• Title/Summary/Keyword: Forensic anthropology

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Mandibular shape prediction using cephalometric analysis: applications in craniofacial analysis, forensic anthropology and archaeological reconstruction

  • Omran, Ahmed;Wertheim, David;Smith, Kathryn;Liu, Ching Yiu Jessica;Naini, Farhad B.
    • Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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    • v.42
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    • pp.37.1-37.13
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    • 2020
  • Background: The human mandible is variable in shape, size and position and any deviation from normal can affect the facial appearance and dental occlusion. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine whether the Sassouni cephalometric analysis could help predict two-dimensional mandibular shape in humans using cephalometric planes and landmarks. Materials and methods: A retrospective computerised analysis of 100 lateral cephalometric radiographs taken at Kingston Hospital Orthodontic Department was carried out. Results: Results showed that the Euclidean straight-line mean difference between the estimated position of gonion and traced position of gonion was 7.89 mm and the Euclidean straight-line mean difference between the estimated position of pogonion and the traced position of pogonion was 11.15 mm. The length of the anterior cranial base as measured by sella-nasion was positively correlated with the length of the mandibular body gonion-menton, r = 0.381 and regression analysis showed the length of the anterior cranial base sella-nasion could be predictive of the length of the mandibular body gonion-menton by the equation 22.65 + 0.5426x, where x = length of the anterior cranial base (SN). There was a significant association with convex shaped palates and oblique shaped mandibles, p = 0.0004. Conclusions: The method described in this study can be used to help estimate the position of cephalometric points gonion and pogonion and thereby sagittal mandibular length. This method is more accurate in skeletal class I cases and therefore has potential applications in craniofacial anthropology and the 'missing mandible' problem in forensic and archaeological reconstruction.

Forensic age-at-death estimation using the sternal junction in Thai adults: an autopsy study

  • Adisuan Kuatrakul;Vijarn Vachirawongsakorn
    • Anatomy and Cell Biology
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    • v.56 no.3
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    • pp.367-373
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    • 2023
  • One of the main parameters in the analysis of skeletal remains in forensic anthropological cases is the estimation of age. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between age and the fusion status of the sternal junction. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 184 sterna from 94 females and 90 males obtained from known-age cadavers in the Thai population. By direct observation, the fusion stage of the manubrio-sternal and sterno-xiphoidal junctions was studied and divided into unfused and fused joints. The results showed that a large proportion of the sterna remain unfused throughout adulthood, with fusion observed in both young and old cadavers. Insignificant differences in the rate of fusion, the sexes and ages were observed. None of the sterna under 30 years of age in females and 32 years of age in males showed fusion of the manubrio-sternal and sterno-xiphoidal junctions. Based on the variability of the sternal fusions observed in this study, we highlighted a very limited role of the sternum alone in the estimation of age in the Thai population.

PCR-based genotyping of Korean population for forensic applications

  • Ryu, Jae-Song;Gu, Yun-Mo;So, Jae-Seong
    • 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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    • 2000.04a
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    • pp.592-595
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    • 2000
  • In human chromosome, a short sequence of DNA has been repeated a number of times. These repeats are called variable number of tandem repeat(VNTR) or short tandem repeat(STR) which has short repeat core. VNTR and STR are used in the field of forensic science, evolution, and anthropology. In this work, we examined allele frequencies of 3 VNTR(YNZ22, NeuR, D21S11) and one STR(Humth01) in a Korean population sample by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) followed by high-resolution polyacrylamide gelelectrophoresis(PAGE) with silver staining. Subsequently, the polymorphism information content(PIC) was calculated : the highest PIC was observed for the NeuR locus(0.95680) and lowest for the Humth01 locus(0.75809).

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Detecting buried human remains using near-surface geophysical instruments

  • Powell Kathryn
    • Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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    • v.7 no.1
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    • pp.88-92
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    • 2004
  • To improve the recovery rate of unlocated buried human remains in forensic investigations, there is scope to evaluate and develop techniques that are applicable to the Australian environment. I established controlled gravesites (comprising shallow buried kangaroos, pigs, and human cadavers) in South Australia, to allow the methodical testing of remote sensing equipment for the purpose of grave detection in forensic investigations. Eight-month-old pig graves are shown to provide more distinct identifying results using ground-penetrating radar when compared to four-year-old kangaroo graves. Two further aspects of this research are presented: information (obtained from a survey) relating to the police use of geophysical instruments for locating buried human remains, and the use of electrical resistivity for locating human remains buried in a coffin. The survey of Australian police jurisdictions, covering the period 1995-2000, showed that police searches for unlocated bodies have not successfully located human remains using any geophysical instruments (such as ground-penetrating radar, magnetometers, or electrical resistivity). Lower resistivity readings were found coincident with the 150-year-old single historical burial in a heavily excavated field, in a situation where its exact location was previously unknown.

