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。     

计算被征收不动产价值的时间标准——美国法上的情形及其对解决“潘蓉案”的启示

被征收不动产的价值是变动的,征收补偿时,必须确定计算被征收不动产价值的时间标准。上海"潘蓉案"的重要争点之一就是应以潘蓉房产在何时的价值为补偿标准。美国法典没有对该问题的规定,部分州立法规定了计算被征收不动产价值的时间标准。美国法院一般尊重这些成文法,但如果在个案中适用成文法导致明显不公正,会援引《美国宪法第五修正案》中的公平补偿条款对时间标准做出微调。美国法的做法对我们解决"潘蓉案"有较大的启示意义。     

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。     

超期羁押问题的思考及对策

超期羁押是当前困扰我国司法实践的一大问题,司法制度的不完善是造成超期羁押的主要原因。文章从司法体制和实践方面对超期羁押问题提出了解决对策。     

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。     

Visualization of Aged Fingerprints with an Ultraviolet Laser

Detection of aged fingerprints is difficult because they can degrade over time with exposure to light, moisture, and temperature. In this study, aging fingerprints were visualized by time‐resolved spectroscopy with an ultraviolet‐pulsed laser. Fingerprints were prepared on glass slides and paper and then stored under three lighting conditions and two humidity conditions for up to a year. The fluorescence intensities of the fingerprints decreased with time. Samples were stored in the dark degraded less than in sunlight or under a fluorescent lamp. Samples were stored under low humidity degraded less than under moderate humidity. As the storage period increased, a fluorescence emission peak appeared that was at a longer wavelength than the peak visible in earlier spectra. This peak was used for visualization of an aged fingerprint over time. An image of the fingerprint was not initially visible, but an image appeared as the time since deposition of the fingerprint increased.     

应用枕骨大孔面积判定性别的研究进展

性别是个体识别的主要生物学指标之一,是法医学鉴定不明骨骼残骸的重要初始步骤。枕骨大孔因其解剖学位置的隐匿性、形态学的稳定性、性别与种族的差异性成为法医学性别判定的研究热点,其中枕骨大孔面积是枕骨大孔区域中进行性别判定准确率较高的指标之一。本文以枕骨大孔面积为主要研究对象,就国外学者通过干颅骨样本、CT影像、CBCT影像测量枕骨大孔面积判定性别的方法进行总结,对国内应用枕骨大孔面积进行性别判定研究提供参考。     

死亡人体胸肌组织中rRNA亚基的稳定性评价

目的观察尸体胸大肌组织中rRNA各亚基表达水平的死后稳定性,探讨其在死亡时间推断中应用的价值。方法选取6例（3例成人、3例婴幼儿）外界温、湿度环境基本一致、死亡时间基本一致（24h以内）的个体,提取左侧胸大肌组织,在PBS缓冲液中低温冻存,分别在尸检即刻、2、3、4、5、6、7、8、9、10d提取微量组织保存于RNA固定液中,通过实时荧光定量RT-PCR技术检测rRNA 5srRNA、5.8srRNA、18srRNA、28srRNA亚基的表达水平。并分析年龄、死因对rRNA亚基表达水平的影响。结果死后各时间点rRNA各亚基的表达随死后经过时间延长无显著性降解,Ct值变化与死后经过时间无相关性（P值均大于0.05）,其中5s rRNA在18.503±2.655~20.937±2.340之间,5.8s rRNA在17.687±3.011~20.617±2.204之间,18s rRNA在16.457±3.920~22.330±2.571之间,28s rRNA在15.077±6.051~22.207±2.685之间。结论人体胸肌组织中rRNA各亚基稳定性好,其各亚基的表达量与死因、年龄无关,适于作为晚期死亡的推断的内参基因。