Fragmented Human Remains Research Articles

Estimation of Sex From the Buccolingual Dimension of Tooth Among the North Indian Population.

Identification is an important aspect of forensic medicine. Identification plays an imperative role, especially in highly decomposed bodies, mutilated bodies, and undisclosed and fragmentary human remains. The estimation of sex is an essential parameter of human identification. In forensic anthropometry, sex determination is related to morphometric characteristics of skeletal bones, such as the skull and mandible, clavicle, sternum, scapula, humerus, pelvic bone, sternum, and femur. Since teeth are decay-resistant, conscientious analysis of teeth can accredit reliable sex estimation of an individual, especially when other determinants are fragmented or destroyed. The aim of the study was to explore the association between sex and buccolingual crown dimensions of teeth. The study sample consists of 100 volunteer subjects (50 male subjects and 50 female subjects) aged between 20 and 35 years. Alginate was used to take impressions of the teeth and the cast was prepared using pouring by dental stone. Measurements of buccolingual parameters of all the teeth (except the third molars) of both jaws were done on dental casts by using a digital caliper. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS software (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY) and were outlined as mean and standard deviation (SD). The male and female groups were compared using an independent Student's t-test or unpaired test. The results of this study revealed that 16 out of 28 odontometric parameters (except third molar) of the two groups (male and female) were higher in the male group as compared to the female group (p < 0.05). Buccolingual odontometric parameters can be used for sex estimation in the North Indian population.

Gender Determination Using Index and Ring Finger Linear Measurements in North Indian Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.

In the fields of medico-legal matters and bio-archaeological settings, gender evaluation plays a pivotal role in the initial stages of human identification. Approximately half of the population at risk is excluded when gender is determined, making it the most essential factor for identification. When it comes to medico-legal matters and bio-archaeological settings, gender evaluation is a crucial initial step in human identification. Traditional gender determination procedures, such as skull and pelvic analysis, may be hindered by fragmentary human remains that have been degraded by various forms of inhumation or physical assaults. To investigate sexual dimorphism, this study examined the ratio of index finger length to ring finger length. The lengths of the index and ring fingers were measured and the ratios between them were calculated for both hands separately. Applications of IBMSPSSStatistics for Windows, Version 16.0 (Released 2007; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States) included Student's t-test and Levene's test. According to the study, women's index finger-to-ring finger length ratios were much longer than men's. The ratio of index finger to ring finger length was significantly different between the sexes on both sides of the hand (p<0.001). In terms of the right hand, the threshold value was 0.9666 for men and 0.9952 for females, while in terms of the left hand, the values were 0.9638 and 0.9920, respectively. With an advancing front in this arena on gender determination, the use of digits has become an additional source of support to physical anthropologists for bio-archaeological surveys and to forensic experts for use in medico-legal investigations for fragmentary remains received during investigatory trials.

Tooth as a vital source of DNA in forensic odontology: Recent perspective

DNA has been the hereditary material of almost all organisms, including humans. In recent years, DNA fingerprinting technique has been the most renowned method used in forensics for human identification. Extracting DNA from routinely used samples becomes very challenging in degraded and fragmented human remains, i.e., in cases of incineration, mutilation, and fire. Due to the unique placement of teeth in the jaw and their composition, DNA material present gets additional protection compared to bones or other sources of DNA. Hence, it frequently becomes the only source of DNA that would be available in such situations for identification. DNA fingerprinting helps unravel the mysteries within the mouth, including the manifestations of diseases in the oral cavity. There have been highly improved methods described for analyzing various forensic scenarios and DNA extractions. Identifying the deceased victims, the missing person, the masked culprits involved in crime, the paternity issues, interpretation of genetic diseases, and determining the ancestry account for some uses of DNA fingerprinting. This review briefly summarizes recent literature and current knowledge of forensic odontology, DNA content, and distribution in teeth and its preservation. This also intends to emphasize the role of the tooth being a valuable source of DNA and thereby discusses some of the methods of recovery of DNA from teeth, ways of DNA analysis, and highlights the benefits and challenges regarding the DNA extraction protocol in the field of forensic odontology.

Multidimensional foot measurements-based sex estimation for Taiwanese population in foot length overlapping interval

ABSTRACT 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.