Artificial neural network model for predicting sex using dental and orthodontic measurements

  • Sandra Anic-Milosevic;Natasa Medancic;Martina Calusic-Sarac;Jelena Dumancic;Hrvoje Brkic
    • The korean journal of orthodontics
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    • v.53 no.3
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    • pp.194-204
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    • 2023
  • Objective: To investigate sex-specific correlations between the dimensions of permanent canines and the anterior Bolton ratio and to construct a statistical model capable of identifying the sex of an unknown subject. Methods: Odontometric data were collected from 121 plaster study models derived from Caucasian orthodontic patients aged 12-17 years at the pretreatment stage by measuring the dimensions of the permanent canines and Bolton's anterior ratio. Sixteen variables were collected for each subject: 12 dimensions of the permanent canines, sex, age, anterior Bolton ratio, and Angle's classification. Data were analyzed using inferential statistics, principal component analysis, and artificial neural network modeling. Results: Sex-specific differences were identified in all odontometric variables, and an artificial neural network model was prepared that used odontometric variables for predicting the sex of the participants with an accuracy of > 80%. This model can be applied for forensic purposes, and its accuracy can be further improved by adding data collected from new subjects or adding new variables for existing subjects. The improvement in the accuracy of the model was demonstrated by an increase in the percentage of accurate predictions from 72.0-78.1% to 77.8-85.7% after the anterior Bolton ratio and age were added. Conclusions: The described artificial neural network model combines forensic dentistry and orthodontics to improve subject recognition by expanding the initial space of odontometric variables and adding orthodontic parameters.

Can a spontaneous smile invalidate facial identification by photo-anthropometry?

  • Pinto, Paulo Henrique Viana;Rodrigues, Caio Henrique Pinke;Rozatto, Juliana Rodrigues;da Silva, Ana Maria Bettoni Rodrigues;Bruni, Aline Thais;da Silva, Marco Antonio Moreira Rodrigues;da Silva, Ricardo Henrique Alves
    • Imaging Science in Dentistry
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    • v.51 no.3
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    • pp.279-290
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    • 2021
  • Purpose: Using images in the facial image comparison process poses a challenge for forensic experts due to limitations such as the presence of facial expressions. The aims of this study were to analyze how morphometric changes in the face during a spontaneous smile influence the facial image comparison process and to evaluate the reproducibility of measurements obtained by digital stereophotogrammetry in these situations. Materials and Methods: Three examiners used digital stereophotogrammetry to obtain 3-dimensional images of the faces of 10 female participants(aged between 23 and 45 years). Photographs of the participants' faces were captured with their faces at rest (group 1) and with a spontaneous smile (group 2), resulting in a total of 60 3-dimensional images. The digital stereophotogrammetry device obtained the images with a 3.5-ms capture time, which prevented undesirable movements of the participants. Linear measurements between facial landmarks were made, in units of millimeters, and the data were subjected to multivariate and univariate statistical analyses using Pirouette® version 4.5 (InfoMetrix Inc., Woodinville, WA, USA) and Microsoft Excel® (Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA, USA), respectively. Results: The measurements that most strongly influenced the separation of the groups were related to the labial/buccal region. In general, the data showed low standard deviations, which differed by less than 10% from the measured mean values, demonstrating that the digital stereophotogrammetry technique was reproducible. Conclusion: The impact of spontaneous smiles on the facial image comparison process should be considered, and digital stereophotogrammetry provided good reproducibility.

Stature estimation using the sacrum in a Thai population

  • Waratchaya Keereewan;Tawachai Monum;Sukon Prasitwattanaseree;Pasuk Mahakkanukrauh
    • Anatomy and Cell Biology
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    • v.56 no.2
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    • pp.259-267
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    • 2023
  • Stature is an essential component of biological profile analysis since it determines an individual's physical identity. Long bone dimensions are generally used to estimate the stature of skeletal remains; however, non-long bones such as the sternum, cranium, and sacrum may be necessary for some forensic situations. This study aimed to generate a regression equation for stature estimation of the skeletal remains in the Thai population. Ten measurements of the sacrum were measured from 200 dry sacra. The results revealed that the maximum anterior breadth (MAB) provided the most accurate stature prediction model among males (correlation coefficient [r]=0.53), standard error of estimation (SEE=5.94 cm), and females (r=0.48, SEE=6.34 cm). For the multiple regression model, the best multiple regression models were stature equals 41.2+0.374 (right auricular surface height [RASH])+1.072 (anterior-posterior outer diameter of S1 vertebra corpus [APOD])+0.256 (dorsal height [DH])+0.417 (transverse inner diameter of S1 vertebra corpus [TranID])+0.2 (MAB) with a SEE of 6.42 cm for combined sex. For males, stature equals 63.639+0.478 (MAB)+0.299 (DH)+0.508 (APOD) with a SEE of 5.35, and stature equals 75.181+0.362 (MAB)+0.441 (RASH)+0.132 (maximum anterior height [MAH]) with a SEE of 5.88 cm for females. This study suggests that regression equations derived from the sacrum can be used to estimate the stature of the Thai population, especially when a long bone is unavailable.

