The identification of a dismembered human body: a multidisciplinary approach

A criminal case was directed to a multidisciplinary forensic team for identification, concerning a victim whose head, having two gunshot wounds, had been separated by a sharp instrument and was recovered 6 months later. The purpose of this research was to determine the sex and age of the victim for human identification. Primarily, macroscopic examination of the skull, tooth, and DNA analysis was conducted for sex determination. A rough assessment of age was made from the skull based on anthropological findings, however a more definitive result of age estimation was determined utilizing dental morphology. The dental data showed an age range of 32-37 from the mineral examination and the formulation of microscopic measurements. The results obtained from the skull and dental analysis matched with the physical characteristics of the victim's body, the known personal data of this person, and with the superposition of the photos gathered by a formal request. Besides, the result of DNA profiling of the victim showed male gender and direct relationship with the victim's presumed wife and daughter. Generally, research on human identification consists of sex and age determination. The sex characteristics can be precisely proved from DNA tests. However, age can be estimated by skeletal, and dental analysis. In this case the performed sex and age analysis lead the research to the selective matching of the missing person's identity.     

Why Do People Hang Themselves on Trees? An Evaluation of Suicidal Hangings on Trees in Konya,Turkey, between 2001 and 2008

Hanging is the most common method of suicide in the world, and many public places offer a means or opportunity to carry out the activity. Of 4,452 death examinations and autopsies, there were 378 (8.5%) suicides and suicide method was hanging in 185 (48.9%) cases. In 20 of these (10.8%), the suspension point was the branch of a tree. The incident location was the garden of the victim's house in nine cases, the woodlands in seven cases. The suicides were attributed to psychiatric disorders in nine cases, economic problems in six cases, and family problems in five cases. It is concluded that hanging on a tree as a suicide method is often committed by males and the underlying motive may be different in suicidal hangings on trees occurring at daytime and night. For preventional purposes, the reporting of such suicides in public places by the media may be restricted by local authorities.     

Radiographic evaluation of third molar development in relation to chronological age among Turkish children and youth

A sharp increase in forensic age estimation of living persons has been observed in recent years. However, ethnic populations residing in different countries have been insufficiently analyzed. According to 2004 data compiled by the Essen-based Turkey Research Center, there are 3.8 million Turkish people living abroad, and 3.2 million of them reside in European Union countries. Despite the high number of Turks living abroad, little is known about third-molar development for forensic application in this population. Hence, it was considered worthwhile to determine the developmental stages of the third molar in a group of Turkish population, to assess chronological age estimation based on the developmental stages, and to compare third molar development according to sex, age and location. Orthopantomograms of 1134 Turkish patients, ages 4-20 years were examined and third-molar developmental stages were evaluated based on Demirjian's classifications. Orthopantomograms were scored by two different observers, and Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test used to test intra- and inter-observer reliability revealed a strong agreement between both intra- and inter-observer measurements. Linear regression analysis was performed to correlate third-molar development and chronological age, and further statistical analysis was performed to determine the relation between sex, age and location. Results showed a strong linear correlation between age and molar development (males: r(2)=0.57; females: r(2)=0.56). Mineralizations of left and right third molars were compared using Wilcoxon tests, and no statistical differences were found. No significant differences were found in third-molar development between males and females. Mandibular third molar crypt formation was observed in 2.4% of patients at age seven and maxillary third molar crypt formation was observed in 1.3% of patients at age seven. A strong correlation was found between third-molar development and chronological age. Among the Turkish population, third molar crypt formation is observable at as early as 7 years in both the mandible and maxilla. Agenesis can be determined conclusively if no radiolucent bud is present by age 14.     

Cardiac Injuries Caused by Blunt Trauma: An Autopsy Based Assessment of the Injury Pattern

Abstract:  Nonpenetrating chest trauma with injury to the heart and aorta has become increasingly common, particularly as a result of rapid deceleration in high-speed vehicular accidents, over the past 2–3 decades. The high mortality rate of cardiac injuries and possible late onset complications make blunt cardiac injuries an important challenging point for legal medicine. One hundred and ninety cases with blunt cardiac injuries in a period of 3 years were analyzed retrospectively in terms of patterns of cardiac injury, survival times, and demographic profiles of the cases in this study.     

