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Forensic Anthropology: New Methodological and Theoretical Perspectives in Forensic Human...
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Forensic Anthropology: New Methodological and Theoretical Perspectives in Forensic Human Skeletal Identification and Methods

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Evolutionary Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2022) | Viewed by 47848

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Maria Giovanna Belcastro

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University di Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Interests: human skeletal remains; physical anthropology; forensic anthropology; management of museum human collections; ethics; human funerary behavior
Dr. Marco Milella

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
Department of Physical Anthropology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Sulgenauweg 40, CH-3007 Bern, Switzerland
Interests: bioarchaeology; physical anthropology; forensic anthropology; trauma analysis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Forensic anthropology is one the most important research branches of physical anthropology, a discipline dealing with the study of human variability in the past and present, of its link to macro- and microevolutionary evolutionary processes, and of its interactions with biological and cultural factors over time. A critical understanding of human evolution and biodiversity is essential in forensic anthropology. Indeed, modern human skeletal variability is the result of recent evolutionary processes which occurred around the Holocene transition, and is the result of a complex interaction between biological and cultural factors. Thus, the forensic analysis of anthropological remains must takes into account not only the impact/influence of human biological variability (e.g. sex, age, ancestry, population differences) but also that of cultural factors (e.g. funerary practices and rituals, interpersonal violence, healthcare) in order to best comprehend and analyze skeletal variability in modern populations. This approach may provide critical insights into the reconstruction of the biological profile, the identification of unknown human skeletal remains, as well as the reconstruction of forensically relevant events (e.g. taphonomic processes, depositional events). In parallel with this well-established evolutionary-focused perspective, forensic anthropology would benefit from the incorporation of novel methodological and theoretical approaches. Such modern methods could yield data of higher resolution or quality, may help the repeatability, and ultimately increase the scientific soundness and rigor of the assessments. New theoretical approaches that incorporate into the forensic practice social concepts of gender, life course stages, embodiment of health may open new crossing-cutting issues in the research applied to the forensic context in rapidly changing societies.

The majority of forensic anthropological research is aimed at the systematic study of skeletal remains for the purposes of assessing the biological profile (ancestry, sex, age at death, health condition, cause of death), the post mortem interval, and possibly the circumstances of death (injuries or other traumatic events) in forensic cases. In this context, the continuous test and application of new methods is essential to maximize the accuracy of collected data and the reliability of the assessments provided to the court. Large and well-documented human skeletal collections are the ideal platform on which to test the suitability of new methodological approaches before their application to unknown remains.

This Special Issue is aimed at promoting the study of human remains in forensic anthropology using innovative ideas, methodological approaches, and technical improvements also taking into account the new frontiers of artificial intelligence with the purposes of identification and biological profile estimation, reconstruction of crime contexts, natural disasters, and violent events as well.

Prof. Dr. Maria Giovanna Belcastro
Dr. Marco Milella
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • human skeletons
  • sexual dimorphism
  • age estimation
  • documented skeletal collections
  • computed tomography
  • morphometric geometry
  • digitalization
  • machine learning
  • traumatic lesions

Published Papers (18 papers)

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12 pages, 1828 KiB  
Article
Bone Molecular Modifications Induced by Diagenesis Followed-Up for 12 Months
by Guillaume Falgayrac, Raffaele Vitale, Yann Delannoy, Hélène Behal, Guillaume Penel, Cécile Olejnik, Ludovic Duponchel and Thomas Colard
Biology 2022, 11(10), 1542; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/biology11101542 - 21 Oct 2022
Viewed by 1691
Abstract
After death, diagenesis takes place. Numerous processes occur concomitantly, which makes it difficult to identify the diagenetic processes. The diagenetic processes refer to all processes (chemical or physical) that modify the skeletal remains. These processes are highly variable depending on the environmental factors [...] Read more.
