供了新的研究路径:一方面,以开放、参与和协商为特征的软法机制与高校自治的精神在本质上相契合;另一方面,软法规范需置于宪法和相关硬法的约束之下,则又可以防止高校自治脱离国家法,背离良法之治。     

柔性行政方式：推动法治政府和服务型政府建设的重要抓手——兼评莫于川教授主编的《柔性行政方式法治化研究》

时代的发展,促使传统的行政执法目标模式发生变化,也对行政方式提出了新的要求。正如莫于川教授主编的《柔性行政方式法治化研究》一书所谈到的那样,以宪政发展的眼光,从建设法治政府、服务型政府的视角来看,柔性行政方式的出现和日趋规范的运用,是社会发展客观规律的反映,是时代进步的必然选择。在行政执法的过程中,我们要迅速转变观念,坚持刚柔相济、柔性优先的理念,解决行政实务中存在的问题,大力推动法治政府和服务型政府的建设。