From technical measures to moral obligations: The management and fate of fragmented human remains following disasters. The case of a plane crash in France in 2015*

This article studies the management of human remains (handling, trajectory, fate, status) and the compromises made by the experts involved in the context of an air disaster that took place in France in 2015. Advances in identification techniques are shown to have had concrete effects on applied practice. On the one hand, the presence of human remains enables: victims can be identified and their deaths formally registered, following which the body can be returned to surviving relatives for a proper funeral. On the other, it obliges: human elements or debris, however small, require experts to decide on their status and legitimate destiny. The tradeoffs between technical, economic, legal, moral, and cultural considerations are forging a new way of working with human remains. A trend can be observed whereby principles that previously applied only to the corpse are being extended to human remains that would have otherwise been excluded.

Sex determination from human patella in a Polish medieval sample.

This study aimed to address whether the anthropometric features of the patella can be used to determine the sex of the individuals on the basis of the skeletal remains and to set limit values for anthropometric measurements and indicators of the patella in relation to each sex. 71 patellas (32 female and 39 male) from the Middle Ages from Wroclaw, Poland, were analyzed. The measurements (the greatest height, width, thickness, width of the lateral and medial joint surface and the height of these joint surfaces) and ratios were calculated (height to width, height to thickness as well as width to height of lateral and medial joint surfaces) and tested according to sexual dimorphism. The best parameter in terms of discriminatory assessment was the patella's highest height, which made it possible to classify the sex in 46.5% of cases. However, an index of the sum of the height, width and thickness measurements seems to be even better for differentiating between the sexes, making it possible to correctly classify the sex in 49.3% of cases. Due to some limitations of this study and the need of population-specific standard, it is recommend to employ the patella in sex determination only in cases of fragmented human remains and when no other method can be applied. Further investigation of possible factors influencing the variability of its size and shape should be explored in larger and geographically more diverse samples, and this could contribute to forensic, clinical, anatomical, and anthropological studies in this body part.

A disaster victim identification workshop focused on forensic odontology using embalmed human remains

A high number of victims of mass casualty incidences are identified through their teeth. While forensic odontologists need to have a complex skillset during a disaster victim identification (DVI) response, hands-on training opportunities are rare. In countries with very limited forensic casework, such as New Zealand, many forensic odontologists find it difficult to achieve the number of annual forensic dental identifications required to maintain their credentialling. This report details the development of a hands-on forensic odontology-focused DVI workshop using human Crosado-embalmed remains. Anonymous participant evaluations, including five-point Likert and open-ended items, were performed in both years the workshop was held. A total of 10 and 17 participants, predominantly dentists, attended the workshop in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Participant feedback was extremely positive. Likert items were statistically similar between participants in both years. Open-ended items revealed positive feedback regarding the use of cadaveric remains, the gained hands-on experience, or the teamwork aspect. Participants who attended the workshop in both years commented on the positive aspect of repetition to cement their skills. As areas of improvement, participants named (for example) time management and the number of portable X-ray devices, leading to changes that were implemented in 2021. Moreover, the participants expressed interest to further their skills on decomposed, burnt, and fragmented human remains, which for ethical reasons has yet to be implemented. The DVI workshop described here, using embalmed human remains, provides an opportunity to add dental identifications toward annual credentialling requirements for forensic odontologists. Participants rated the course to be excellent overall and highly relevant for their role. For future workshops, there is an interest to include further aspects of the DVI response such as fingerprinting or police work as well as remains, which are altered due to natural or physical reasons.

A Multi-Method Approach to Re-Associating Fragmented and Commingled Human Remains

This article is a plain language summary of a Master’s thesis, completed in the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Saskatchewan in 2020, that aimed to re-asso­ciate fragmented and commingled human remains from an Early Neolithic, about 7560–6660 years before present (HPD cal. BP; Weber et al., 2021; Bronk Ramsey et al. 2021), cemetery in Siberia, Russia. This thesis addressed the inability of existing osteological sorting methods to identify the remains of individuals from a collection that was largely broken and completely mixed. By devel­oping a new multi-method approach, this project was able to identify the remains of seven people through the re-association process, and re-associate five of them. This was fairly close to the minimum number of nine individuals that were confirmed in this collection by counting non-repeating bones. This research has implications for the understanding of the culture-history in this area, the applicability of re-association methods to fragmented and commingled human remains, and efforts of reconciliation and repatriation.

