Taphonomic Patterning of Cemetery Remains Received at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner,Boston, Massachusetts

A sample of 49 cases of cemetery remains received at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Massachusetts (OCME‐MA), in Boston was compared with published taphonomic profiles of cemetery remains. The present sample is composed of a cross section of typical cases in this region that ultimately are derived from modern to historical coffin burials and get turned over to or seized by law enforcement. The present sample was composed of a large portion of isolated remains, and most were completely skeletonized. The most prevalent taphonomic characteristics included uniform staining (77.6%), coffin wear (46.9%), and cortical Exfoliation (49.0%). Other taphonomic changes occurring due to later surface exposure of cemetery remains included subaerial weathering, animal gnawing, algae formation, and excavation marks. A case of one set of skeletal remains associated with coffin artifacts and cemetery offerings that was recovered from transported cemetery fill is also presented.     

Distinguishing Between Damage to Clothing as a Result of Normal Wear and Tear or as a Result of Deliberate Damage: A Sexual Assault Case Study

Abstract:  This paper focuses on bra damage, specifically damage observed in hook and eye fasteners that are generally located at the backstraps of bras. We describe bra design including the method by which hook and eye fasteners are generally constructed. We assess bra damage in two situations where the damage observed was unexpected given the case scenarios. These were: (i) the complainant of an alleged rape attributed damage to her bra hooks to force during a struggle and (ii) the complainant had earlier manipulated her bra hooks in an incident not related to her complaint. Steriomicroscopy and reconstruction experimentation were necessarily used to assess the bra damage. A systematic approach to damage analysis was employed by the forensic practitioners to correctly identify damage as being a result of mechanical manipulation and therefore as falsified. This paper suggests that more examples of falsified damage should be documented.     

A Bayesian approach to estimate skeletal age-at-death utilizing dental wear

In the forensic context, teeth are often recovered in mass disasters, armed conflicts, and mass graves associated with human rights violations. Therefore, for victim identification, techniques utilizing the dentition to estimate the first parameters of identity (e.g., age) can be critical. This analysis was undertaken to apply a Bayesian statistical method, transition analysis, based on the Gompertz-Makeham (GM) hazard model, to estimate individual ages-at-death for Balkan populations utilizing dental wear. Dental wear phases were scored following Smith's eight-phase ordinal scoring method and chart. To estimate age, probability density functions for the posterior distributions of age for each tooth phase are calculated. Transition analysis was utilized to generate a mean age-of-transition from one dental wear phase to the next. The age estimates are based on the calculated age distribution from the GM hazard analysis and the ages-of-transition. To estimate the age-at-death for an individual, the highest posterior density region for each phase is calculated. By using a Bayesian statistical approach to estimate age, the population's age distribution is taken into account. Therefore, the age estimates are reliable for the Balkan populations, regardless of population or sex differences. The results showed that a vast amount of interpersonal variation in dental wear exists within the current sample and that this method may be most useful for classifying unknown individuals into broad age cohorts rather than small age ranges.     

Age estimation of Korean adults by occlusal tooth wear

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the validity of the modified Kim's scoring system as a practical method of recording occlusal tooth wear and estimating age. For this purpose, 1092 pairs of maxillary and mandibular full-arch casts were randomly selected, scored, and analyzed. The results showed that the modified Kim's scoring system had excellent reliability, and that occlusal tooth wear had a positive correlation with age. Tooth wear scores of all teeth except the two lower central incisors were higher in males than in females. Calculating tables for age estimation were designed by multiple linear regression analysis. Estimated ages were within +/-5 years of actual ages in 63.5% of male subjects, and 64.0% of female subjects. The accuracy of age estimation was increased when the subjects were divided into two age groups and data were re-analyzed. Collectively, it was shown that the modified Kim's scoring system is a reliable and accurate method for age estimation, and that the data from these 1092 individuals can be used as a standard for age estimation of Korean adults.     

应用比值法对鞋底磨损稳定性的研究

鞋底磨损特征的稳定性对于足迹的分析和鉴定具有重大的意义。文章以50位男性在不同时期内穿用不同鞋底花纹的鞋捺印的足迹为样本,分别找出每个磨损区域上、下、左、右四个最突出点,对其进行分别标记,同时测量突出点之间的距离。通过对所得数据进行列表计算和统计发现,尽管某人穿用不同的种类、大小、新旧的鞋子,但磨损特征的比值却较固定。     

利用鞋内穿用特征进行足迹检验

从理论上论述了鞋内穿用特征的形成原理,表现形式及特点,以及鞋内穿用特征的变异性,并利用鞋内穿用特征进行足迹检验的实践.     

判别分析法在鞋底磨损特征检验中的应用

目的从统计学角度论证同一人的鞋底磨损特征具有相对稳定性。方法对50名实验对象（同质人群）的穿鞋足迹中的鞋底磨损特征进行量化测量,并对测量结果用判别分析的方法进行处理。结果不同人的鞋底磨损特征具有差异性,并且可用于不同人的鉴别。为利用鞋底磨损特征进行个人识别提供了理论基础。     

上下颌牙齿磨耗推断年龄准确性的比较

目的利用牙齿磨耗不同的分类方法分别推断上、下颌的牙齿年龄,分析各种方法推断上、下颌牙齿年龄的误差,评价上、下颌牙齿用于年龄推断的准确性。方法采用分级法与数量化法分别对164名18~46岁之间的成年人进行牙龄推断,计算出推断牙龄与实际年龄的误差,输入SPSS软件对误差的数据进行统计学分析。结果分别使用不同方法对上、下颌牙齿磨耗程度进行年龄推断的结果差别不大。结论上、下颌牙齿用于牙齿磨耗推断年龄的准确性无明显差异。     

初探八五式轻型冲锋枪射击弹壳的底部痕迹变化规律

通过对1010枚样本弹壳的观测统计,八五式轻冲在射击10100发枪弹范围内,各类痕迹呈一定的规律性变化。击针头痕较为稳定,痕底特征反映好,初期和后期之间仍有同一认定价值;击针头次生痕、拉壳钩在棱边的刮擦痕、抛壳挺次生痕具有较高的对接比对价值。另外,各类痕迹的位置、形态在一定范围内变化,检验鉴定时不能轻易作出否定,应综合加以分析判断。     

入室作案现场残缺鞋印的研究

鞋印是犯罪现场上最常见的犯罪痕迹,但在犯罪现场鞋印经常表现为残缺。分析影响鞋印形成的因素,对残缺鞋印进行认真观察,对其部位及特征进行准确刻画,并进行科学拼接和延展,实现对留痕鞋印进行准确分析,能够为刻画作案人提供有效的依据。