After death, diagenesis takes place. Numerous processes occur concomitantly, which makes it difficult to identify the diagenetic processes. The diagenetic processes refer to all processes (chemical or physical) that modify the skeletal remains. These processes are highly variable depending on the environmental factors (weather, temperature, age, sex, etc.), especially in the early stages. Numerous studies have evaluated bone diagenetic processes over long timescales (~millions of years), but fewer have been done over short timescales (between days and thousands of years). The objective of the study is to assess the early stages of diagenetic processes by Raman microspectroscopy over 12 months. The mineral and organic matrix modifications are monitored through physicochemical parameters. Ribs from six humans were buried in soil. The modifications of bone composition were followed by Raman spectroscopy each month. The decrease in the mineral/organic ratio and carbonate type-B content and the increase in crystallinity reveal that minerals undergo dissolution–recrystallization. The decrease in collagen cross-linking indicates that collagen hydrolysis induces the fragmentation of collagen fibres over 12 months. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forensic Anthropology: New Methodological and Theoretical Perspectives in Forensic Human Skeletal Identification and Methods)
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12 pages, 4194 KiB  
Article
Quantifications of Mandibular Trabecular Bone Microstructure Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography for Age Estimation: A Preliminary Study
by Arshiya Tabassum, Mansharan Kaur Chainchel Singh, Norliza Ibrahim, Subramaniam Ramanarayanan and Mohd Yusmiaidil Putera Mohd Yusof
Biology 2022, 11(10), 1521; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/biology11101521 - 18 Oct 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1624
Abstract
The aim of this study is two-fold: first, to correlate the values for each of the trabecular bone microstructure (TBM) parameters to the individual’s chronological age and sex, thereby facilitating the assessment of potential age and sex-related changes in trabecular bone microstructure parameters [...] Read more.
The aim of this study is two-fold: first, to correlate the values for each of the trabecular bone microstructure (TBM) parameters to the individual’s chronological age and sex, thereby facilitating the assessment of potential age and sex-related changes in trabecular bone microstructure parameters in the mandible; and second, to quantify the trabecular microstructural parameters in relation to chronological age. Twenty cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) scans were retrieved retrospectively from a database of adult patients with ages ranging in age from 22 to 43 years. In the mandible, the volume of interest included the inter-dental space between the second mandibular premolar and the first mandibular molar, as well as the trabecular space beneath and between the apices. Using the AnalyzeDirect 14.0 software, the DICOM images of CBCT scans were pre-processed, transformed, segmented using a novel semi-automatic threshold-guided method, and quantified. In addition, TBM parameters were derived, and statistical analysis was conducted using a Pearson correlation test with two tails. All parameters exhibited no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) between chronological age and sex. Statistically significant negative correlations were found between Tb. N (r = −0.489), BS/TV (r = −0.527), and chronological age (p = 0.029 and p = 0.017, respectively). Only Tb. N and BS/TV exhibited an inverse relationship with chronological age. Numerous studies have quantified the trabecular architecture of the jaw bones, but none have found a correlation between the quantified trabecular parameters and chronological age. The digital imprints produced by radiographic imaging can serve as biological profiles for data collection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forensic Anthropology: New Methodological and Theoretical Perspectives in Forensic Human Skeletal Identification and Methods)
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11 pages, 11616 KiB  
Article
Experimental Evidence of Bone Lesions Due to Larder Beetle Dermestes maculatus (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)
by Damien Charabidzé, Vincent Lavieille and Thomas Colard
Biology 2022, 11(9), 1321; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/biology11091321 - 06 Sep 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1744
Abstract
Dermestid beetles (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) are necrophagous insects feeding on mummified carcasses. After six to seven molts, the larvae stop feeding and dig pupation chambers to hide and safely evolve into adults. Such pupation chambers have already been observed on archaeological mammals’ bones, but [...] Read more.
Dermestid beetles (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) are necrophagous insects feeding on mummified carcasses. After six to seven molts, the larvae stop feeding and dig pupation chambers to hide and safely evolve into adults. Such pupation chambers have already been observed on archaeological mammals’ bones, but the attribution and interpretation of these osteological lesions lack experimental evidence in a forensic context. To observe whether dermestid larvae dig pupation chambers in human bones, 20 or 40 Dermestes maculatus (De Geer, 1774) larvae were placed in a dermestarium with different types of bones varying in species (Bos taurus or human), age (adult or immature), and preservation method (fresh or dry). Our results show that dermestid larvae caused multiple lesions, including larval mandible traces on cortical bone, cortical perforations, drilling of pupation chambers, destruction of the trabecular network, and the perforation of cartilage. Bone destruction was mainly observed on aged dry bones, while fresh bones only exhibited soft tissue and superficial cartilage lesions. According to these results, pupation chambers could indicate the simultaneous presence of several corpses at different decomposition stages, or the addition of new corpses while others were already skeletonized. These conclusions are particularly important in the case of mass graves, where chronology is sometimes difficult to establish. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forensic Anthropology: New Methodological and Theoretical Perspectives in Forensic Human Skeletal Identification and Methods)
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15 pages, 1159 KiB  
Article
Sexual Dimorphism of Cranial Morphological Traits in an Italian Sample: A Population-Specific Logistic Regression Model for Predicting Sex
by Annalisa Cappella, Barbara Bertoglio, Matteo Di Maso, Debora Mazzarelli, Luciana Affatato, Alessandra Stacchiotti, Chiarella Sforza and Cristina Cattaneo
Biology 2022, 11(8), 1202; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/biology11081202 - 10 Aug 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2033
Abstract
Although not without subjectivity, the cranial trait scoring method is an easy visual method routinely used by forensic anthropologists in sex estimation. The revision presented by Walker in 2008 has introduced predictive models with good accuracies in the original populations. However, such models [...] Read more.
