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.     

Forensic Application of Analytical Mechanics in Fatal Fall From a Height

Fatal fall from a height initiated with a swinging motion on the sagittal plane of the victim's body is examined. Method of analytical mechanics is adopted to establish the functional relations between the swinging angle of the body and the force needed to sustain the body until release, and the amount of the horizontal displacement that would occur after release. The analysis is applied to support an expert opinion presented in a criminal court in which two accused were convicted of murder for dropping a female victim from a bridge. The results indicate that it is unlikely for the body to locate as recorded by the police investigation report in the case. This study demonstrates that a straightforward mechanical analysis can be utilized to examine uncommon falling scenarios.     

商标侵权惩罚性赔偿的制度构建

我国《商标法》2013年第三次修改时首次在知识产权领域引入惩罚性赔偿责任。实证分析表明,惩罚性赔偿在商标侵权诉讼中适用甚少且适用不规范的问题突出,未能充分发挥其遏制侵权行为的预期作用。究其原因,主要存在适用条件不明确、赔偿基数难确定、程序保障不充分等问题。为规范适用,充分发挥惩罚性赔偿的作用,需要从以下四个方面完善其制度构建:一是强化程序保障;二是明确适用条件;三是完善赔偿数额的计算;四是厘清惩罚性赔偿与法定赔偿的关系。     

足迹研判工作模式的研究探讨

为高效发挥足迹研判工作的作用,笔者对足迹研判工作模式进行了思考。对上海市、长沙市等全国先进地区进行了调查、分析,也对先进经验推广存在的困难进行了讨论,指出其困难在于领导重视和理念两个方面。最后,笔者提出了一套更适于推广的战斗小组工作模式,并对该模式中各步骤的耗时和重要性进行了评估,阐述了该模式在人力、财力、物力投入缺乏情况下的优势,旨在对足迹研判工作的推动有所裨益。     

论国际投资中的国家责任问题

国际投资中的国家责任问题主要涉及国际投资的法律保护问题 ,如对外国投资和投资者的待遇标准、国有化或征收及其补偿问题。另外 ,还涉及特许权协议、拒绝司法、外交保护等问题。就外资待遇而言 ,发展中国家应根据其经济发展的实际情况在双边投资保护条约中慎重承诺。笔者通过对国有化问题的分析 ,认为国家在这个问题上所承担的国家责任不是传统国际法上的国家责任 ,而是一种“合法行为引起的国家责任”。关于特许协议 ,笔者认为它是国内契约。此外 ,在国际投资中 ,还涉及因污染转嫁而产生的国家责任。     

大治安格局的理念与全新的工作方式

大治安格局是以指挥中心为龙头,以社区警务建设为基础,以强化社会控制为手段,以公安科技建设为保障,各警种和社会力量广泛参与,采取专群结合,打防结合,动静结合,点线面结合,人防、物防、技防等方式方法,形成集预防、发现、打击犯罪等功能于一体的社会治安防控的大治安格局。     

论罪犯改造中的情感及教育

罪犯在改造中的一般情感特点有:不良的心境;消极的激情;缺乏社会性情感。罪犯情绪发生的心理机制有以境生情和以情生情两种模式。实施情感教育是对罪犯进行人格改造的一种有效方式,但必须注意情感教育的艺术化。     

同种数罪处罚原则新说

数罪并罚问题无论是在刑法学理论上还是在司法实务中都是一个非常重要的问题 ,而同种数罪该不该实行并罚更是刑法学领域争论的焦点之一。目前 ,在司法实务中 ,大多是把其作为一罪从重处罚的。笔者认为 :同种数罪也是数罪 ,将其实行并罚制更有利于打击犯罪、体现罪刑相适应的原则 ,从立法技术的角度来看也更具科学性。     

贷款诈骗罪构成要件疑难问题研究

贷款诈骗罪构成要件的疑难问题集中地体现于二点:单位骗贷问题与非法占有目的。在疏理了对单位骗贷问题的无罪论、等同论和变通论等观点之后,重点阐释了变通论的不足与等同论的合理根据。对非法占有目的问题,应在应然上坚持客观主义立场的不要说,同时应注意认定此目的时的复杂情形。同时,对本罪客观方面的疑难之处,本文也予以简要分析。     

试论山区县市公安基层基础工作

洪江市公安局在强化公安基层工作中,结合山区特点,坚持以“苏州”、“杭州”会议精神为指导,围绕派出所“防范、管理、打击、服务”这一基本职能,狠抓思想认识提高。狠抓社区警务规范建设,狠抓治安联防队伍等群防群治建设,狠抓村级警务站建设,确保了警务前移、警务下沉,着力开创派出所新型警务运行机制的局面,努力实现警民共刨安全文明社区。