Mass Disasters Research Articles

Detection of ABO Blood Groups From Dentin and Pulp by Using the Absorption-Elution Technique: A Forensic Cross-Sectional Study Among the Population of the Al Jouf Province, Saudi Arabia.

Background and objective Human teeth have a significant forensic importance. As they are the hardest of all human tissues, they are not just chemically stable but also their characteristics are maintained for a long time after death even in the most harsh environmental conditions. Despite the advances made in DNA analysis, fingerprinting, etc., ABO blood grouping still plays a significant role in the forensic practice in the field of personal identification, paternity disputes, and several other scenarios including the identification of mass disaster victims. The term blood groups refers to inherited antigens on the surface of red blood cells (RBCs) detected by specific antibodies. Since tooth pulp contains numerous blood vessels, blood group antigens are most certainly bound to be present in tooth pulp. Various studies have shown that blood group antigens in the pulp and dentin are preserved as long as up to two years after the demise of an individual. Absorption-elution technique has been proven to be the most sensitive, reliable, and consistent method to determine the ABO blood group from both the pulp and dentine.This study aimed toascertain the ABO blood group from both the hard (dentin) as well as the soft tissue (pulp) of the tooth by using the absorption-elution (AE) technique and also to determine if there are any variations in identifying the blood groups from the teeth based on age and gender. Material and methods After obtaining due consent, we included patients of both genders aged between 16-60 years visiting the outpatient department (OPD) clinics at the College of Dentistry for periodontal or orthodontic extractions.One patient's blood type was determined by using the slide agglutination technique before any capillary blood extraction was performed; this patient served as a control. For this investigation, we used the pulp and powdered dentin samples taken from the dental extractions to test for the presence of ABO and Rhesus (Rh) factor antigens by using the AE method. The study samples were compared with the control for blood group determination. Statistical analysis was carried out using the chi-square test with Monte Carlo (MC) simulation to check for any correlation of blood grouping with age and gender. Results The dentin and pulp were shown to have positive blood group antigens for the ABO and Rh factors.While neither pulp nor dentin performed significantly differently in identifying the blood group antigens, pulp showed marginally higher accuracy.There was no discernibledifference regarding gender or age in the dentin or pulp of any of the 45 samples studied. Conclusions For determining an individual's blood type and Rh factor, both the hard (dentin) and soft (pulp) tissues of a tooth are valid sources. This is particularly helpful in forensic medicine cases where teeth are the onlyremains that can be viably used to find out a person's identity.

Destructive disasters, trauma, crush syndrome, and beyond.

Orthopedic injuries, especially fractures of long bones as well as multiple fractures and comminuted fractures, are very common after destructive disasters (e.g., earthquakes, wars, and hurricanes). Another frequent problem is traumatic rhabdomyolysis, which may result in crush syndrome, the second most frequent cause of death after direct traumatic impact following earthquakes. To improve outcomes, interventions should be initiated even before extrication of the victims, which include maintenance of airway patency and spine stabilization, stopping traumatic bleeding by any means, and initiating fluid resuscitation. On-site amputations have been extensively debated to liberate the victims if the release of trapped limbs is impossible. Early after the rescue, a primary survey and triage are performed, a fluid resuscitation policy is planned, complications are treated, the wounds are decontaminated, and the victim is transported to specialized hospitals. A triage and primary survey are also performed at admission to the hospitals, which are followed by a secondary survey, physical, laboratory, and imaging examinations. Washing and cleaning of the soft-tissue injuries and debridement in open, necrotic wounds are vital. Applications of fasciotomies and amputations are controversial since they are associated with both benefits and serious complications; therefore, clear indications should be defined. Crush syndrome has been described as the presence of systemic manifestations following traumatic rhabdomyolysis, the most important component of which is acute kidney injury that may contribute to fatal hyperkalemia. The overall mortality rate is around 20% in crushed patients, which underlines the importance of prevention. Treatment includes maintaining of fluid electrolyte and acid-base balance, application of dialysis, and also prevention and treatment of complications. The principles and practices in disaster medicine may differ from those applied in routine practice; therefore, organizing repeated training courses may be helpful to provide the most effective healthcare and to save as many lives as possible after mass disasters.