Throat-cutting of accidental origin

Abstract:  Incised wounds of the neck can be accidental, homicidal, or suicidal. In this paper, a death case has been presented where a spinning circular saw of a cutting machine in a workshop came off its place and cut the throat of a 30-year-old male who was operating the machine. There was an incision (15 cm × 5 cm) that began in the middle of the neck down the thyroid cartilage, extended horizontally to the left of the neck and ended on the outer part of the neck in the outer left side of m. trapezius. Death occurred because of exsanguination caused by the cutting of carotis artery and jugular vein. In the case we presented, although the cut in the neck initially suggested homicide, it was found to have occurred as a result of an accident after the autopsy and death scene investigation.     

The Rise and Fall of Turcophilism in Nineteenth-Century British Discourses: Visions of the Turk, ‘Young’ and ‘Old’

This article examines the evolving British perceptions of the Ottoman Empire from the onset of the Tanzimat to Abdülhamid II. The article aims to attest the emergence of a positive image of the ‘reforming Turk’ and the erosion of this positive assessment following the disillusionment with the achievements of Tanzimat. The article discusses the Christian dimensions of the positive and negative attitudes towards the Ottomans and ‘moral racism’ inherent in both the positive and negative assessments. The article ends with concluding that this reference framework from which the British discourses on the Ottomans derived had eclipsed with the demise of the British nineteenth-century political elite and culture in tandem with the waning of the Ottoman political culture and elite.     

The Conduct of Policy Analysis: Philosophical Points of Reference

This paper explicates and reviews the competing approaches to policy analysis. It does so by constructing a methodological taxonomy that enables the identification of competing philosophical methodologies that underpin contending approaches to policy analysis. This is done by reference to contesting understandings of what constitutes knowledge (an epistemological issue) and what exists that is capable of giving rise to consequences (an ontological issue). This philosophical framework is then, illustratively, applied to an examination of the concept of the underclass. Then the epistemological and ontological challenges facing policy analysts seeking to analyze and address policy problems and issues are identified. Meeting these challenges requires the adoption of a methodology that draws insights from the epistemological and ontological syntheses that have emerged within contemporary social theory.     

Evaluation of Postmortem Cerebrospinal Fluid S100B Protein and Serotonin Levels: Comparison of Suicidal Versus Nonsuicidal Deaths in Konya,Turkey

Although suicide is a preventable public health problem, objective assays for suicide risk are limited. In this study, it was aimed to determine levels of S100B protein and serotonin as a marker for risk of suicide. S100B protein and serotonin levels were investigated with ELISA method in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in medicolegal autopsy cases, including those of suicide cases (n = 32) and nonsuicide cases (n = 56). The CSF S100B levels were higher (9.3 ± 2.9 ng/mL vs. 5.4 ± 2.0 ng/mL), and serotonin levels were lower (10.4 ± 4.9 ng/mL vs. 19.0 ± 5.7 ng/mL) in suicide group than nonsuicide group (p < 0.05). There was no correlation between S100B protein and serotonin levels with gender, age groups, postmortem interval, and cause of death. It is concluded that both S100B protein and serotonin in CSF may be useful for determination of suicide risk.     

A Study Comparing the Pre- and Post-Training Knowledge of Emergency Department Nurses in Turkey for the Diagnosis of Physically Abused Women

This study assesses the knowledge levels of emergency service nurses regarding their ability to recognize the signs of physical abuse in women, before and after an educational program. The research was conducted in Istanbul city center, using a comparative definitive method. The universe of the research consisted of emergency service nurses of three different publics. Data were collected via face to face interviews based on a questionnaire comprised of 21 questions with forty nine nurses. The results of the research revealed that 58.6 % (n?=?27) of ER nurses were between 18–25 years of age and 100 % (n?=?46) of them didn’t have any previous education on recognizing violence, and the scores before, just after and 3 months after the education program were statistically meaningful (x?=?30, p?<?0.0001). This study indicates that forensic medicine should be built up in nursing schools and via in-service training, the workers should be supported to improve themselves.