Characteristics of the Distance and Space Required for Knife Slashing Using a Motion Capture System.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between the perpetrator's sex, victim's position and slashing location as well as anthropometric parameters on distance and space required for slashing, to provide the theoretical basis for the judgment of whether the crime scene was consistent with the criminal activity space. METHODS: The kinematics data of 12 male and 12 female subjects slashing the neck of standing and supine mannequins as well as the chest of the standing mannequins with a kitchen knife were obtained by using a 3D motion capture system. The relationship between the perpetrator's sex-victim's position, the perpetrator's sex-slashing location, and anthropometric parameters and the distance and space required for the slashing were analyzed by two-factor repeated measures ANOVA and Pearson correlation analysis respectively. RESULTS: Compared with slashing the neck of supine mannequins, the distance (L) and normalized L (l) of slashing the neck of standing mannequins were greater, while vertical distance (LVR) and normalized LVR (lVR) of the knife side were smaller. Compared with slashing the neck of standing mannequins, the L and l slashing the chest of standing mannequins were greater, while LVR and lVR were smaller. Horizontal distance (LHR) and normalized LHR (lHR) of the knife side in males were greater than that in females. Height and arm length were positively correlated with L, LHR, and LVR when striking the standing mannequins. CONCLUSIONS: When slashing the neck of supine or standing victims, the slashing distance is shorter and the slashing height is greater. Furthermore, the distance and space required for slashing are correlate with anthropometric parameters.

A simplified lung ultrasound for the diagnosis of interstitial lung disease in connective tissue disease: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common complication of connective tissue disease (CTD) and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. There are various lung ultrasound (LUS) scoring systems with different lung intercostal spaces (LIS). The purpose of this meta-analysis was to find a simplified LUS method for the assessment of CTD-ILD. METHODS: We systematically retrieved lung ultrasound diagnostic studies on CTD-ILD in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Summary diagnostic accuracy, including sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC), was analyzed. Subgroup analysis was conducted according to different LIS and diseases. RESULTS: The 11 studies included in this meta-analysis comprised a total of 487 patients with CTD. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of the LUS were 0.859 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.812-0.898) and 0.839 (95% CI 0.782-0.886), respectively, illustrating its great value for CTD-ILD diagnosis. In addition, there were six methods to evaluate LIS, including 72, 65, 50, 14, 10, and all LIS. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of 14 LIS were 0.982 (95% CI 0.904-1.000) and 0.875 (95% CI 0.710-0.965), respectively. The pooled positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), and diagnostic odd ratio (DOR) of 14 LIS were 7.297 (95% CI 6.050-17.45), 0.029 (95% CI 0.006-0.147), and 292.30 (95% CI 35.53-2403.8), respectively. Moreover, the AUC for systemic sclerosis (SSc) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was 0.929 and 0.981, respectively; the DOR for SSc and RA was 42.93 (95% CI 17.75-103.79) and 80.24 (95% CI 8.107-796.09), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We found a modified and simplified method of LUS, by scanning 14 LIS in a short time, which had a very high sensitivity and specificity.