The study of correlation between palm length, palm width and hand length with stature in the students

To determine sex, age, race, stature and nutritional status of an individual, the hand dimensions, which are different in various races and ethnic groups are used, also they are used in the mass disaster for an identification of sex, age, race and stature.The present study was designed to determine and correlate of the hand dimensions such as hand length, palm length, palm width with stature of student and to observe the standard deviation in the estimation of stature.This was descriptive cross sectional study conducted atDepartment of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Vedantaa Institute of Medical Sciences, Town Dahanu, Dist- Palghar, Maharashtra State, India. from 1 Dec 2022 to 30 June 2023. After ethical permission; total 101 male and 98 female between age group of 20-23 years were enrolled in the study by simple random method. In a group of 10 number the height of participants was measured with a stature meter whereas, measuring tape and Vernier caliper were used to measure palm length, palm width, height of hand respectively and all the data was recorded and analysed by SPSS; S/W version 21. Linear regression coefficient was calculated.The person correction for statistic. The mean length of right hand was recorded to be 170.8mm while mean breadth was 76.7mm. The highest correlation was observed to be exhibited by right hand length (r=0.5) and the lowest by right-hand breadthThe study conclude that, if only the hand length or width measurement is available stature could be successfully estimated. This study also reveals the strong positive relation between palm length, palm width,hand length with stature.

An anthropometric assessment method for facial profile determination in forensics

Objectives: It is extremely difficult for forensic experts to identify the individuals, especially during mass disasters and natural calamities such as earthquakes. In most cases, the facial profile is completely destroyed and the dentition is the only source or tool which helps in identifying the individuals and their gender. The aim of this study was to evaluate and correlate inner intercanthal distance (IICD), outer intercanthal distance (OICD), interalar distance (IAD), and bizygomatic width (BZW) to the maxillary intercanine distance (MICD) to determine facial profile and gender. Material and Methods: The study was carried out after informed consent and involved 100 subjects who satisfied the inclusion criteria. Five parameters were measured: IICD, OICD, IAD, BZW, and MICD using digital Vernier caliper. The data were summarized in table form and were statistically analyzed using Pearson correlation. Results: OICD was more in females, whereas MICD was more in males. Significant correlation was observed between IICD and BZW (r = 0.224, P = 0.014), IICD and IAD (r = 0.411, P = 0.001), BZW and MICD (r = 0.229, P = 0.022), and IAD and MICD (r = 0.247, P = 0.013); negative correlation was observed between OICD and MICD (r = −0.023, P = 0.818). Conclusion: MICD can be used as a tool for the determination of facial profile and gender, although a larger sample size is required for further study.

The Role of Forensic Anthropology in Mass Disasters

The Function of Criminal Justice in situations involving widespread disasters, forensic anthropology is essential to the identification and handling of human remains. Forensic anthropologists play a crucial role in victim identification procedures following natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and major accidents. Their expertise guarantees precise and considerate treatment of the corpses. Their proficiency encompasses not only the retrieval and scrutiny of skeletal remains but also the amalgamation of anthropological information with further forensic proof, such DNA analysis and dental records. This review looks at the various ways that forensic anthropology contributes to mass catastrophe response. The use of skeletal analysis techniques to ascertain the age, sex, ancestry, and stature of unidentified remains is one of the key areas of study. Trauma analysis is a tool used by forensic anthropologists to distinguish between pre-, peri-, and postmortem injuries. This helps them piece together the events leading up to the death. The field of forensic anthropology plays a vital role in mass disaster response by offering essential knowledge that facilitates precise identification and enhances the overall effectiveness of disaster management initiatives. As methods and procedures are developed further, forensic anthropologists will be better equipped to handle the difficulties of victim identification in such difficult situations. The assessment also looks at the logistical difficulties that arise in cases of major disasters, such as the requirement for quick and well-planned recovery efforts, collaboration with other forensic specialties, and handling substantial amounts of remains.

