Age estimation by pulp/tooth ratio in canines by mesial and vestibular peri-apical X-rays

Changes in the size of the pulp canal, caused by apposition of secondary dentine, are the best morphometric parameters for estimating age by X-rays. The apposition of secondary dentine is the most frequently used method for age estimation in adult subjects. In two previous papers, we studied the application of the pulp/tooth area ratio by peri-apical X-rays as an indicator of age at death. The aim of the present study was to test the accuracy of age evaluation by combined analysis of labio-lingual and mesial peri-apical X-rays of lower and upper canines. A total of 200 such X-rays were assembled from 57 male and 43 female skeletons of Caucasian origin, aged between 20 and 79 years. For each skeleton, dental maturity was evaluated by measuring the pulp/tooth area ratio according to labio-lingual and mesial X-rays on upper (x(1), x(2)) and lower (x(3), x(4)) canines. Very good agreement was found between intra-observer measurements. Statistical analysis showed that all variables x(1), x(2), x(3), and x(4) and the first-order interaction between x(1) and x(3) contributed significantly to the fit, so that they were included in the regression model, yielding the following regression formula: Age = 120.737 - 337.112x(1) - 79.709x(2) - 364.534x(3) - 65.655x(4) + 1531.918x(1)x(3) . The residual standard error of estimated ages was 3.62 years, with 94 degrees of freedom, and the median of the residuals was -0.155 years, with an interquartile range of 4.96 years. The accuracy of the method was ME = 2.8 years, where ME is the mean prediction error. The model also explained 94% of total variance (R(2) = 0.94).     

Ossification Degrees of Cranial Sutures Determined with Flat‐Panel Computed Tomography: Narrowing the Age Estimate with Extrema

Abstract: Since Broca’s time (1824–1880), ossification of the neurocranial sutures has been used as a characteristic of age. Current approaches include the visual macroscopic examination of ecto and endocranial sutures. The evaluation of the cross‐section of sutures usually necessitates the destruction of the neurocranium. In a nondestructive alternative approach that was tested within the context of the “Digital Forensic Osteology” project that ran in cooperation with the Virtopsy^®‐Project, it emerged that the resolution of conventional multi‐slice computed tomography data sets was not high enough to image sutures. Thus for the experiments presented here, the eXplore Locus Ultra flat‐panel computed tomography scanner from GE Healthcare was used. Calottes were scanned during autopsy and then immediately returned to the corpse. So far, the skullcaps of 221 individuals have been scanned. The cross‐sections of 14 suture segments could be assessed for seven previously defined stages of ossification. In a converse step, the 14 highest and lowest age estimate values corresponding to the individual stages of suture closure found were estimated for each calotte. The obtained ranges narrowing down the age estimate were evaluated with statistics. A mean value of 43.31 years for the range of narrowed age estimates shows that this method can be a useful aid in estimating age. The results of intra‐ and inter‐observer tests showed good overall agreement between the findings of three observers. This method is suitable for a nondestructive age estimation and can be used for the entire calotte.     

Testing Discriminant Functions for Sex Determination from Deciduous Teeth*,†

Abstract: Three studies have proposed discriminant functions for sex determination from deciduous tooth crown dimensions, and this study tests the existing functions on a sample of 46 Portuguese immature skeletons of known sex, aged from birth to 10 years. Deciduous teeth were measured in their mesiodistal and faciolingual crown dimensions, and percentage of correct allocation accuracy in determining sex using each specific function was determined. Discriminant functions were also calculated from data collected for this study and tested using cross‐validation. Results show poor overall accuracy (33.3–75%) and poor cross‐validation (46.2–60.0%). This is related to low sexual dimorphism in deciduous tooth crown size, as well as differences in degree of sexual dimorphism and in overall tooth size between different samples. For these reasons, deciduous crown size does not seem to show significant forensic value as discriminator of sex, particularly when methods developed on one population are applied to individuals of another population.     

