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It is imperative in a forensic investigation to determine the identity of an unidentified corpse, for which a crucial starting point is to establish population affinity as part of the biological profile supplied by the forensic anthropologist. The present study investigates the feasibility of using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) images to quantify craniometric variation between Japanese and Malay populations relative to the estimation of population affinity in a forensic context. The Japanese and Malay samples comprise MDCT scans of 252 (122 female; 130 male) and 182 (84 female; 98 male) adult individuals, respectively. A total of 18 measurements were acquired, and two machine learning methods (random forest modeling, RFM; support vector machine, SVM) were applied to classify population affinity. The accuracy of the two-way pooled-sex model was 88.0% for RFM and 94.5% for SVM, respectively. The four-way population and sex model produced an overall classification accuracy of 81.3% for RFM and 91.7% for SVM. The sex-specific models of population affinity showed correct rates of classification of more than 90% in both females (90.8% for RFM and 97.6% for SVM) and males (91.2% for RFM and 97.4% for SVM). Our findings clearly indicate that the cranial measurements acquired in MDCT images can be used for the forensic classification of Japanese and Malay individuals and thus serve as a reference for forensic anthropologists attempting to identify unidentified remains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human neurocranium exhibits significant sexual dimorphism, making it a valuable resource for anthropological studies. This systematic review aggregated and analyzed data from literature on sex differences in neurocranial dimensions as measured by computed tomography (CT). Following registration of the review protocol with PROSPERO (#CRD 42023442451), comprehensive searches were conducted in six databases and gray literature. From an initial pool of 1,499 articles, 14 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed for data extraction, meta-analysis of linear measurements, risk of bias (RoB), and certainty of evidence (GRADE) evaluation. In the meta-analysis (Sample size- 1726 female and 1837 male), the inverse variance method and a random-effects model were employed using Review Manager (version 5.4.1). Statistical heterogeneity was quantified using the I2 coefficient. The studies primarily involved linear measurements between specific cranial landmarks, manually delineated using imaging software. Measurements analyzed included Maximum Cranial Length (G-Op), Cranial Base Length (N-Ba and N-Pfm), Cranial Height (Ba-Br), Frontal Chord (N-Br), Maximum Cranial Breadth (Eu–Eu), Minimum Frontal Breadth (Ft-Ft), Upper Facial Breadth (Fmt-Fmt), and Bimastoid Breadth (Ms–Ms). Results indicated that the mean values were significantly lower in females (p < 0.001), with no differences between the subgroups of dry skulls and living patients. The largest differences between sexes were observed in G-Op [-8.64 (-9.69, -7.59) mm] and N-Pfm [-8.83 mm (-12.75, -4.91)]. Our meta-analysis showed a low risk of bias, and measurements of N-Ba, Ba-Br, N-Br, and Ms–Ms demonstrated high certainty of evidence according to the GRADE approach. This research underscores the reliability of specific neurocranial measurements for sex differentiation in CT scans, with smaller dimensions consistently found in females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applying existing sexing methodologies to different populations, and reporting these findings is important to enhance their applicability and accuracy in real cases across the world. DSP was published in 2005 (Murail et al., 2005) and updated as a DSP2 in 2017 (Brůžek et al., 2017) based on a database of 10 pelvic measurements from 2040 individuals worldwide. These tools have been applied subsequently to various populations, however, its applicability to a dry Spanish population is lacking. 303 hipbones belonging to 157 individuals from the School of Legal Medicine from the University Complutense of Madrid (Spain), of which 140 individuals were documented, were analyzed to investigate the reliability, applicability and accuracy of the DSP2 sex estimation methodology, examining side and sex-based potential differences for the first time. In most of the DSP variables, intra-rater reliability showed excellent results and % applicability was higher than 85.0%. Overall % accuracy was higher than 94.0% regardless of the number or discriminant power of the utilized DSP variables. However, % sexing decreased when less variables or less discriminant ones were used for estimations, reaching 45.51% (left) and 43.31% (right). Regarding sexual dimorphism, females' results of % applicability, % sexing and % accuracy were higher compared to males. In addition, left os coxae achieved better outcomes (aforementioned percentages) in most of the cases in the sex-pooled sample. Decreasing the mandatory posterior probability by 10% yielded an increase in the % sexing but reduced % accuracy, and thus, does not seem to enhance the approach's performance. The present study validates the applicability and reliability of DSP for sexing a Spanish population. Future investigations will attempt to assess its applicability within virtual anthropology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) occasionally scavenge, yet the circumstances that can prompt carrion consumption are still unclear. The first record of a Red-tailed Hawk consuming human carrion was captured during Winter Storm Uri by camera trap imagery collected by the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University in central Texas, USA. The Red-tailed Hawk was observed scavenging on human remains on 16 February 2021 during a period of record low temperature (as low as –16.7°C) and high snow cover (up to ∼18 cm) for Texas, which suggests that facultative scavenging may be influenced by temperature and snow cover. Additionally, as the Red-tailed Hawk arrived at the cadaver site (n = 13 times on one day), it