The role of dentistry in forensic medicine: the process of human remains identification.

The use of dentistry in forensic medicine has gradually become an indispensable tool in the process of identifying human remains. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the importance of this field in the identification of victims in mass disasters, criminal investigations, ethnic research, and the identification of decomposed and distorted bodies, such as drowning, fire and car accident victims. Dental examinations allow for precise determination of individual identities based on unique dental features. Various methods applied in forensic medicine in the realm of dentistry include dental impressions, radiographs, photographic examinations, rugoscopy, cheiloscopy, and molecular methods. Advanced dental analysis techniques make it possible to restore identities even in the most challenging cases. Equally important is the integration of knowledge and methods of forensic dentistry with other forensic disciplines such as molecular genetics and anthropology. Further research and development in this branch of science are crucial for improving investigative processes and ensuring the dignity of mass disaster victims. The aim of this work is to present methods using teeth for the identification of human remains along with the latest advancements in forensic DNA technology, which utilizes dental evidence to aid in the identification of human remains.

A contribuição de terapeutas ocupacionais no domínio da gestão de risco e desastres: um protocolo de revisão de escopo

Abstract Introduction Disasters bring human, socioeconomic, and environmental consequences and exacerbate situations of vulnerability. Both highly industrialized core countries and those facing economic difficulties are subject to these events. In Brazil, the COVID-19 pandemic and the collapse of dams highlight difficulties in anticipating and responding to these types of events. Actions of occupational therapy in the field of emergencies and disasters are scarce in the literature, notably in the sphere of prevention. Objective To explore the evidence of the contribution of occupational therapists in the field of risk management and disasters based on the characteristics, priorities, and main areas of interest of intellectual production in occupational therapy. Method A comprehensive search will be conducted in the journals Disasters, Hazards & Crisis in Public Policy, International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters, and Risk, International Journal of Risk Reduction, and Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, as well as in the databases Occupational Therapy Literature Search Service (OTDBASE), PubMed, and Web of Science. Inclusion Criteria Actions and experiences in the field of occupational therapy, notably those of occupational therapists in risk and disaster management, found in peer-reviewed studies adopting quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods, in Spanish, English, and Portuguese, without temporal restriction. The approach advocated by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) for study selection, critical appraisal, and data collection and synthesis will be used.

Mass fatality and disaster response preparedness across medical examiner and coroner offices in the United States

With the rise of mass fatalities and disasters, access to mass fatality and disaster planning trainings and resources available to medical examiners and coroners (MECs) in the United States should be reviewed. This paper provides a necessary update on the extent of access to these resources by analyzing data from the 2018 Census for Medical Examiner and Coroner Offices (CMEC). Results show that a high percentage of respondents have access to mass fatality and disaster planning trainings/resources; however, the access is disproportionate. Respondents in the Midwest and South—and those with smaller populations—have less access to resources, while agencies with larger budgets and more full-time staff have more access to resources. This paper discusses potential contributing factors for these disparities, but the data only begin to elucidate gaps in access to mass fatality and disaster planning trainings/resources for MECs and where further research should be conducted.

Cytomorphometric analysis: A possible adjunct for age estimation

Abstract Background: Age estimation plays a crucial role in identifying an unknown individual in the event of any mass disaster or crime. One of the important noninvasive procedures that may have an impact on determining an individual’s age is exfoliative cytology. Aim and Objective: Exfoliated buccal mucosa cells were used in the study to determine the participant’s age by assessing the changes in nuclear diameter (ND), nuclear–cytoplasmic (N: C) ratio, and cell diameter (CD). Materials and Methods: With the help of a moistened wooden spatula and a light scraping motion, buccal smears were taken from 100 healthy and normal individuals across various age groups. The samples were then preserved with 95% ethanol and stained using ultrafast Papanicolaou stain. Cell and nuclear diameter were measured for each of these cells using the ImageJ software, and N: C was calculated from the two parameters. The N: C was calculated from CD and ND for each subject. One-way ANOVA tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: A significant difference in the diameter of cell and nucleus with the individual’s age (P < 0.05) was noticed. The N: C ratio reduces with increasing age but is not consistent. Conclusion: Buccal smears show age-related alterations that could be utilized as an effective tool for age estimation.