Although not without subjectivity, the cranial trait scoring method is an easy visual method routinely used by forensic anthropologists in sex estimation. The revision presented by Walker in 2008 has introduced predictive models with good accuracies in the original populations. However, such models may lead to unsatisfactory performances when applied to populations that are different from the original. Therefore, this study aimed to test the sex predictive equations reported by Walker on a contemporary Italian population (177 individuals) in order to evaluate the reliability of the method and to identify potential sexual dimorphic differences between American and Italian individuals. In order to provide new reference data to be used by forensic experts dealing with human remains of modern/contemporary individuals from this geographical area, we designed logistic regression models specific to our population, whose accuracy was evaluated on a validation sample from the same population. In particular, we fitted logistic regression models for all possible combinations of the five cranial morphological traits (i.e., nuchal crest, mastoid process, orbital margin, glabella, and mental eminence). This approach provided a comprehensive set of population-specific equations that can be used in forensic contexts where crania might be retrieved with severe taphonomic damages, thus limiting the application of the method only to a few morphological features. The results proved once again that the effects of secular changes and biogeographic ancestry on sexual dimorphism of cranial morphological traits are remarkable, as highlighted by the low accuracy (from 56% to 78%) of the six Walker’s equations when applied to our female sample. Among our fitted models, the one including the glabella and mastoid process was the most accurate since these features are more sexually dimorphic in our population. Finally, our models proved to have high predictive performances in both training and validation samples, with accuracy percentages up to 91.7% for Italian females, which represents a significant success in minimizing the potential misclassifications in real forensic scenarios. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forensic Anthropology: New Methodological and Theoretical Perspectives in Forensic Human Skeletal Identification and Methods)
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23 pages, 8614 KiB  
Article
Frontal Sinus Morphological and Dimensional Variation as Seen on Computed Tomography Scans
by Austin A. Shamlou and Sean D. Tallman
Biology 2022, 11(8), 1145; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/biology11081145 - 29 Jul 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4106
Abstract
Frontal sinus variation has been used in forensic anthropology to aid in positive identification since the 1920s. As imaging technology has evolved, so has the quality and quantity of data that practitioners can collect. This study examined frontal sinus morphological and dimensional variation [...] Read more.
Frontal sinus variation has been used in forensic anthropology to aid in positive identification since the 1920s. As imaging technology has evolved, so has the quality and quantity of data that practitioners can collect. This study examined frontal sinus morphological and dimensional variation on computed tomography (CT) scans in 325 individuals for assigned sex females and males from African-, Asian-, European-, and Latin American-derived groups. Full coronal sinus outlines from medically derived CT images were transferred into SHAPE v1.3 for elliptical Fourier analysis (EFA). The dimensional data were measured directly from the images using the MicroDicom viewer. Statistical analyses—Pearson’s chi-square, ANOVA, and Tukey post hoc tests—were run in R Studio. Results indicated that 3.7% lacked a frontal sinus and 12.0% had a unilateral sinus, usually on the left (74.3%). Additionally, no statistically significant morphological clustering using EFA was found based on assigned sex and/or population affinity. However, there were statistically significant differences dimensionally (height and depth) when tested against assigned sex and population affinity, indicating that the interactive effects of sexual dimorphism and adaptive population histories influence the dimensions but not the shape of the frontal sinus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forensic Anthropology: New Methodological and Theoretical Perspectives in Forensic Human Skeletal Identification and Methods)
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12 pages, 2399 KiB  
Article
Application of Micro-Computed Tomography for the Estimation of the Post-Mortem Interval of Human Skeletal Remains
by Verena-Maria Schmidt, Philipp Zelger, Claudia Woess, Anton K. Pallua, Rohit Arora, Gerald Degenhart, Andrea Brunner, Bettina Zelger, Michael Schirmer, Walter Rabl and Johannes D. Pallua
Biology 2022, 11(8), 1105; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/biology11081105 - 25 Jul 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1773
Abstract
It is challenging to estimate the post-mortem interval (PMI) of skeletal remains within a forensic context. As a result of their interactions with the environment, bones undergo several chemical and physical changes after death. So far, multiple methods have been used to follow [...] Read more.