frequently displaced the larger Black Vultures (Coragyps atratus) and Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura) that were feeding, although in one case an arriving Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus) displaced the Red-tailed Hawk (and other scavengers). When the Red-tailed Hawk departed from the site (n = 13 times on one day), more scavengers of other species returned. The study yielded novel observations and can encourage future researchers to evaluate the dynamics that influence facultative scavenging by Red-tailed Hawks, as well as the factors that influence scavenger dominance hierarchies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Age estimation is vital in forensic science, with maxillary sinus development serving as a reliable indicator. This study developed an automatic segmentation model for maxillary sinus identification and parameter measurement, combined with regression and machine learning models for age estimation. Methods: Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) images from 292 Han individuals (ranging from 5 to 53 years) were used to train and validate the segmentation model. Measurements included sinus dimensions (length, width, height), inter-sinus distance, and volume. Age estimation models using multiple linear regression and random forest algorithms were built based on these variables. Results: The automatic segmentation model achieved high accuracy, which yielded a Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) of 0.873, an Intersection over Union (IoU) of 0.7753, a Hausdorff Distance 95% (HD95) of 9.8337, and an Average Surface Distance (ASD) of 2.4507. The regression model performed best, with mean absolute errors (MAE) of 1.45 years (under 18) and 3.51 years (aged 18 and above), providing relatively precise age predictions. Conclusion: The maxillary sinus-based model is a promising tool for age estimation, particularly in adults, and could be enhanced by incorporating additional variables like dental dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Research about interpartner agreement on intimate partner violence (IPV) is mainly based on community and clinical samples, with forensic or court-related samples being overlooked. This study assesses interpartner agreement on IPV reports based on the Revised Conflict Tactic Scales, aiming to explore if the proxy method would be reliable in a court-related setting. The study sample comprised 62 different-sex couples identified in the Portuguese judicial system due to an IPV-related crime perpetrated by men. Agreement was assessed based on different indexes: percent agreement and Gwet's AC1 for occurrence, and Tau-b and intraclass correlations for frequency. Men's and women's perpetration were considered. Results showed that interpartner agreement on IPV occurrence (ranging from poor-to-very good) tended to be higher and more consistent among indexes than agreement on IPV frequency (ranging from non-existent to strong). This study highlights the need to collect both partners' reports in court-related settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recognition of an individual, supported by forensic facial reconstruction (FFR), can be established using several anatomical references, such as soft tissue thickness, position, and size of the eyes, nose, lips, and ears. The inclusion of additional visual inputs to the process, such as the ear, can refine an individual's appearance. However, to the best of our knowledge, existing methods are scarce and undertested. To improve recognition, this study aimed to verify the size, position, and inclination of the ears, and their possible relationship with the skull. Ninety-nine research participants (55 females and 44 males) aged between 18 and 65 years were evaluated. Direct (on research participants) and indirect (photographs) measurements were performed using imaging software. Eighteen relationships were tested to determine their sizes, inclinations, and positions with respect to other cranial structures. It can be concluded that considering both length and width, the male ear is larger than the female ear, and based on the angle between the superaurale and otobasion inferius line and the Frankfurt plane, the ear inclination is 73º for both sexes. In addition, the upper portion of the ear coincides with the eyebrows. These references can help determine the characteristics of the ear during FFR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimating the sex from unknown bodies or fragmented human remains is essential for forensic identification. For sex estimation from foot features, previous studies highly depend on the foot length, resulting in a single-dimensional threshold and thusly poor performance for data falling into the foot length overlapping interval. Moreover, available information about the sex estimation from foot dimensions among Taiwan population is lacking. Hence, this study proposes a novel method to achieve multidimensional foot measurements-based sex estimation for the human falling into the overlapping foot interval. In total, 780 men and 670 women with same foot lengths ranging from 23.0 to 25.5 cm were recruited. A three-dimensional foot scanner was used to measure 10 dimensions of both feet. Bilateral differences were detected in several foot dimensions under the same foot length categories. The support vector machine method provided better results in terms of accuracy (86.05%), recall (86.44%), specificity (85.59%), and precision (83.77%). This study indicates the importance of other variables including foot length, ball girth, instep girth, ball of foot length, and outside ball of foot length in sex estimation. The findings will provide helpful information for forensic practice for Taiwanese and extend the application range of machine learning methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decade, some Portuguese cemeteries have started to have issues with the lack of burial space, mainly due to the slow rate of cadaveric decomposition, hindering the reuse of soil graves as is common practice. To better understand the influence of soil on human taphonomy