Metric forensic anthropology decisions: Reliability and biasability of sectioning-point-based sex estimates

Subjective decisions make human cognitive processes more susceptible to bias and error. Specifically, research indicates that additional context biases forensic anthropologists’ morphological analyses. To address whether metric analyses are also subject to bias, we conducted a pilot study in which 52 experienced osteologists measured a difficult-to-classify human femur, with or without additional contextual information. Using a metric sectioning-point sex-estimation method, participants provided a sex estimate for individual skeletal element(s) and, when given multiple elements, the combined skeletal assemblage. Control group participants (n = 24) measured only the femur. In addition to the femur, bias group participants (n = 28) either measured a female humerus and viewed a female-biasing photograph (n = 14) or measured a male humerus and viewed a male-biasing photograph (n = 14). We explored whether the experts in the different groups would differ in: (1) femoral measurements; (2) femoral sex-estimation conclusions; and (3) final sex-estimation conclusions for the skeletal assemblage. Although the femoral measurements and femoral sex estimates were comparable across groups, the overall sex estimates in the female-biased group were impacted by contextual information—differing from both the control and male-biased groups (p < 0.001). Our results demonstrate that cognitive bias can occur even in metric sex-estimation conclusions. Specifically, this occurred when the metric data and single-element sex estimates were synthesized into an overall estimate. Thus, our results suggest that metric methods are most vulnerable to bias when data are synthesized into an overall conclusion, highlighting the need for bias countermeasures and comprehensive statistical frameworks for synthesizing metric data to mitigate the effects of cognitive bias.     

Building socialism: from ‘scientific’ to ‘active’ Marxism

Abstract

Historical materialism envisages law-like tendencies (‘scientific’ Marxism) promoting the development of productive forces and, concurrently, a political praxis (‘active’ Marxism) requiring human intervention. These positions give rise to conflicting interpretations of Marxism: first to understand society, second to change it – to abolish economic exploitation. The twentieth century witnessed a shift in the locus of the contradictions of capitalism to the economically dependent territories of the imperial powers. Socialist parties, when in power and adopting a Leninist political praxis, furthered modernisation and were successful in reducing economic exploitation. The paper addresses the relationship between the scientific and praxis components of Marxism in contemporary global capitalism. It considers post-Marxist interpretations of the changing class structure, the rise of identity politics and the evolving nature of capital. Forms of domination, oppression and discrimination (bureaucracy, patriarchy, racism, militarism and credentialism) give rise to their own distinctive forms of power relations. It is contended that they should not be equated with Marx’s crucial insight into the nature of economic exploitation. Many current Marxist (and ‘post-Marxist’) writers adopt a ‘scientific’ position emphasising the inherent contradictions of capitalism. The author claims that without appropriate political praxis, the resolution of such contradictions is unlikely to transcend capitalism.     

我国城市规划法制的现状与展望

二十世纪八十年代以来,我国逐渐形成了数量繁多、相对较为齐全的城市规划法制体系.但由于受到指导思想、发展水平等主客观因素的制约,目前,我国城市规划法制在实践中出现了诸多弊端和不足.我国必须对城市规划的法制进行科学、理性的整合与完善.这种整合与完善应当以科学的可持续发展观为指导,应体现社会的公平性与正义性,注重对环境、对有关利益主体的权益保障.     

论道路交通管理中的经济学观念

公安机关应当遵从市场经济规律 ,强化经济成本意识 ,充分认识道路交通管理在经济发展中的地位和作用 ;走出认识上的两个误区 ,确立服务经济发展 ,促进经济发展 ,创造经济价值的观念 ;努力探求既能完成繁重的交通管理任务 ,又能把有限的交通管理“活劳动”和“物化劳动”的使用成本降到最低限度 ,创造一个可持续发展的交通运输环境 ,实现道路安全畅通 ,能耗少、公害低、群众满意的目标。     

简论网络游戏产业的发展

随着网络的发展,网络游戏已经产业化,目前我国网络游戏在产业链中处于弱势地位,其市场的背后也存在着不同程度的混乱现象,必须从政策上、人才上、宣传上加大对于网络游戏研发的支持,加强对于网络游戏不良内容的监管,从各方面促进网络游戏的健康发展。     

步巡盘查战术演练中常见问题及其对策

近年来我国各地暴力袭警案件时有发生,综合分析这些已发生的暴力袭警案件,多数因公安民警在执行清查、盘查、检查和缉捕等警务活动中防范、控制不当而造成的。因此,在平时对公安民警进行的盘查战术演练中,应进一步增强基层民警临战意识,提高民警安全防范能力,坚决贯彻依法、合理、有效使用武器的指导思想,尽快加强和提高基层民警警务战术的实战能力,避免不必要的伤亡事故。     

从松花江水污染事件检视跨界污染损害责任制度

跨界污染对一国之周边相邻国家和区域乃至全球环境会造成严重危害,产生相应的国际法律责任。以此次松花江水污染事件为视角,凸现了现行立法对跨界污染损害责任制度存在的诸多缺欠和不足。本文提出:应科学界定跨界污染损害概念,导入严格责任,确立国家责任的特点、适用范围、主体和形式。完善相关的预防和赔偿机制是各国间处理跨界污染事件的有效途径,以期实现全球环境和谐可持续发展治理。     

Managing commercial risks in open source software licensing

Legal context: The article reviews the commercial risk allocation clauses intypical open source licence terms and discusses their enforceabilityand implications. Key points: The enforceability of warranty disclaimers and limitation ofliability clauses in common open source licence terms is questionable,particularly in a cross-border context, and commercial licensorsshould take additional steps to protect themselves from down-streamrisks. Practical significance: Open source software presents a number of unusual commercialissues, because it is available free of charge and the providerstry to disclaim warranties and liabilities. End users and resellershave to adjust their own in- and out-licensing models to accommodatethis situation.     

言语识别技术的发展与展望

文章立足于言语识别技术的应用现状,在梳理我国言语识别技术发展历史的基础上,提出言语识别技术在未来的发展中应当着重加以解决的几个实际问题。     

科学发展观:中国特色社会主义的发展理论

科学发展观是新一届中央领导集体理论创新的标志性成果,是中国共产党在中国特色社会主义发展进程中,为人类认识未来和发展开辟的一个新的视角.科学发展观是由一系列相互联系的新思想、新观点、新论断构建起来的中国特色社会主义的发展理论.它标志着当代中国将走出一条独特的、既不同于欧美发达国家又不同于东亚新兴工业化国家的、促进人的全面发展和社会和谐进步的新道路及新模式.