It is challenging to estimate the post-mortem interval (PMI) of skeletal remains within a forensic context. As a result of their interactions with the environment, bones undergo several chemical and physical changes after death. So far, multiple methods have been used to follow up on post-mortem changes. There is, however, no definitive way to estimate the PMI of skeletal remains. This research aimed to propose a methodology capable of estimating the PMI using micro-computed tomography measurements of 104 human skeletal remains with PMIs between one day and 2000 years. The present study indicates that micro-computed tomography could be considered an objective and precise method of PMI evaluation in forensic medicine. The measured parameters show a significant difference regarding the PMI for Cort Porosity p < 0.001, BV/TV p > 0.001, Mean1 p > 0.001 and Mean2 p > 0.005. Using a machine learning approach, the neural network showed an accuracy of 99% for distinguishing between samples with a PMI of less than 100 years and archaeological samples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forensic Anthropology: New Methodological and Theoretical Perspectives in Forensic Human Skeletal Identification and Methods)
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8 pages, 254 KiB  
Article
The Application of Bony Labyrinth Methods for Forensic Affinity Estimation
by Alexandra Uhl, Fotios Alexandros Karakostis and Katerina Harvati
Biology 2022, 11(7), 1088; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/biology11071088 - 21 Jul 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1338
Abstract
Population affinity identification is important for reconstructing the biological profile of human skeletal remains. Most anthropological methods for predicting population affinity rely on complete crania or cranial parts. However, complete parts are frequently not found in forensic and bioarchaeological contexts. In contrast, the [...] Read more.
Population affinity identification is important for reconstructing the biological profile of human skeletal remains. Most anthropological methods for predicting population affinity rely on complete crania or cranial parts. However, complete parts are frequently not found in forensic and bioarchaeological contexts. In contrast, the petrous portion of the cranium presents a unique rate of preservation in the field. Therefore, this study aimed to develop stepwise discriminant function formulae to determine population affinity using measurements on three-dimensional models of the human adult bony labyrinth. The sample utilised consisted of 30 German, 38 African Zulu, and 30 Oneota individuals. A total of four function equations were developed. The function involving all three populations presented an average accuracy of 90.8%. Mathematical equations were also derived to discriminate between Zulu and Germans (91.2%), Zulu and Oneota (95.5%), as well as Oneota and Germans (96.7%). These results indicate this new method of population affinity identification is highly successful, even with fragmentary remains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forensic Anthropology: New Methodological and Theoretical Perspectives in Forensic Human Skeletal Identification and Methods)
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24 pages, 4287 KiB  
Article
Sexual Dimorphism in the Fibular Extremities of Italians and South Africans of Identified Modern Human Skeletal Collections: A Geometric Morphometric Approach
by Annalisa Pietrobelli, Rita Sorrentino, Stefano Durante, Damiano Marchi, Stefano Benazzi and Maria Giovanna Belcastro
Biology 2022, 11(7), 1079; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/biology11071079 - 19 Jul 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2882
Abstract
Fibular metric variations have revealed their potential in distinguishing between males and females; however the fibula remains scarcely analyzed in studies of sexual dimorphism. This work aims at investigating sexually dimorphic features in fibular proximal and distal epiphyses through geometric morphometrics methods. A [...] Read more.
Fibular metric variations have revealed their potential in distinguishing between males and females; however the fibula remains scarcely analyzed in studies of sexual dimorphism. This work aims at investigating sexually dimorphic features in fibular proximal and distal epiphyses through geometric morphometrics methods. A total of 136 left fibulae, from two Italian and one South African identified skeletal collections were virtually acquired through CT and laser scanning and analyzed using geometric morphometric methods. Statistical analyses were performed on shape, form, and size variables. Results show that fibular epiphyses are smaller with narrower articular surfaces in females than in males in both extremities. Relevant sexual differences emerge in fibular form and size for the two Italian samples but not for the South African one, likely for its small sample size. Discriminant analysis on form principal components (PCs) offers accuracy above 80% when the samples are pooled, and reaches accuracy of 80–93% when the Italian samples are considered separately. However, our method on form PCs was not successful for the South African sample (50–53% accuracy), possibly due to the small sample size. These results show relevant morphological variation in relation to fibular form and size, with a degree of accuracy that indicates the utility of the present method for sexing human fibulae in both forensic and bioarchaeological contexts for Italian samples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forensic Anthropology: New Methodological and Theoretical Perspectives in Forensic Human Skeletal Identification and Methods)
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16 pages, 4250 KiB  
Article
Technical Modifications for the Application of the Total Difference Method for Frontal Sinus Comparison
by Jessica L. Campbell and Lauren N. Butaric
Biology 2022, 11(7), 1075; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/biology11071075 - 19 Jul 2022
Viewed by 1345
Abstract
Despite being used in personal identification since the 1920s, frontal sinus-based methods are rarely validated. This study is a validation test of the Total Difference Method (TDM). The posterior-anterior radiographs of 10 adults were assessed by two observers using three modes: the Freehand [...] Read more.