and help in cemetery management, the main goal of this research was to explore possible relationships between body decay and edaphic traits. A total of 217 soil samples were collected from graves of five public cemeteries and analysed for their soil organic matter content, moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, bulk density, texture, and colour. Five grave sampling areas were considered: the topsoil, above the coffin, and under the coffin in the head, pelvis and feet areas. Statistically significant differences have been found between the graves of skeletonized and incompletely skeletonized bodies for moisture above the coffin (p = 0.035) and for electrical conductivity in the topsoil (p = 0.014). Although the number of individuals (n = 56) studied might be considered low, this paper explores the possibility that soil itself might not be the main influencer on human taphonomy. A new perspective should be considered regarding the role played by intrinsic factors after death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper draws on original ethnographic research in Australia focussing on the handling, management, and conceptualisation of death and the dead human body in 2020–2021. Analysis produced themes of secrecy and (in)visibility regarding both death and the collection of data. Key findings discussed are the withdrawal of information and off-the-record comments from participants, controlling of public access to information, and the (in)visibility of death and the body in the context of the mortuary, viewings and identifications, and the presentation of the body in virtual spaces. The paper argues that those who work with death and the dead in this particular context have power to shield their work, the body, and their processes from the public. Future research exploring the attitudes held by the general public towards death and the body and whether they align or challenge the death industry is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate estimates of stature play an important role in the personal identification of unknown decedents, however a drawback in the application of many stature estimation equations is the need for known sex and population, the assignment of which can be challenging. Researchers have formulated equations for stature estimation that are neither population- nor sex-specific and thereof the aim of this study was to assess the applicability of these stature estimation equations proposed by Albanese et al.. (2016) (Albanese J, Tuck A, Gomes J, Cardoso HFV (2016) An alternative approach for estimating stature for long bones that is not population- or group-specific. Forensic Sci Int 259:59–68). The physiological length of the femur, condylar malleolar length of the tibia and a combination of these measurements, collected from Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scanograms of adult (20–60 years) White South African males (n = 30) and females (n = 44) were used to assess the accuracy of the Albanese et al. (Albanese J, Tuck A, Gomes J, Cardoso HFV (2016) An alternative approach for estimating stature for long bones that is not population- or group-specific. Forensic Sci Int 259:59–68). sex-specific and generic stature estimation equations. The stature estimates were compared with measured living stature (LSM), using paired t-tests. Results indicated that the Albanese et al. (Albanese J, Tuck A, Gomes J, Cardoso HFV (2016) An alternative approach for estimating stature for long bones that is not population- or group-specific. Forensic Sci Int 259:59–68). equations underestimated living stature by between 1.1 and 5.0 cm. These underestimations were significantly different between the LSM and the sex-specific estimates for females and the LSM and the generic estimates for males and the tibia for sex-specific equation. All stature estimates however fell in between two standard error of estimates for the sex-specific equations for males and the generic equations for the females. Although, the equations by Albanese et al. (Albanese J, Tuck A, Gomes J, Cardoso HFV (2016) An alternative approach for estimating stature for long bones that is not population- or group-specific. Forensic Sci Int 259:59–68). can be used to estimate stature in White South Africans in certain cases, the use of sex/population-specific equations remains the method of choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual dimorphism in the human species is key to the development of sex estimation techniques in the human skeleton. This dimorphism is manifested, as in other regions of the skeleton, in the bones that constitute the thoracic cage, according to the existing bibliography. In this aspect, the study of the human skeleton through 3D images has also proved to be useful for the development and validation of sex estimation methodologies for the reconstruction of the osteobiological profile. For this purpose, a sample of 240 thoracic CT scans of adult individuals was selected from a collection of 3D images belonging to the University of Granada, provided by the Castilla-La Mancha Health Service (SESCAM). Different measurements of the thoracic bones (ribs R2 to R5 width, sternum length and width, and clavicles width) have been taken with OsiriX software, with the aim of developing discriminant functions for sex estimation. The obtained results are positive, allowing sex estimation through 3D images of the thorax with up to 89.6% accuracy through discriminant functions, which shows the usefulness of image analysis for the reconstruction of the osteobiological profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postmortem interval (PMI) estimation represents a significant challenge in the forensic sciences, particularly when dealing with human skeletal remains. A screening protocol for distinguishing possible remains of forensic interest is a crucial tool for judicial purposes. In this context, luminol chemiluminescence emerges as a promising method, with low overall costs and required time. This method is primarily used as a presumptive test, based on the understanding that the intensity of the chemiluminescence reactions decreases