The Effect of Vertebral Numerical Variation on Anatomical Stature Estimates

Abstract: Most humans possess 24 presacral vertebrae composed of seven cervicals, 12 thoracics, and five lumbars. However, variation from this standard pattern exists. The purpose of this study was to test the effect of congenital vertebral numerical variation on anatomical stature estimates and to recommend appropriate procedures when such variation occurs. Our sample consists of 41 individuals with unusual vertebral count patterns and known cadaveric statures from the Smithsonian’s Terry Collection. Raxter et al. published a revised Fully anatomical technique in 2006 and we used this to estimate living stature. Based on our results, we recommend using the standard anatomical technique to reconstruct stature, regardless of vertebral pattern. However, when an individual possesses six sacral segments together with a normal number of presacral vertebrae, we recommend the addition of a slight correction factor of 1.3 cm or 0.8% of estimated stature.     

Free Fatty Acids Composition in Adipocere of the Kwäday Dän Ts’ìnchí Ancient Remains Found in a Glacier*

Abstract: Adipocere is a postmortem decomposition product consisting of mostly a mixture of free fatty acids (FFAs) that are formed because of the hydrolysis of triglycerides in adipose tissues. This article describes a simple and robust method for the extraction, identification, and quantification of FFA commonly found in adipocere using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS). This method was applied to analyze tissues from Kwäday Dän Ts’ìnchí, ancient remains discovered in a retreating glacier in the Tatshenshini‐Alsek Park, British Columbia, Canada in August 1999. The lyophilized tissues were grinded and extracted with hexane. The trimethylsilyl fatty acid derivatives were analyzed by GC/MS, and the relative abundances of myristic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, and stearic acid were determined. Milligram per gram levels of saturated fatty acids were found in the tissues of the ancient remains, while the levels of unsaturated fatty acids, such as palmitoleic acid, were found to be negligible. The results provided further evidence of the existence of adipocere found during forensic examination of the Kwäday Dän Ts’ìnchí ancient remains.     

法律方法与几个相关概念的比较

在我国法学研究中,法律方法、法学研究方法、法学方法论、法律方法论等概念经常被混淆。文章通过比较法律方法与法学研究方法、法律方法与美国的法律方法课程、法律方法与法学方法论(法律方法论)等概念及其所对应的研究领域,阐明我国的法律方法研究,与世界各国法学界与法律界所关注的法律方法,都是围绕法律人实施法律的工作技艺与思想方法而展开的,重点是研究和探讨法律实施中的各种有效且有益的具体制度与思想方式,这一特点决定了它不同于更为宏观的法学研究方法与法学方法论(法律方法论);同时,由于我国开展法律方法研究迫切需要解决的是与我国法律实施相关的问题,因此,我国的特殊性,决定了我国有关法律方法的研究,主要是针对我国法治建设所面临的具体问题,故而,又不同于美国的法律方法课程。正是在与相关概念的区别中,展现出法律方法研究独特的价值。     

有限元方法在法医损伤鉴定中的应用

有限元方法（finite element method,FEM）是一种与现代计算机技术相联系的计算应力分析方法,已逐渐成为生物力学领域仿真人体结构力学功能研究的一个重要实验手段,可以有效地分析人体结构的物理性质,如受外力作用时人体组织的外部冲击响应及内部应力分布等,在法医损伤学研究及实践鉴定过程中具有较高的应用价值。文章综述了利用有限元方法分析高坠、交通及火器事故中颅脑损伤、脊柱损伤、骨盆损伤等的成伤机制、损伤生物力学等研究领域的成果,探讨其在法医损伤学研究以及法医检案中的应用价值。     

基础教育资源不正当竞争探析

基础教育,涉及到每个公民的基本素养和生活品质,关系着国家的发展和民族的命运。基础教育的盛衰,取决于教育资源配置的状况。教育资源既包括教育资金、设施等硬件部分,也包括教育政策、师资、校园文化等软件部分。一般来说,物质决定精神,硬件资源决定软件资源。而教育资源则不然,教育政策决定着资金的投向、教学设施和师资力量的配置。教育政策的不当,导致教育资源配置的不正当竞争,造成了地域之间、城乡之间教育资源配置的巨大差异。严重影响了基础教育的健康发展。要实现教育的公平,必须强化国家对基础教育投资的责任、加大投资力度、创立公平公正的教育资源配置机制、改革教育模式、规范资源配置行为、杜绝教育腐败,建立科学、和谐的基础教育资源配置新体系。     