Despite being used in personal identification since the 1920s, frontal sinus-based methods are rarely validated. This study is a validation test of the Total Difference Method (TDM). The posterior-anterior radiographs of 10 adults were assessed by two observers using three modes: the Freehand Mode largely followed the original protocols; the Overlay Mode utilized a tracing overlay; and the Semi-Auto Mode used the overlay and macro, walking the user through multiple steps. The modes were evaluated for the time taken to complete each image and the accuracy and repeatability of the line lengths, midline assessment, and angle placement. The repeated measures analysis of variance results for the intra-observer error revealed differences in bias in the angle placement and line length mean error between the rounds and modes. The differences between the rounds were approximately consistent for each mode, suggesting observer error. Significant differences in the inaccuracy of the angle placement and the line lengths between observers by mode were evident; in post hoc testing, the Freehand Mode and Overlay Mode had the greatest error in both variables (p.adj < 0.0001). The Semi-Auto Mode retained no significant error for angle inaccuracy and had the fewest errors for line length inaccuracy (p.adj < 0.01). When using the Semi-Auto Mode, the time was 46.1% faster than that of the Freehand Mode and 34% faster than that of the Overlay Mode (F2,18 = 52.71, p < 0.0001); time slightly improved with method familiarity. The results suggest that the technique required for the TDM can reliably be repeated, and the semi-automated macro improves accuracy and efficiency, but only after the users are familiar with the method and macro procedures. All resources needed to repeat this study are freely available on GitHub. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forensic Anthropology: New Methodological and Theoretical Perspectives in Forensic Human Skeletal Identification and Methods)
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11 pages, 2045 KiB  
Article
Post-Mortem Interval of Human Skeletal Remains Estimated with Handheld NIR Spectrometry
by Verena Maria Schmidt, Philipp Zelger, Claudia Wöss, Christian Wolfgang Huck, Rohit Arora, Etienne Bechtel, Andreas Stahl, Andrea Brunner, Bettina Zelger, Michael Schirmer, Walter Rabl and Johannes Dominikus Pallua
Biology 2022, 11(7), 1020; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/biology11071020 - 06 Jul 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2157
Abstract
Estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI) of human skeletal remains is a critical issue of forensic analysis, with important limitations such as sample preparation and practicability. In this work, NIR spectroscopy (NIRONE® Sensor X; Spectral Engines, 61449, Germany) was applied to estimate the [...] Read more.
Estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI) of human skeletal remains is a critical issue of forensic analysis, with important limitations such as sample preparation and practicability. In this work, NIR spectroscopy (NIRONE® Sensor X; Spectral Engines, 61449, Germany) was applied to estimate the PMI of 104 human bone samples between 1 day and 2000 years. Reflectance data were repeatedly collected from eight independent spectrometers between 1950 and 1550 nm with a spectral resolution of 14 nm and a step size of 2 nm, each from the external and internal bone. An Artificial Neural Network was used to analyze the 66,560 distinct diagnostic spectra, and clearly distinguished between forensic and archaeological bone material: the classification accuracies for PMIs of 0–2 weeks, 2 weeks–6 months, 6 months–1 year, 1 year–10 years, and >100 years were 0.90, 0.94, 0.94, 0.93, and 1.00, respectively. PMI of archaeological bones could be determined with an accuracy of 100%, demonstrating the adequate predictive performance of the model. Applying a handheld NIR spectrometer to estimate the PMI of human skeletal remains is rapid and extends the repertoire of forensic analyses as a distinct, novel approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forensic Anthropology: New Methodological and Theoretical Perspectives in Forensic Human Skeletal Identification and Methods)
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18 pages, 1611 KiB  
Article
Efficiency of the Adjusted Binary Classification (ABC) Approach in Osteometric Sex Estimation: A Comparative Study of Different Linear Machine Learning Algorithms and Training Sample Sizes
by MennattAllah Hassan Attia, Marwa A. Kholief, Nancy M. Zaghloul, Ivana Kružić, Šimun Anđelinović, Željana Bašić and Ivan Jerković
Biology 2022, 11(6), 917; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/biology11060917 - 15 Jun 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2219
Abstract
The adjusted binary classification (ABC) approach was proposed to assure that the binary classification model reaches a particular accuracy level. The present study evaluated the ABC for osteometric sex classification using multiple machine learning (ML) techniques: linear discriminant analysis (LDA), boosted generalized linear [...] Read more.