with an increase in the postmortem interval, thus underlining its practical implications. This research aims to expand previous research on the potential of luminol chemiluminescence, evaluating its usefulness in estimating PMI. Our sample comprised 239 human clavicles, with known PMI. The luminol solution was sprayed on each powder bone sample in a dark room, observed by the naked eye and photographed. The intensity of the chemiluminescence reaction was measured using a binary and a 5-level scale. The present results reveal that this method is a suitable tool for PMI estimation as a presumptive test, reducing time and costs in criminal investigations. The findings underscore the high sensitivity of luminol chemiluminescence for detecting recent PMI but also highlight a notable incidence of false positives. Thus, our results confirm luminol chemiluminescence as a powerful tool for dating time of death, particularly for identifying forensic relevant remains. Still, the relatively low specificity indicates that it should be complemented with additional tests for further confirmation and scientific validation of the remains' forensic relevance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sex estimation is essential for human identification within bioarchaeological and medico-legal contexts. Amongst the sexually dimorphic skeletal elements commonly utilised for this purpose, the pelvis is usually preferred because of its direct relationship with reproduction. Furthermore, the posterior part of the innominate bone has proven to have better preservation within degraded contexts. With the aim of investigating the potential of the vertical acetabular diameter as a sex marker, 668 documented individuals from three different Iberian skeletal collections were randomly divided into training and test samples and eventually analysed using different statistical approaches. Two traditional (Discriminant Function Analysis and Logistic Regression Analysis) and four Machine learning methodologies (Support Vector Classification, Decision Tree Classification, k Nearest Neighbour Classification, and Neural Networks) were performed and compared. Amongst these statistical modalities, Machine Learning methodologies yielded better accuracy outcomes, with DTC garnering highest accuracy percentages of 83.59% and 89.85% with the sex-pooled and female samples, respectively. With males, ANN yielded highest accuracy percentage of 87.70%, when compared to other statistical approaches. Higher accuracy obtained with ML, along with its minimal statistical assumptions, warrant these approaches to be increasingly utilised for further investigations involving sex estimation and human identification. In this line, the creation of a statistical platform with easier user interface can render such robust statistical modalities accessible to researchers and practitioners, effectively maximising its practical use. Future investigations should attempt to achieve this goal, alongside examining the influence of factors such as age, on the obtained accuracy outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the potential of computed tomography (CT) images of median palatine suture (MP) for adult age estimation in the Northern and Southwestern Chinese populations. A total of 1110 cranial CT scans from individuals aged 10–79 years, including 557 northern Chinese and 553 southwestern Chinese, were collected for analysis. After volume reformation and multiplanar reconstruction, a total of 20 slices of median palatine suture were selected from each individual. The closure of sutures was analyzed into four stages, and the cumulative scores of 20 slices were recorded as the suture closure score (SCS). The correlations between SCS and age were compared among the two Chinese populations residing in diverse geographic regions. Regression models were established for age estimation. The estimation accuracy was evaluated based on the test set. The mean absolute error (MAE) and the correlation between predicted age and chronological age were calculated to evaluate estimation accuracy. The SCS of MP exhibited a significant correlation with age (0.613, northern male; 0.678, southwestern male; 0.730, northern female; 0.704, Southwestern female; 0.662, total). Furthermore, there were statistically significant differences in SCS among different regions and sex groups (p < 0.001). The cubic regression model had the highest R2 value in all subjects, especially among Northern females and Southwestern males, while the power and quadratic regression models showed the highest R2 value in Northern males and Southwestern females, respectively. In the test set, the Northern cohort demonstrated a lower MAE (9.06 ± 7.32 years, males; 9.17 ± 5.28 years, females) compared to the Southwestern cohort (9.19 ± 7.49 years, male; 10.61 ± 6.83 years, female). Additionally, it was observed that males exhibited a lower MAE than females in both regional groups. This study demonstrated the potential utility of CT images of the MP for age estimation in Chinese populations, emphasizing the significance of incorporating regional and sex factors within this context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age estimations are relevant for pre-trial detention, sentencing in criminal cases and as part of the evaluation in asylum processes to protect the rights and privileges of minors. No current method can determine an exact chronological age due to individual variations in biological development. This study seeks to develop a validated statistical model for estimating an age relative to key legal thresholds (15, 18, and 21 years) based on a skeletal (CT-clavicle, radiography-hand/wrist or MR-knee) and tooth (radiography-third molar) developmental stages. The whole model is based on 34 scientific studies, divided into examinations of the hand/wrist (15 studies), clavicle (5 studies), distal femur (4 studies), and third molars (10 studies). In total, data from approximately 27,000 individuals have been incorporated and the model has subsequently been validated with data from 5,000 individuals. The core framework of the model is built upon transition analysis