论高管“问题薪酬”的董事问责

如遇高管薪酬,董事就可能基于互惠和群体思维等情景以及单纯接触效应和框定效应下的生物本能,无意识地"董董相护",高管"寻租"如愿以偿,自应对董事问责。理性回路下的注意路径不能对情感回路下的"董董相护"对症下药,实际上放纵了高管"问题薪酬"。以诚信路径予以涵摄,则可以不枉不纵。是否构成"董董相护",需借助于高管薪酬的合理性进行推论。基于高管薪酬合理性边界的模糊性,拿捏高管薪酬的合理性,需以企业价值最大化为指针,借助高管薪酬的标准、水平和结构的合理性,厘定相应的参照系。     

氟乙酰胺代谢产物氟离子检测芯片的研究

目的研制含氟毒物的检测芯片,实现氟乙酰胺等含氟毒物的快速电化学检测。方法利用氟离子选择电极制备含氟毒物的检测芯片,对芯片各项性能进行测试;建立氟乙酰胺染毒动物模型,使用制备的氟离子芯片检测染毒致死大白兔体内氟离子浓度。结果血液添加标准检测氟离子其线性响应范围为1～10-6mol/L,相关系数为0.9994,平均斜率接近理论斜率,检测限为5×10-7mol/L。染毒组大耳白兔血中氟离子含量较对照组高5～6倍（P〈0.01）,肝、肾、脑组织中氟离子含量较对照组高2～4倍（P〈0.01）。结论此含氟毒物的检测芯片检测氟离子快速、简便、灵敏,可应用于氟乙酰胺等含氟毒物中毒案件的初筛。     

论表达自由的界限（上）——从比较法、特别是普通法的视角切入

表达自由是自由社会的人们享有的一项带有普遍性的、根本性的权利,通常表现为宪法或法律规定的权利。鉴于各国政治和法律体制以及文化环境之不同,人们享有该项权利的普遍性和充分性存在很多差别,因此,可从比较法,特别是普通法的角度关注该项根本权利的行使及对其设定的界限和施加的限制,集中展示强加这等界限或限制的法理学说、理据以及方法和途径,并分析提出具有普遍意义的结论。     

《鹿特丹规则》下批量合同相关法律问题探析

《鹿特丹规则》的一个创新之处在于将批量合同明确纳入了公约的调整范围,并对批量合同采取非强制适用的原则。但《鹿特丹规则》对批量合同定义的模糊性以及合同自由在批量合同范围内的应用,都可能危害一部分托运人的利益,而《鹿特丹规则》又未对其给予足够的保护,可能会有碍海运法规的国际统一。通过对《鹿特丹规则》中与批量合同相关的条文进行分析,探讨和评论其中涉及的法律问题。     

著作权正当性的危机与出路

在著作权利益集团主导的著作权体制下,著作权成为直接控制消费者的工具以及创作自由与网络技术发展的障碍,从而造成著作权侵权成为一种常态社会现象的危机。只有坚持每一种新生的著作权客体与权利都经过充分的正当性论证、构建以维护创作自由与网络技术发展以及不以消费者为直接控制对象的权利与权利限制制度,才能使已经发生或正在发生的对著作权正当性的偏离得到回归。     

法国宪法基本权利的概念与借鉴

作为法国宪法的基本范畴之一,基本权利概念的出现以宪法委员会之基本权利保障职能的活性化为基础,借鉴了外国法的表述,通过宪法裁判获得承认,并于2008年修宪确认于宪法典正文中。基本权利概念出现的原因在于,传统的公共自由只能防御行政权的侵害,而不具有对抗法律的效果,因此,需要反思传统的法律至上主义人权观、实现基本权利及其宪法规范的至上性。相应地,基本权利的论证路径也经历了从主观主义到客观主义的演变。外国法与比较法在我国基本权利研究中应用不足,法国的基本权利概念对我国学术界辨析基本权利与宪法权利的名称、基本权利的论证路径均有借鉴意义。     

试论渎职犯罪中直接经济损失与间接经济损失的司法认定

渎职犯罪的多个罪名中直接经济损失、间接经济损失直接影响法律责任的认定,因此经济损失的认定成为检察机关反渎职侵权部门应用《立案标准》、查办案件过程中必须予以先期解决的问题。本文拟对实务中涉及的几个问题进行探讨、梳理,以期助益于工作。