The adjusted binary classification (ABC) approach was proposed to assure that the binary classification model reaches a particular accuracy level. The present study evaluated the ABC for osteometric sex classification using multiple machine learning (ML) techniques: linear discriminant analysis (LDA), boosted generalized linear model (GLMB), support vector machine (SVM), and logistic regression (LR). We used 13 femoral measurements of 300 individuals from a modern Turkish population sample and split data into two sets: training (n = 240) and testing (n = 60). Then, the five best-performing measurements were selected for training univariate models, while pools of these variables were used for the multivariable models. ML classifier type did not affect the performance of unadjusted models. The accuracy of univariate models was 82–87%, while that of multivariate models was 89–90%. After applying ABC to the crossvalidation set, the accuracy and the positive and negative predictive values for uni- and multivariate models were ≥95%. Sex could be estimated for 28–75% of individuals using univariate models but with an obvious sexing bias, likely caused by different degrees of sexual dimorphism and between-group overlap. However, using multivariate models, we minimized the bias and properly classified 81–87% of individuals. A similar performance was also noted in the testing sample (except for FEB), with accuracies of 96–100%, and a proportion of classified individuals between 30% and 82% in univariate models, and between 90% and 91% in multivariate models. When considering different training sample sizes, we demonstrated that LR was the most sensitive with limited sample sizes (n < 150), while GLMB was the most stable classifier. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forensic Anthropology: New Methodological and Theoretical Perspectives in Forensic Human Skeletal Identification and Methods)
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16 pages, 1959 KiB  
Article
Postmortem and Antemortem Forensic Assessment of Pediatric Fracture Healing from Radiographs and Machine Learning Classification
by Kelsey M. Kyllonen, Keith L. Monson and Michael A. Smith
Biology 2022, 11(5), 749; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/biology11050749 - 13 May 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2404
Abstract
A timeline of pediatric bone healing using fracture healing characteristics that can be assessed solely using radiographs would be practical for forensic casework, where the fracture event may precede death by days, months, or years. However, the dating of fractures from radiographs is [...] Read more.
A timeline of pediatric bone healing using fracture healing characteristics that can be assessed solely using radiographs would be practical for forensic casework, where the fracture event may precede death by days, months, or years. However, the dating of fractures from radiographs is difficult, imprecise, and lacks consensus, as only a few aspects of the healing process are visible on radiographs. Multiple studies in both the clinical and forensic literature have attempted to develop a usable scale to assess pediatric bone healing on radiographs using various healing characteristics. In contrast to the orthopedic definition, a fracture in forensic casework is only considered to be healed when the area around the fracture has been remodeled to the point that the fracture is difficult to detect on a radiograph or on the surface of the bone itself, a process that can take several years. We subjectively assessed visible characteristics of healing in radiograms of fractures occurring in 942 living children and adolescents. By dividing these assessments into learning and test (validation) sets, the accuracy of a newly proposed fracture healing scale was compared to a previous study. Two machine learning models were used to test predictions of the new scale. All three models produced similar estimates with substantial imprecision. Results corroborate the Malone model with an independent dataset and support the efficacy of using less complex models to estimate fracture age in children. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forensic Anthropology: New Methodological and Theoretical Perspectives in Forensic Human Skeletal Identification and Methods)
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17 pages, 2816 KiB  
Article
Perimortem Skeletal Sharp Force Trauma: Detection Reliability on CT Data, Demographics and Anatomical Patterns from a Forensic Dataset
by Sandra Braun, Lara Indra, Sandra Lösch and Marco Milella
Biology 2022, 11(5), 666; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/biology11050666 - 26 Apr 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2332
Abstract
The increasing importance of trauma analysis by means of postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) is insufficiently reflected in forensic curricula, nor are best practice manuals available. We attempt to detect sharp force bone lesions on PMCT of closed forensic cases with the aims of [...] Read more.