How Decomposition and Processing Affect Metallic Particles From a Bullet in Gunshot Defects

A significant portion of forensic anthropological cases involve decomposed or fragmented human skeletal remains. When testifying in a courtroom, often the focus is on trauma interpretation and distinguishing between blunt force trauma, sharp force trauma, or high-velocity projectile trauma. Therefore, forensic anthropologists need to understand how various factors and processes alter human remains during the decomposition process and how those changes affect the interpretation of skeletal trauma patterns. The primary research question addressed in this study is: how does the decomposition and processing of human remains impact the preservation of metallic fragments from gunshot trauma? Fifteen hog (Sus scrofa) crania were shot using hollow-point and full-metal jacketed 9mm ammunition with an 8-foot firing distance. Eight skinless slabs of hog ribs were shot using the same ammunition types as the crania. All hog samples decomposed in an outdoor environment under metal cages to prevent scavenging. Radiographs were taken of each hog sample before and after decomposition and after processing. The results show metallic fragments from the bullet embedding in the soft tissue more frequently than in the hard tissue. Scavengers, mummification, and processing are three critical factors that were found to influence the removal/preservation of metallic fragments during the decomposition process. &#x0D;

Approaches in Past Human Life: The Osteological Paradox of Commingled and Fragmented Human Remains

Approaches in Past Human Life: The Osteological Paradox of Commingled and Fragmented Human Remains

IDENTIfyme Informative Campaign: Raising Forensic Dental Identification Awareness in the Community.

The identification of human remains can be performed visually through families and next-of-kin, but it is not advisable to rely only on visual recognition; instead, it is preferable to conduct a forensic comparison of antemortem and postmortem data for primary identifiers (fingerprints, DNA, and dental data). A dental autopsy is particularly valuable in the identification process of skeletonized, carbonized, saponified, and fragmented human remains. The principal challenge in the identification process is the search and collection of antemortem data. To this end, all dental information held on a missing person can represent a precious source of individualizing information that families should share with the police or investigating agencies after reporting a disappearance.

Estimation of sex based on the sterna of Sudanese adults using multidetector computed tomography: a comparison of discriminant function analysis and binary logistic regression.

Sex estimation is critical during forensic and anthropological investigations, and various techniques are used based on the presence of complete or fragmented human remains. This study evaluated sexual dimorphism in Sudanese sterna using multidetector computed tomography. This information was used to develop models for estimating sex, and to compare the accuracies of models based on discriminant function analysis (DFA) and binary logistic regression (BLR). The study included 126 Sudanese men and 144 Sudanese women who underwent computed tomography scans to create three-dimensional reconstructions. Six linear dimensions were measured on the manubrium and mesosternum. Men had larger mean values for most parameters, and nine parameters exhibited highly significant sexual dimorphism. The leave-one-out cross-validated sex estimation accuracies were 60.4-88.9% for DFA-based models and 60.4-89.3% for BLR-based models. The BLR-based models had noticeably better performances, with six parameters having sex estimation accuracies of >80% (vs. three parameters for DFA). The best BLR-based models incorporated the lengths and widths of the manubrium and mesosternum (accuracy: 89.3%, sex bias: 2.2%) and the combined manubrium and mesosternum lengths (accuracy: 85.6%, sex bias: 2.7%). Thus, computed tomography may be useful for measuring sternal dimensions and estimating sex among Sudanese subjects.

Forensic archaeology and forensic anthropology within Swedish law enforcement: current state and suggestions for future developments

Archaeological theories and methods are developed to reconstruct past human behavior from fragmentary material remains. The interrelated discipline of physical anthropology addresses questions related to skeletal remains while acknowledging taphonomic parameters. The benefit of integrating these disciplines in forensic investigations has gained increasing acknowledgement over the last decades, but the use of forensic archaeology and anthropology (FAA) remains limited in Sweden. The aim of this study is to analyze the field of FAA in Sweden in relation to outdoor and fire crime scenes where human remains are encountered. Based on qualitative interviews, the state and potential developments of FAA within the Swedish police and the National Board of Forensic Medicine are discussed.The results show that for ensic investigations and analysis of human fragmentary remains are not standardized in Sweden. A great responsibility is placed on the individual crime scene investigator who elects how to investigate these sites and who to contract for the analysis of osteological remains. This can endanger evidence collection and interpretation. This study shows that investigations of buried or fragmentary human remains in Sweden could be aided by a development of FAA. Key steps to further development of FAA within Swedish police involve 1) quantifying cases that could benefit from FAA, 2) establish FAA as an independent subject, 3) develop a national infrastructure, 4) offer professional education in the subject(s), and 4) develop best practice to advance evidence collection and legal security in investigations involving fragmentary human remains.An ongoing ISO accreditation of outdoor crime scene investigations within the Swedish police will hopefully benefit FAA development and collaborations with external partners.