Analytical Review of the Forensic Anthropological Techniques for Stature Estimation in Korea (한국에서 사용되는 법의인류학적 키 추정 방법에 대한 제언)

  • Jeong, Yangseung;Woo, Eun Jin
    • Anatomy & Biological Anthropology
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    • v.31 no.4
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    • pp.121-131
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    • 2018
  • Stature is one of the unique biological properties of a person, which can be used for identification of the individual. In this regard, statures are estimated for the unknown victims from crimes and disasters. However, the accuracy of estimates may be compromised by inappropriate methodologies and/or practices of stature estimation. Discussed in this study are the methodological issues related to the current practices of forensic anthropological stature estimation in Korea, followed by suggestions to enhance the accuracy of the stature estimates. Summaries of forensic anthropological examinations for 560 skeletal remains, which were conducted at the National Forensic Service (NFS), were reviewed. Mr. Yoo Byung-eun's case is utilized as an example of the NFS's practices. To estimate Mr. Yoo's stature, Trotter's (1970) femur equation was applied even though the fibula equation of a lower standard error was available. In his case report, the standard error associated with the equation (${\pm}3.8cm$) was interpreted as an 'error range', which gave a hasty impression that the prediction interval is that narrow. Also, stature shrinkage by aging was not considered, so the estimated stature in Mr. Yoo's case report should be regarded as his maximum living stature, rather than his stature-at-death. Lastly, applying Trotter's (1970) White female equations to Korean female remains is likely to underestimate their statures. The anatomical method will enhance the accuracy of stature estimates. However, in cases that the anatomical method is not feasible, the mathematical method based on Korean samples should be considered. Since 1980's, effort has been made to generate stature estimation equations using Korean samples. Applying the equations based on Korean samples to Korean skeletal remains will enhance the accuracy of the stature estimates, which will eventually increase the likelihood of successful identification of the unknowns.

PCR Analysis of Four Length-Polmorphic Loci in Korea Population for Genotyping

  • Ryu, Jae-Song;Koo, Yoon-Mo;So, Jae-Seong
    • Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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    • v.5 no.3
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    • pp.169-173
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    • 2000
  • On human chromoscomes, a short sequence of DNA is known to repeat a number of times. These are called variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) or short tandem respeat (STR) which has a short core. VNTR and STR are used in the filed of forensic science, evolution, and anthropology. In this work, we examined allele frequencies of one VNTR (YNZ22) and three STRs (NeuR, D21S11, Humth01) in a korean population sample by polymerase chain reaction (RCP) followed by high-resolution polyacrylamide gel electro-phoresis (PAGE) with silver stain. Subsequently, the polymorphism information content (PIC) was calculated : the hifhest PIC was observed in the NeuR locus (0.95680) and lowest in the Humth01 locus (0.75809).

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Comparison of Helminth Infection among the Native Populations of the Arctic and Subarctic Areas in Western Siberia Throughout History: Parasitological Researches on Contemporary and the Archaeological Resources

  • Slepchenko, Sergey Mikhailovich;Bugmyrin, Sergey Vladimirovich;Kozlov, Andrew Igorevich;Vershubskaya, Galina Grigorievna;Shin, Dong Hoon
    • Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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    • v.57 no.6
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    • pp.607-612
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    • 2019
  • The aim of this parasitological study is examining contemporary (the late 20th century) specimens of the arctic or subarctic areas in Western Siberia and comparing them with the information acquired from archaeological samples from the same area. In the contemporary specimens, we observed the parasite eggs of 3 different species: Opisthochis felineus, Ascaris lumbricoides, and Enterobius vermicularis. Meanwhile, in archaeoparasitological results of Vesakoyakha, Kikki-Akki, and Nyamboyto I burial grounds, the eggs of Diphyllobothrium and Taenia spp. were found while no nematode (soil-transmitted) eggs were observed in the same samples. In this study, we concluded helminth infection pattern among the arctic and subarctic peoples of Western Siberia throughout history as follows: the raw fish-eating tradition did not undergo radical change in the area at least since the 18th century; and A. lumbricoides or E. vermicularis did not infect the inhabitants of this area before 20th century. With respect to the Western Siberia, we caught glimpse of the parasite infection pattern prevalent therein via investigations on contemporary and archaeoparasitological specimens.