The increasing importance of trauma analysis by means of postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) is insufficiently reflected in forensic curricula, nor are best practice manuals available. We attempt to detect sharp force bone lesions on PMCT of closed forensic cases with the aims of assessing errors and pointing out patterns in anatomical location and manner of death (MOD). We investigated 41 closed sharp force fatality cases, with available PMCT and forensic reports. Two observers with different radiological training assessed the lesions on PMCT scans (2D and 3D) for comparison with the reports. Between 3% (suicides) and 15.3% (homicides) of sharp force injuries caused visible bone lesions. While our observations were repeatable, each forensic investigation left a similar number of bone lesions undetected. Injury patterns differed between MOD, with thoracic bone lesions being most frequent overall. Soft tissue injury location varied between the MOD. Associations between MOD and age as well as number of injuries were significant. The detection of bone lesions on PMCT for untrained forensic specialists is challenging, curricula and pertinent manuals are desirable. With the low frequency of bone lesions compared to soft tissue injuries, we should be aware when analyzing decomposed bodies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forensic Anthropology: New Methodological and Theoretical Perspectives in Forensic Human Skeletal Identification and Methods)
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12 pages, 55387 KiB  
Article
Dismemberment and Body Encasement—Case Report and an Empiric Study
by Jana Matzen, Benjamin Ondruschka, Antonia Fitzek, Klaus Püschel and Eilin Jopp-van Well
Biology 2022, 11(2), 328; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/biology11020328 - 18 Feb 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5224
Abstract
The mutilation and encasement of corpses are rare in daily forensic work, but when they occur, close cooperation between different disciplines, such as legal medicine and forensic anthropology, is necessary to obtain the most valuable results. One forensic examination method is the radiological [...] Read more.
The mutilation and encasement of corpses are rare in daily forensic work, but when they occur, close cooperation between different disciplines, such as legal medicine and forensic anthropology, is necessary to obtain the most valuable results. One forensic examination method is the radiological evaluation of victims or body parts by postmortem CT (pmCT) and X-ray images. In relation to a case described in this paper, an empirical study was conducted to figure out the value of radiological imaging and the ability to visualize and temporally classify changes in a corpse encased in concrete. For this purpose, the head and paw of a pig were encased in concrete and scanned regularly over a period of one year. Body parts such as the head and paw are clearly visible on X-ray images. Although decay-related changes are shown, a specific minimum time interval cannot yet be found, as these changes occur continuously in lesser amounts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forensic Anthropology: New Methodological and Theoretical Perspectives in Forensic Human Skeletal Identification and Methods)
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Review

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15 pages, 736 KiB  
Review
Common Ground between Biological Rhythms and Forensics
by Klara Janjić, Christoph Reisinger and Fabian Kanz
Biology 2022, 11(7), 1071; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/biology11071071 - 18 Jul 2022
Viewed by 2542
Abstract
Biological clocks set the timing for a large number of essential processes in the living human organism. After death, scientific evidence is required in forensic investigations in order to collect as much information as possible on the death circumstances and personal identifiers of [...] Read more.
Biological clocks set the timing for a large number of essential processes in the living human organism. After death, scientific evidence is required in forensic investigations in order to collect as much information as possible on the death circumstances and personal identifiers of the deceased victim. We summarize the associations between the molecular mechanisms of biological rhythms and forensically relevant aspects, including post-mortem interval and cause of death, entomological findings, sex, age, ethnicity and development. Given their importance during lifetime, biological rhythms could be potential tools to draw conclusions on the death circumstances and the identity of a deceased person by mechanistic investigations of the different biological clocks in a forensic context. This review puts the known effects of biological rhythms on the functions of the human organism in context with potential applications in forensic fields of interest, such as personal identification, entomology as well as the determination of the post-mortem interval and cause of death. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forensic Anthropology: New Methodological and Theoretical Perspectives in Forensic Human Skeletal Identification and Methods)
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Graphical abstract

26 pages, 15651 KiB  
Review
Uncovering Forensic Taphonomic Agents: Animal Scavenging in the European Context
by Lara Indra, David Errickson, Alexandria Young and Sandra Lösch
Biology 2022, 11(4), 601; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/biology11040601 - 15 Apr 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5432
Abstract
Animal scavenging by vertebrates can significantly alter human bodies and their deposition site. For instance, vertebrate animals can cause postmortem modification to a body, alter perimortem trauma, influence decomposition rates, disarticulate and scatter body parts or evidence, and affect the identification of the [...] Read more.