and is further developed by a combination of a type of parametric bootstrapping and Bayesian theory. Validation of the model includes testing the models on independent datasets of individuals with known ages and shows a high precision with separate populations aligning closely with the model's predictions. The practical use of the complex statistical model requires a user-friendly tool to provide probabilities together with the margin of error. The assessment based on the model forms the medical component for the overall evaluation of an individual's age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During maceration, a string of beads was found near the surgically modified right os coxa and femur of the remains of a 55‐year‐old woman donated to the Forensic Investigation Research Station at Colorado Mesa University. The remains were initially used in the study of decomposition of human remains, and then macerated to clean the skeleton. Documentation on this decedent noted three separate "hip replacement" surgeries, but no other details. The surgical modifications include significant alterations to the right os coxa and femur consistent with a Girdlestone procedure, generally used to treat an infected hip replacement unresponsive to other treatment. In this procedure, the surgeon removes the femoral head, and in this case, also the portion of the replacement in the os coxa. In this individual, a portion of the proximal femur was reflected, possibly to reduce contact with the os coxa. The beads are consistent with antibiotic beads, used to treat the infection that likely necessitated the Girdlestone procedure. Both the operation and the inclusion of the antibiotic beads are unusual and are potentially useful in the identification process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In British Columbia, Canada, unidentified skeletal human remains are often recovered by law enforcement or civilians and there is a question if they are modern and of medicolegal significance, or historical or archaeological. We used relatively fast and inexpensive carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis of human bone collagen from a selection of these remains (n = 48) combined with a logistic regression model to classify remains as modern, historical, or archaeological. We then confirmed our temporal classification through directly radiocarbon dating each individual and found that we could predict the temporal group with 93% accuracy. In regions where archaeological remains have dietary isotope values distinct from living people, dietary stable isotope analysis can provide a time‐, and resource‐efficient method to screen cases of unidentified human remains early in death investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A critical component of the biological profile involves accurate estimation of the age‐at‐death of the decedent(s). While bias, inaccuracy, and population specificity have plagued age estimation methods, these issues are minimized by Bayesian statistics. Our primary analysis generated ages of transition from the published Suchey‐Brooks pubic symphysis dataset and coupled them with informative priors derived from two modern American forensic samples (Forensic Data Bank [FDB] and Forensic Anthropology Database for Assessing Methods Accuracy [FADAMA]) to test the accuracy of Bayesian analysis against the original method. Exact binomial tests assessed the accuracy of the generated age ranges; realized accuracies and bias are reported for final age ranges at various coverages. In a second analysis, the Bayesian Suchey‐Brooks parameters and original, non‐Bayesian age ranges were also applied to FADAMA. In the primary analyses, the Bayesian approach improved age estimates over traditional ranges, especially for females. Highest posterior density ranges at 95% provided realized accuracies on a holdout sample between 93% and 96% with extremely low bias for most phases. We provide lookup tables with Bayesian age ranges for various coverages. In the second analysis, realized accuracies were slightly higher in the non‐Bayesian approach for both sexes (86%–92% vs. 83%–91%), due to lower precision and likely practitioner bias in aging forensic cases. The popularity of the Suchey‐Brooks pubic symphysis aging method in modern forensic casework necessitates the use of the Bayesian approach and we encourage practitioners to utilize the lookup tables for forensic casework in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sex estimation is a critical component of the biological profile, and forensic anthropologists may use a variety of sex estimation methods depending upon the degree of completeness and state of preservation of the skeletal remains being analyzed. The innominate is widely accepted to be the most sexually dimorphic skeletal element. The Diagnose Sexuelle Probabiliste (DSP) method, which uses 10 measurements of the innominate, was introduced in 2005 and updated as DSP2 in 2017. While DSP2 has been reported to have high classification accuracy rates in studies of South American and European populations, the method has not been widely tested in US samples, and few US practitioners incorporate this method into their casework. The goal of this study was to test the reliability and accuracy of DSP2 using a large, modern sample from the US (n = 174). Two observers, blinded from demographic information associated with each specimen, collected the DSP2 metrics. Intra‐ and interobserver error analyses showed acceptable levels of agreement for all measurements, except for IIMT. Classification accuracies exceeded 95%, with minimal sex bias, for both observers and using various measurement combinations; however, an inclusivity sex bias occurred with more males reaching the 0.95 posterior probability threshold required by DSP2 to provide a sex classification estimate. Based on its high accuracy, forensic anthropologists in the US may consider incorporating DSP2 into their casework, although we recommend excluding IIMT and using SPU with caution. Additional methods will continue to be needed when the posterior probability threshold is not reached. