Adlam Rachel E, Simmons Tal
Department of Forensic and Investigative Science, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE, U K.
J Forensic Sci. 2007 Sep;52(5):1007-14. doi: 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2007.00510.x. Epub 2007 Jul 21.
Although the relationship between decomposition and postmortem interval has been well studied, almost no studies examined the potential effects of physical disturbance occurring as a result of data collection procedures. This study compares physically disturbed rabbit carcasses with a series of undisturbed carcasses to assess the presence and magnitude of any effects resulting from repetitive disturbance. Decomposition was scored using visual assessment of soft tissue changes, and numerical data such as weight loss and carcass temperature were recorded. The effects of disturbance over time on weight loss, carcass temperature, soil pH and decomposition were studied. In addition, this study aimed to validate some of the anecdotal evidence regarding decomposition. Results indicate disturbance significantly inversely affects both weight loss and carcass temperature. No differences were apparent between groups for soil pH change or overall decomposition stage. An insect-mediated mechanism for the disturbance effect is suggested, along with indications as to why this effect may be cancelled when scoring overall decomposition.
尽管分解与死后间隔时间之间的关系已得到充分研究，但几乎没有研究考察过数据收集程序导致的物理干扰的潜在影响。本研究将受到物理干扰的兔尸体与一系列未受干扰的尸体进行比较，以评估重复干扰产生的任何影响的存在及程度。通过对软组织变化的视觉评估对分解进行评分，并记录体重减轻和尸体温度等数值数据。研究了随时间推移干扰对体重减轻、尸体温度、土壤pH值和分解的影响。此外，本研究旨在验证一些关于分解的传闻证据。结果表明，干扰对体重减轻和尸体温度均有显著的反向影响。各组之间在土壤pH值变化或总体分解阶段方面没有明显差异。提出了一种昆虫介导的干扰效应机制，以及关于在对总体分解进行评分时这种效应可能被抵消的原因的线索。