Animal scavenging by vertebrates can significantly alter human bodies and their deposition site. For instance, vertebrate animals can cause postmortem modification to a body, alter perimortem trauma, influence decomposition rates, disarticulate and scatter body parts or evidence, and affect the identification of the deceased. Animal scavenging is a relatively common occurrence in forensic investigations. Even so, studies on the subject are scattered and rare, with most focussing on geographical areas outside of Europe. For that reason, we intend to collate the literature to provide an account of forensically relevant vertebrate scavengers in Europe, their impacts on human remains, and their implications for forensic investigations. Here, we provide an overview of forensic aspects where the knowledge of animal scavenging is crucial, as well as an account of potential scavengers of human remains in Europe and their typical alterations to soft tissue and, in particular, to bones. In addition, we are the first to provide a guide for forensic practitioners to identify the presence of vertebrate scavenging and subsequently inform outdoor search strategies for affected human remains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forensic Anthropology: New Methodological and Theoretical Perspectives in Forensic Human Skeletal Identification and Methods)
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Other

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5 pages, 225 KiB  
Commentary
Pharmacological History of Missing Subjects: Perspective of a Correction Factor to Aid in the Study of Bone Remains
by Camilla Cecannecchia, Benedetta Baldari and Andrea Cioffi
Biology 2022, 11(8), 1128; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/biology11081128 - 27 Jul 2022
Viewed by 1264
Abstract
In forensic anthropology, bone mineral density and the estimation of the dating of fractures based on the degree of progress of healing processes are important parameters of study on bone remains. With our article we aim, on the one hand, to highlight the [...] Read more.
In forensic anthropology, bone mineral density and the estimation of the dating of fractures based on the degree of progress of healing processes are important parameters of study on bone remains. With our article we aim, on the one hand, to highlight the importance that these parameters have in the reconstruction of the biological profile of the subject, as well as the time and the cause of death; on the other hand, we aim to limit their variability according to the medical substances and/or abuse assumed during life by the subject. The aim of this article is to encourage the introduction of the pharmacological history of missing persons as a new correction factor for the study of bone remains, possibly based on new scientific studies that allow us to establish with greater specificity the effect that certain pharmacological therapies produce on bone mass and the speed of remodeling. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forensic Anthropology: New Methodological and Theoretical Perspectives in Forensic Human Skeletal Identification and Methods)
9 pages, 741 KiB  
Brief Report
Application of Aspartic Acid Racemization for Age Estimation in a Spanish Sample
by Sara C. Zapico and Douglas H. Ubelaker
Biology 2022, 11(6), 856; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/biology11060856 - 03 Jun 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1887
Abstract
Correct age-at-death estimation in adult individuals is one of the challenges of forensic investigation. Forensic anthropology macroscopic techniques are non-invasive methods for this purpose. However, several methods need to be applied to accurately estimate age, and the difference between chronological and predictive age [...] Read more.
Correct age-at-death estimation in adult individuals is one of the challenges of forensic investigation. Forensic anthropology macroscopic techniques are non-invasive methods for this purpose. However, several methods need to be applied to accurately estimate age, and the difference between chronological and predictive age may still be around ±10 years. New research trends are focused on the inherent process of aging, which produces changes in tissues and organs at different biochemical levels. One of the oldest and most studied approaches in this field is aspartic acid racemization. The accuracy of this technique in age estimation has been widely demonstrated. However, only a few studies have assessed its accuracy in different populations. The aim of this research was to assess the accuracy of aspartic acid racemization in a Spanish sample and its applicability to forensic cases. Dentin from fifteen third molars from two Spanish populations (ages 19–70 years old) was isolated and D and L forms of aspartic acid were detected through GC/MS, according to a previous published protocol. D/L ratios were calculated and after the application of a regression analysis, a formula for age estimation was developed. The results were similar to previous studies, obtaining an R = 0.91 between racemization ratios and age and a mean absolute error (MAE) between chronological and predictive age of 5 years. These results were ratified by leave-one-out cross-validation, as well as the application of the formula to five teeth of a known age. Despite these promising results, this technique is not exempt from drawbacks; thus, further studies are required to apply this methodology to forensic cases and to combine it with forensic anthropology findings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forensic Anthropology: New Methodological and Theoretical Perspectives in Forensic Human Skeletal Identification and Methods)
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