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the analysis of a commingled human remains assemblage, pair‐matching is often conducted as part of the inventory to inform the DNA sampling strategy and to calculate the minimum or most likely number of individuals. As commingled assemblages become larger, pair‐matching becomes more difficult, and it is unknown whether accuracy declines. Therefore, a study to determine the accuracy rates of visual pair‐matching for multiple observers was conducted on a large, commingled human assemblage. The sample consisted of 580 left and right humeri (n = 287 and n = 293, respectively) from the commingled remains of the USS Oklahoma, which were undergoing analysis at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. Five anthropologists completed this study, determining humeri pairs with varying degrees of confidence and non‐pairs. The overall precision was 81.0% and ranged from 74.1% to 95.9% for participants, including all confidence levels. When considering only confident matches, the overall precision for all participants increased to 91.4%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study utilized cone-beam computed tomography images to assess the potential of maxillary sinus (MS) and piriform aperture (PA) measurements in sex prediction and to identify possible correlations between these structures and the MS ostium. Methods: A total of 204 images were selected and divided into two groups: 102 for constructing and testing the formula, and 102 for validation. In each subgroup, the images were equally divided for 11 measurements by two examiners in the MS (height, width, length, and total width), PA (height and width), and maxillary ostium diameter. Results: Significant correlations were found in males and in the total analysis for all measurements of the right MS, while the length of the left MS showed a positive correlation with PA height. In the total analysis, the height of the left MS and the total width along the MS also positively correlated with PA height. When tested, the constructed formula resulted in an accuracy of 82.4%. Conclusion: Tomographic images proved to be excellent tools for sex prediction, as the measurements described in this study could be reproduced and analyzed in different populations, considering that craniometric characteristics may vary across populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many human rights and criminal contexts, skeletal remains are often the only available samples, and they present a significant challenge for forensic DNA profiling due to DNA degradation. Ancient DNA methods, particularly capture hybridization enrichment, have been proposed for dealing with severely degraded bones, given their capacity to yield results in ancient remains. Background/Objectives: This paper aims to test the efficacy of genome-wide capture enrichment on degraded forensic human remains compared to autosomal STRs analysis. Methods: Six highly degraded human bones from the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) were quantified with Quantifiler™ Trio and amplified with GlobalFiler™. Independently, partially UDG-treated double-stranded DNA libraries were generated and shotgun sequenced to screen for endogenous human DNA content. Subsequently, libraries were enriched with the Twist Bioscience "Twist Ancient DNA" reagent enrichment kit, which had not been previously tested for forensic purposes. Results: The results show that the samples behave similarly with both approaches (well-preserved samples yield good results). However, capture enrichment provides some new relevant insights, suggesting that its implementation in current NGS forensic platforms could be beneficial. Conclusions: Shotgun results show that the analyzed samples exhibit the same characteristics as ancient DNA samples in terms of DNA fragmentation and molecular damage, which may enhance the value of this approach when authenticating the endogenous DNA of forensic samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Maguaré is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Departamento de Antropologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Background Forensic anthropology has evolved significantly, from its foundations in the nineteenth century to its formal establishment in the twentieth century and in particular with modern advancements from the 1970s onward. Its role in human rights investigations during the 1980s in Latin America and the 1990s in the Balkans, exemplifies its global impact. However, the practice and application of forensic anthropology in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region remain underexplored. This study assesses the current status of forensic anthropology in this region through a brief literature review and online interviews with academics and practitioners in forensic anthropology or closely related disciplines. The interviews addressed the medico-legal system structure, forensic science capabilities, training efforts, practitioner availability, case types (medico-legal and humanitarian), and resources like radiological imaging. Results The study revealed that forensic anthropology is largely underutilized in the MENA region’s medico-legal death investigation systems. Factors such as limited human capital, lack of discipline awareness, varying legal and procedural systems, and insufficient academic infrastructure hinder its integration. Challenges include political instability, safety concerns for practitioners, and inadequate resources. The study highlights ongoing efforts by practitioners to improve the field through theoretical and practical training, capacity building, and resource development. Conclusion The findings underscore the need for strategic investments to strengthen forensic anthropology in the MENA region. Recommendations include enhancing education and training, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, disseminating scientific knowledge, increasing access to resources, and revising medico-legal frameworks. These measures can bridge existing gaps and advance forensic anthropology’s role in medico-legal and humanitarian contexts.