将过程思想引进立法研究的思考

立法过程是立法研究的一个重要方面。过程思想提供了一种新的方法论视角,使我们动态地、联系地观察立法过程,全面、完整地把握其规律性。有关过程和立法过程的思想观点有助于我们加深认识立法过程的内涵、特点和复杂性,并可以在立法实践中具体应用。     

“以人为本”思想渊源及其当代实践

"以人为本"不是政府出于对人民表面性的尊重和技巧性的策略而提出的政治口号,它是在对我国古代"民本思想"、西方"人道主义"以及马克思主义人学理论基础上的积极扬弃和继承发展。"以人为本"内容十分丰富,既可从社会主义本质观方面得到总体体现,又可从利益分配、执政方式、文化发展和社会发展等具体层面得到体现。要想"以人为本"真正产生功效,使其从"应然"渐进到"实然"的状态,在实践中就必须坚持人民群众的实践主体地位、价值主体地位,而且要将其作为制定公共政策的根本依据。     

Comparison between Temperature Gradient Gel Electrophoresis of Bacterial 16S rDNA and Diatom Test for Diagnosis of Drowning

When a body is discovered in water, it is difficult to conclude whether the cause of death was drowning, even today. Although diatom testing by the digestive method is classical, we hypothesized that aquatic bacteria, as well as diatoms, might be detected in drowned bodies, and conducted temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE)‐targeting 16S rDNA. DNA was extracted from the site water, and from heart blood and liver samples from 27 bodies concluded as drowning deaths by autopsy and subjected to TGGE after amplification of 16S rDNA by polymerase chain reaction. We observed whether the feature point of each 16S rDNA from the site water and blood or liver samples matched. Considerably higher correspondence was observed in drowned bodies, and the rate was higher than that achieved with the digestive method. Moreover, TGGE is safer than the digestive method. Our study suggests that this method can aid diagnosis of drowning.     

X‐ray Diffraction and Rietveld Refinement in Deferrified Clays for Forensic Science

Soil vestiges might provide information about a crime scene. The Rietveld method with X‐ray diffraction data (RM‐XRD) is a nondestructive technique that makes it possible to characterize minerals present in the soils. Soil clays from the metropolitan region of Curitiba (Brazil) were submitted to DCB treatment and analyzed using XRD with CuK_α radiation in the step‐scan mode (0.02° 2θ/5 s). The GSAS+EXPGUI software was used for RM refinement. The RM‐XRD results, together with the principal component analysis (PCA) (52.6% total variance), showed the kaolinite predominance in most analyzed samples and the highest quartz contents in “site 1.” Higher anatase, and gibbsite and muscovite contents influenced discrimination, mainly in “site 3” and “site 1,” respectively. These results were enough to discriminate clays of four sites and two horizons using a reduced amount of sample showing that the technique can be applied to the investigation into soil vestiges.     

应用Pixel法测量平面内非直线长度的法医学研究

目的探寻一种法医鉴定工作中测量平面内非直线长度的方法。方法精确切断长度不同的10根焊接锡丝并读出结果作为对照组(钢尺直接读取法),再分别将这10根长度不同的焊接锡丝任意弯曲,然后用本文研究的方法计算出长度作为Pixel组,并对两组数据进行统计学分析。结果 Pixel方法得出的结果与钢尺读取法直接读出的结果之间的差异不具有统计学意义。结论 Pixel法在测量平面内非直线长度(如瘢痕、创口)上比传统的棉线法有明显优势,计算出来的长度更精确、易操作,使法医学鉴定结论更准确、有说服力,也更能适应诉讼要求,在法医学鉴定中有很好的应用前景。