Rib histomorphometry: A reliability and validation study with a critical review of histological techniques for forensic age estimation.

Fragmented human remains present a challenge for forensic experts as they attempt to identify individuals using standard forensic methods. Several histological age estimation techniques have been developed during the last fifty years to aid in this process. However, very few validation studies have been conducted in order to test their accuracy and bias, and thus, validation assessment is required as we employ them while testifying in court. Histological variables are assessed from rib thin sections from two Mediterranean samples; Cretans (N=41) and Greek-Cypriots (N=47). Intra and inter-observer errors are assessed through TEM analysis and Intra-class Correlation Coefficient by testing observers with different levels of experience as they collected data on osteon counts and area measurements. The relation between the variables and age is determined using correlation coefficients. Histomorphometric data are applied to four widely used age estimation formulas assessing the performance of the methods for the entire sample. Inaccuracy and bias are calculated with age estimations and known age tested for significance and proportional bias assessed. Overall, histological parameters presented acceptable intra- and inter-observer errors. All variables exhibited statistically significant correlation with age (P<0.01). For three of the techniques, data showed a systematic underestimation of age with an increase in inaccuracy in older individuals. One of the age estimation formulas produced overestimation of young individuals yet, it more accurately estimated the age of older individuals. This validation study explores inter-population variation in bone remodeling dynamics and presents a critical evaluation on methodological issues that can affect the performance of existing histological techniques.

Recording skeletal completeness in cases of fragmentary human remains: a pilot technical study using computed tomography volume rendering applications

ABSTRACT Documenting skeletal completeness is an essential element of the physical anthropology examination. Methods available to calculate skeletal completeness, that is how much of the complete skeleton is available for analysis, remain limited and subjective. This study aimed to develop an objective and standardized technique for recording skeletal completeness in adult individuals by establishing percentage values for complete and fragmentary skeletal elements. Percentages were established from 14 adult individuals from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine’s post-mortem computed tomography database. Using Syngo.via’s digital editing tools, the volume of each whole bone and bone segment was measured. Percentages were established by calculating the proportion of each bone’s volume relative to the volume of the complete skeleton. Mean percentage values for each bone and bone segment from eight of the individuals were taken as the reference percentage value. Percentage values from the remaining six individuals were used to validate the reference percentages. Between 33.33% and 85.71% of the percentages calculated were congruent with the reference percentages. Results indicate this technique in its current form is not reliable or accurate and thus these reference percentages are not recommended for use. Rather, this study has identified a novel technique that, with further development and refinement, may provide a standardized means for recording skeletal completeness appropriate for use in forensic anthropology and biological archaeology practice.

Age estimation of fragmented human dental remains by secondary dentin virtual analysis.

Unlike bones, teeth are remarkably resilient and can withstand severe trauma, making age assessment based on the dentition essential for forensic analysis. Modern techniques for age estimation focus on pulp-chamber volume measurements using radiographs and computerized tomography (CT); however, these are applicable only for complete teeth (i.e., with intact crown and root). In the current study, we developed a new approach using high-resolution micro-computerized tomography (μCT) to visualize the secondary dentin (SD), an inner layer surrounding the pulp which accumulates with age, thus facilitating age estimation of fragmented and broken teeth.The growth pattern of the SD with age was analyzed for 77 lower premolars from two anthropological collections. A comparison of SD virtual segmentation and histological measurement was highly correlative (ICC = 0.95). SD was measured per volume (mm3) of a 1mm thick slice directly below the cemento-enamel junction. Regression analysis using SD measurements increased the success rates of age estimation (82%) compared with the "gold-standard" pulp/dentin method (54%) in the range of ± 10years. The accuracy of age estimation based on SD analysis was improved to a range of 7-8years.The SD method thus allows age estimation with greater prediction rates and better accuracy based on only a small fragment of a tooth in a non-invasive manner. This novel methodology is easy to use, accessible, and bears implications in various fields such as forensic sciences and anthropological research.