Abstract The hyoid bone has been identified as sexually dimorphic in various populations. The current study is a forerunner analysis that used three-dimensional multidetector computed tomography (3D MDCT) images of the hyoid bone to examine sexual dimorphism in the Egyptian population. A total of 300 subjects underwent neck CT imaging, with an additional 60 subjects randomly selected for model validation. Ten hyoid variables were measured. Initially, the dataset was subjected to discriminant analysis to predict sex and the critical variables associated with sexual dimorphism. Subsequently, machine learning approaches were employed to enhance the accuracy of sex determination. The results indicated that all measured dimensions of the hyoid bone were substantially larger in males confront to females. Discriminant functions combining four measurements (major and minor axes of the hyoid body, the distance between the lesser horns, and hyoid bone length) achieved a higher accuracy of sex prediction compared to univariate functions. The accuracies of machine learning models ranged from 0.8667 to 0.933 with precision, recall, and F1-scores also showing improvements. These findings underscore the robustness and reliability of hyoid bone in sex discrimination among Egyptians, supported by both traditional statistical methods and machine learning approaches, and could prove invaluable in forensic cases.

Abstract Computational analysis of the pubic symphyseal surface is widely used for accurate age estimation, offering quantitative precision through the detection of subtle morphological changes. However, these methods often lack insights into the underlying morphological changes across different age groups. To bridge this gap, the study utilizes statistical shape modeling (SSM), a versatile tool capable of describing diverse morphological variations within populations. This study aimed to elucidate the direction and extent of these morphological changes, identify the contributing factors, and pinpoint key variations crucial for distinguishing between age groups. Computed tomography (CT) scans of 252 subjects from the National Forensic Service of South Korea were employed, subjected to preprocessing and landmark-based alignment. Through this approach, the study visualized and validated significant age-related morphological changes and highlighted the shape variations essential for differentiating between consecutive age groups. This study holds significance in elucidating the intricate nature of age-related morphological changes in the pubic symphyseal surface. Thus, these findings can serve as valuable cornerstones for enhancing age-at-death estimation techniques in forensic anthropology.

Introduction: Sex estimation is a crucial aspect of forensic medicine and requires primary consideration when examining skeletal remains. Among the various anatomical features, the orbital region holds significant importance due to its distinct morphological variations. These variations provide valuable insights for sex determination, making orbital anatomy an indispensable tool in forensic investigations and analysis. Aim: To measure and compare orbital apertures between males and females using 3D Computed Tomography (CT) in a sample from the Saudi population. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted from January to June 2024 in the Radiology Department of Tower Hospital, Arar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, following the acquisition of ethical approval from the Local Bioethics Committee at Northern Border University. A total of 100 CT scans were randomly selected from the available dataset. The study encompassed CT scans of subjects from both genders, aged 18 years and above. However, CT scans of patients who had sustained head trauma or orbital injuries were excluded from the study. The data retrieved were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. All continuous data were tested for normality and expressed as Mean±Standard deviation (SD). The significant differences in orbital measurements between males and females were assessed using the Independent t-test. A p-value of

Background: The identification of victims in mass disasters is a challenging task, particularly when forensic teams must address fragmented human remains. Objectives: This article reports two necropsy cases from the 2019 collapse of the Brumadinho mine tailing dam, the largest humanitarian disaster in Brazilian history. Results: In both cases, identification was achieved through comparative anthropological analysis of complex tattoos. Positive identification was based on the presence of multiple coincident points between postmortem (PM) and antemortem (AM) photographic records of the tattoo designs, along with the absence of exclusionary elements. Conclusion: The authors propose that the comparative analysis of PM and AM tattoos should be more widely adopted as a low-cost, rapid identification method, particularly in complex forensic scenarios such as mass disasters and other challenging cases in the medical and forensic anthropology context.

Abstract Cranial sex estimation often relies on visual assessments made by a forensic anthropologist following published standards. However, these methods are prone to human bias and may be less accurate when applied to populations other than those for which they were originally developed with. This study explores an automatic deep learning (DL) framework to enhance sex estimation accuracy and reduce bias. Utilising 200 cranial CT scans of Indonesian individuals, various DL network configurations were evaluated against a human observer. The most accurate DL network, which learned to estimate sex and cranial traits as an auxiliary task, achieved a classification accuracy of 97%, outperforming the human observer at 82%. Grad-CAM visualisations indicated that the DL model appears to focus on certain cranial traits, while also considering overall size and shape. This study demonstrates the potential of using DL to assist forensic anthropologists in providing more accurate and less biased estimations of skeletal sex.

