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.     

Lethal small bowel obstruction due to pica

Up to 25% of institutionalized patients with cognitive deficiencies display pica-like behavior, with an estimated annual incidence of small bowel obstruction of 2%. We present a case based on the forensic autopsy of a 41-year-old woman who died as a result of a missed diagnosis of small bowel obstruction after ingesting a foreign body. The case underlines the importance of precaution when treating patients with cognitive deficiency and/or language deficits and gastrointestinal symptoms. In such cases, it is important to employ a liberal threshold for radiological investigations and, if possible, obtain a medical history from a person close to the patient.     

英语教学中的文化输入

语言和文化的关系是密不可分的,为此,英语教学中必须输入文化教学。文化教学可以通过课堂教学及第二课堂得以实施。     

法律语言中模糊语的语用分析

模糊语客观地存在于法律语言中,并发挥着各种各样的作用。从语用学的角度探讨模糊语在法律语言中的语用功能。     

现代侦查权力的规制原则与我国侦查程序改革

现代侦查权力本质上是一种宪法权力,宪政的基本原理决定了宪法权力是一种受宪法和权利规制的权力。因此,现代法治国家均要求侦查权力依循宪法权力的内在理路而具有规范化、程序化、可救济性等特点。规范化要求强制侦查措施贯彻法定主义和令状主义;程序化追求控辩平等与独立的程序价值,体现为比例原则和辩护原则;可救济性要求侦查权力的程序性违法行为得到相应的实体性和程序性制裁。     

非言语交际与外语课堂教学

非言语交际是交际过程中的一个重要部分。在外语课堂教学中,恰当使用非言语交际行为,能够增加信息量,提高学生学习兴趣。本文分析了非言语交际行为在外语课堂教学中的表现形式和作用,指出了非言语交际在教学中的重要性及不容忽视性。     

关于提高公安经济侦查队伍业务素质能力思考

本文从理论和实践相结合的角度深刻阐述了公安经济侦查队伍正规化建设特别是业务素质能力提高的重要性,并对其提高的路径做了有益的探索。     

从心理语言学的角度看英语口语教学

英语口语教学必须从实际情况出发 ,同时必须遵循心理语言学所揭示的语言产生的规律。教师在教学过程中 ,要引导学生认识语言产生的内在规律 ,明确口语教学的意义 ,并设置恰当的语言环境 ,帮助学生消除恐惧心理。而学生除应有扎实的英语基本功底外 ,还应加强发音训练 ,掌握口语技能     

论讯问客体语言的听解

像讯问语言表达艺术一样 ,讯问人员对犯罪嫌疑人语言的听解也有着重要的作用。讯问时 ,讯问人员要认真听辨犯罪嫌疑人的供述 ,仔细识别其有声语言、类语言和无声语言     

我国行政审批范围的规范化

加入WTO，我国政府必须进行行政审批制度改革，以规范市场准入，优化投资环境。行政审批范围的设定是确定行政审批其他相关内容的基础。本文分析了我国行政审批范围设定存在的问题及其原因，探讨我国行政审批范围设定的原则，从而提出规范行政审批范围的对策。