Bone histomorphometry of the clavicle in a forensic sample from Albania

Forensic assessment of skeletal material includes age estimation of unknown individuals. When dealing with extremely fragmented human remains that lack macro-features used in age estimation, histological assessment of the skeletal elements can be employed. Historically, microscopic methods for age assessment used by forensic anthropologists have been available since 1965. Several skeletal elements have been used for this purpose. Among them, the clavicle has garnered very little attention. The purpose of this study is to explore the validity of clavicular histomorphometry as an age marker in a modern Balkan sample.This study examined a modern clavicular autopsy sample from Albania. The sample consisted of 33 individuals of known age and cause of death. Data were collected for micro-anatomical features including osteon population density (OPD) and cortical area. Intra- and inter-observer errors were assessed through technical error of measurement (TEM) and R coefficient. A validation study was performed in order to test the accuracy of existing histological formulae. Regression analysis was run to developed age prediction models with the best models tested through cross-validation and the comparison between OPD for the Albanian sample and a European–American sample examined.Intra- and inter-observer error TEM results demonstrated values falling within the limits of acceptance. The existing histological methods did not perform accurately on the sample under study. Regression equations for Albanians produced age estimations deviating 8 and 11 years from known age. Cross-validation on the most accurate regression formula which includes OPD as a single variable demonstrated similar mean errors. Statistically significant differences were observed between the Albanian and the European–American population when the two samples were compared.The research presented is the fifth article published and the fifth population explored on clavicular microstructure. The potential of histology to estimate age on the Albanian population is shown here; however, population effect, diet and health status might be considered. Further inclusion of individuals will corroborate our preliminary findings.

Sex determination from fragmented human remains - hierarchy of the foramen magnum dimensions.

Although the foramen magnum is often described in the context of sex determination, to date, it has not been studied in relation to the Polish population. Considering interpopulation variation of human skull dimensions and shapes, study of a Polish population is needed. The aim of this paper is to evaluate a hierarchy of selected measurements of the foramen magnum in terms of their usefulness for sex determination and provide reference data for Polish non-modern populations in order to propose an alternative method of sex determination for fragmented human remains. Adult skulls from skeletal collection from Poland (N = 101, males 46.5% and females 53.5%) were measured to derive statistical functions. The anteroposterior diameter, transverse diameter, and the circumference of the foramen magnum were found to be significantly larger in males. Mollison's index and discriminant function analysis were performed to derive models for estimation of sex from the foramen magnum measurements and the ± 1 SD ranges of the dimensions were calculated. Each of foramen magnum dimensions was able to predict sex in above 90% of crania. Due to some limitations of this study and the need of population-specific standards, it is recommend employing the foramen magnum in sex determination only in cases of fragmented human remains and when no other method can be applied. Further investigation of possible factors influencing the variability of the foramen magnum size and shape should be conducted in larger and geographically more diverse samples, and this could contribute to forensic, clinical, anatomical, and anthropological studies of this anatomical structure.

Effective approaches to three-dimensional digital reconstruction of fragmented human skeletal remains using laser surface scanning

The preservation and reconstruction of anthropological and archaeological remains has been given considerable attention in recent years, particularly within the fields of forensic science and palaeoanthropology. However, few studies have tapped the potential of using 3D technology to reconstruct, remodel and recontour remains and artefacts for the purpose of human identification. The aim of this study was to use 3D technology for the reconstruction and remodelling of fragmented and missing elements of skeletal remains. This project presents the application of three dimensional (3D) modalities to two different simulated forensic case scenarios where an attempt was made to remodel the missing element of the human cranium and reconstruction of fragmented replicated human mandible was performed. The accuracy of the reconstructed model was affirmed based on the anatomical features and digital analysis and methods for use in forensic practice are recommended.

New possibilities for determining the sex and age group of an adult on the basis of the frequency analysis of combinations of dermatoglyphic signs of fingers

The possibilities of determining the sex and age group of an adult on the basis of frequency analysis of combinations of dermatoglyphic signs are presented. The study established new, highly informative dermatoglyphic markers of general physiological traits, with a multiplicity of differences from 5 to 59 (p<0.05) in alternative comparison groups formed by sex and age groups of 18 to 35 years and 36 to 77 years. It was found that the combination of acquired signs of raised skin (white lines and scars) is more informative if compared to the combination of congenital signs (types of patterns, outlines of papillary ridges). Depending on the number of fingers studied, the total occurrence of informative combinations can be 37.8 - 64.4% (one finger) to 96.9% (5 fingers of one hand). The result opens up the prospect for the application of a dermatoglyphic research method in the identification of persons from fragmented human remains and fingerprints found at the scene of an accident.