Background/Objectives: Forensic anthropological age estimations are often limited by a lack of diversity in reference samples, imprecision, and, for certain populations, inaccuracy. This study aims to explore the relationship between health, as indicated by cause of death, and skeletal age estimation, with the goal of determining whether including health information can improve accuracy and precision in age estimation. Methods: Skeletal age data were collected from the Maxwell Museum Documented Skeletal Collection using the Lovejoy et al. method for the auricular surface and the Suchey-Brooks method for the pubic symphysis. All individuals had a known cause of death, which was categorized into two broad groups: disease-related and trauma-related. Cause of death category served as a proxy for health status. Results: Individuals who died from disease-related causes often fell within the upper end of the age ranges for both the auricular surface and pubic symphysis methods. In contrast, those who died from trauma-related causes tended to fall within the lower end of these age ranges. Conclusions: These results indicate that incorporating factors such as health into existing forensic age estimation methods could enhance the precision of age estimates, particularly by addressing the influence of environmental and lifestyle factors on skeletal aging.

Abstract Accurate sex estimation is crucial for comprehensive analysis of the biological profiles of unidentified human skeletal remains. However, there is a notable lack of research specifically addressing the morphometrics of the hard palate. Therefore, this study aimed to derive discriminant equations using the hard palate and assess their applicability for sexing partial skeletal remains in a contemporary Korean population. Statistical analyses were performed for 24 measurements derived from three-dimensional models of the hard palate, generated using computed tomography scans of 301 individuals (156 males, 145 females). Descriptive statistics revealed significant sexual dimorphism in the mean comparison of hard palate sizes between Korean males and females, with males exhibiting larger palates across all measurements (p

Background The identification of an individual after mass calamities poses challenges to experts when bones are fragmented. Dense bones, such as the maxilla, surpass this challenge and remain intact with sinuses even after incineration, thereby making the sinuses an ideal and reliable forensic science tool. No-ninvasive imaging techniques, such as Computed Tomography (CT), can be used to evaluate such cases and help detect fractures and further locate foreign bodies. This study aimed to estimate the dimensions and volumes of the frontal (FS), maxillary (MS), and sphenoidal air sinuses (SS) on CT scans and investigate age- and sex-related differences. Methods CT scans of the paranasal sinuses were acquired from 158 patients ranging in age from 19 to 73 years, and written consent was obtained from all participants. This study was approved by the Institutional Ethical Committee (ethical clearance number IEC 064/2010). All parameters were statistically analyzed using SPSS 20 version and the significance level was set at p Results The bilateral anteroposterior length and height of the FS were significantly larger in men than females (p However, no significant age-related correlation was observed in the dimensions and volumes of the sinuses. Conclusion The results of this study showed that imaging could be a reliable instrument for personal identification in forensic anthropology. Countries that do not allow autopsies may implement this method to clarify the cause of death.

Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) applications have elevated accomplishments in various scientific fields, primarily those that benefit the economy and society. Contemporary threats, such as armed conflicts, natural and man-made disasters, and illegal immigration, often require fast and innovative but reliable identification aids, in which forensic anthropology has a significant role. However, forensic anthropology has not yet exploited new scientific advances but instead relies on traditionally used methods. The rare studies that employed AI and ML in developing standards for sex and age estimation did not go beyond the conceptual solutions and were not applied to real cases. In this study, on the example of Croatian populations' cranial dimensions, we demonstrated the methodology of developing sex classification models using ML in conjunction with field knowledge, resulting in sex estimation accuracy of more than 95%. To illustrate the necessity of applying scientific results, we developed a web app, CroCrania (https://crocrania.onrender.com), that can be used for sex estimation and method validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study follows up on previous research conducted by Litavec (J Forensic Sci., 68, 2023, 1780) on sorting commingled sacroiliac joints using deviation analysis. In the present report, the results of this technique are expanded to separating commingled first tarsometatarsal and atlantoaxial joints. Following the methods of Litavec (J Forensic Sci., 68, 2023, 1780), virtual models were created at the University of Tennessee‐Knoxville Donated Skeletal Collection from 69 atlases and axes, 66 first metatarsals, and 64 medial cuneiforms using an EinScan‐Pro 2x+ Handheld Surface Scanner. The shape and congruency of the articular surfaces were analyzed using a deviation analysis in Geomagic Wrap 2021. Receiver operating characteristic curves were conducted on reference samples composed of 200 commingled and non‐commingled bone pairs per joint to identify threshold values for sorting the remains. Validation samples of 225 pairs were subsequently analyzed to identify the efficacy of this method on a sample of unknown individuals. The statistical analyses confirmed that deviation analysis values from commingled first tarsometatarsal and atlantoaxial joint pairs were significantly larger than those from non‐commingled individuals (p < 0.0001). 87%–92% of first tarsometatarsal pairs and 63%–66% of atlantoaxial joint pairs were correctly sorted based on the selected threshold values. This study increases the number of joints able to be sorted by deviation analysis and reemphasizes its value as a technique for resolving commingled human remains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]