Bone weathering patterns of metatarsal v. femur and the postmortem interval in Southern Ontario

Twenty-five defleshed pig femora and 25 metatarsals were placed outdoors and observed over 291 days to establish: (1) bone weathering patterns for use in estimating time since death in Southern Ontario and (2) whether larger (femora) or smaller (metatarsals) bones provide a better indicator of time since death. Pig hind limbs were observed to determine a timeline for decomposition of soft tissues during the fall and winter. Ambient air temperature, humidity, precipitation, sunlight, soil pH, and freezing and thawing were considered as factors affecting the breakdown of bone. Weathering patterns were observed based on the extent of bleaching, amount of periosteum and soft tissues present, as well as the appearance of greasiness, cracking and flaking of cortical bone. Both entomological activity and climatic conditions affected soft tissue decomposition. Animal activity affected both the process of bone weathering and soft tissue decomposition, causing variability in sample decomposition and bone breakdown. The variation in microenvironment, partially caused by soil composition, introduced variability in bone weathering rates. Four bone weathering stages were established based on patterns observed. Femora proved to be more resilient and showed more degrees of change due to weathering, thus proving to be a better indicator of time since death than metatarsals.     

Identification of decomposition volatile organic compounds from surface-deposited and submerged porcine remains

Cadaver dogs are routinely used internationally by police and civilian search organisations to locate human remains on land and in water, yet little is currently known about the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are released by a cadaver underwater; how this compares to those given off by a cadaver deposited on land; and ultimately, how this affects the detection of drowned victims by dogs. The aim of this study was to identify the VOCs released by whole porcine (Sus scrofa domesticus) cadavers deposited on the surface and submerged in water using solid phase microextraction gas chromatography mass spectrometry (SPME GC–MS) to ascertain if there are notable differences in decomposition odour depending on the deposition location.For the first time in the UK, the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the headspace of decomposing porcine cadavers deposited in both terrestrial and water environments have been detected and identified using SPME-GCMS, including thirteen new VOCs not previously detected from porcine cadavers. Distinct differences were found between the VOCs emitted by porcine cadavers in terrestrial and water environments. In total, seventy-four VOCs were identified from a variety of different chemical classes; carboxylic acids, alcohols, aromatics, aldehydes, ketones, hydrocarbons, esters, ethers, nitrogen compounds and sulphur compounds. Only forty-one VOCs were detected in the headspace of the submerged pigs with seventy detected in the headspace of the surface-deposited pigs. These deposition-dependent differences have important implications for the training of cadaver dogs in the UK. If dog training does not account for these depositional differences, there is potential for human remains to be missed.Whilst the specific odours that elicit a trained response from cadaver dogs remain unknown, this research means that recommendations can be made for the training of cadaver dogs to incorporate different depositions, to account for odour differences and mitigate the possibility of missed human remains operationally.     

中国城市产业承载力的影响因素及分解研究

城市产业承载力提升对于解决城市发展面临的资源环境瓶颈、提升城市发展质量、推动城市可持续发展发挥着重要作用。基于2007-2016年280个地级市数据,利用面板模型和Shapley分解方法量化分析城市产业承载力的影响因素及其相对重要程度,结果表明:基础设施、科技创新、环境质量和就业状况均对城市产业承载力具有促进作用,而科技创新是城市产业承载力增长的主要推动因素;基础设施、环境质量和就业状况对城市产业承载力的现状和潜力指数均具有促进作用,基础设施和科技创新则对提升城市产业承载力禀赋有较高的解释度。此外,各因素对城市产业承载力的影响有显著的区域差异。     

企业与竞争对手合作视角下的动态博弈

价值网络中主体间的相互作用可以看做是一个动态博弈过程,运用博弈论思想在Smckelberg的菇态博弈模型基础上建立企业与单个竞争对手的互动模式,并进一步延伸到企业与多竞争对手的互动,然后用Shapley值讨论合作收益在企业与竞争对手间的分配问题,通过此过程可以探讨价值网中各主体间的最优决策问题。