Reliability of a forensic odontology method for age-at-death estimation in adults: A Mexican case study

This study aimed to evaluate the reliability of an age estimation method based on the pulp⁄tooth area ratio by assessing intra- and inter-examiner agreement across five observers at different intervals. Using the same X-ray device and technical parameters, 96 digital periapical X-ray images of upper and lower canines were obtained from 28 deceased people in Central America, whose age at death ranged from 19 to 49 years. Excellent and good agreement of results were achieved, and there were no statistically significant differences. The R2 value for upper teeth (54.0%) was higher than the R2 value for lower teeth (45.7%). The highest intraclass correlation coefficient value was 0.995 (0.993–0.997) and the lowest 0.798 (0.545–0.895). Inter-examiner agreement was high with values of 0.975 (0.965–0.983) and 0.927 (0.879–0.955). This method is adequate for assessing age in missing and unidentified people, including victims of mass disasters.

Forensic Odontology: An Important Tool in Mass Disasters and Crime Investigations

Forensic Odontology: An Important Tool in Mass Disasters and Crime Investigations

Role of Forensic Osteolgy in positive identification for Forensic investigations to solve medicolgal cases in Punjab, Pakistan

Background: Positive identification of human skeletal remains is prime importance to solve the medicolegal cases in unidentified dead bodies. In case of mass disasters, genocide, mass graves, manslaughter and other medicolegal cases, the skeletal data provides enough information to solve the question of identification of the deceased human beings to provide justice even many years after their death. Aim: To see evidentiary value of skeletal data to determine the positive identification by using race ,age sex, stature and other parameters of identification in medicolagal cases of human skeletal remains in medicolegal forensic investigations in Punjab from 2015 to 2022. Study design: In this retrospective study 100 medico-legal cases where positive identification was done from skeletal remains in different medico-legal work performing Forensic departments of Punjab, were analyzed. Methods: In this retrospective study 100 medico-legal cases where positive identification was done from skeletal remains. This skeletal data was collected from different medico-legal cases where the identification was done on bones from five district of Punjab. This data was collected from the District Head Quarter hospitals of these cities from their medico-legal offices to conduct this research study. All the information collected were interred in predesigned Performa before analyzing the data. Descriptive statistics was implied on all the medico-legal cases for data collections and analysis of skeletal data from different bones recovered from the crime-scenes in this research study. Furthermore, standard deviation, F-statistics, and Chi test p-value were also applied to see the association of these parameters of identification with different skeletal remains with highest probability of positive identification from different bones.

The Anthropocene and Disasters: Near Future, Will It Come

The Anthropocene Epoch can be characterized not as the increasing effect of humans/cities on the continental soil but as a temporal section in which the planet’s surface, the atmosphere, oceans, and nutrient cycle systems began to be changed/dominated by humans/urban. Together with the urbanization trend, the impact of cities and people is the driving force that started the Anthropocene Epoch. Global problems began to emerge with increasing trends, and irreversible disaster scenarios such as climate change, sixth mass extinction, biological destruction, and disasters were brought to the agenda. The increase in the diversity, frequency, and intensity of disasters increases the vulnerability and exposure of cities and people to different hazards, triggering disasters or making them worse. Events resulting from the Anthropocene Epoch "will the near future come?" also raises questions. For this reason, this study was created based on the assumption that the "Anthropocene Epoch includes disasters and cities play the main role here". In the context of this study, the historical process of the Anthropocene Epoch will be discussed, and the role of cities in this process will be determined. Finally, it will be investigated what will await humanity and cities shortly and which issues should be addressed in cities will be focused on.

Corpse identification in mass disasters and other violence: the ethical challenges of a humanitarian approach.

In October 2022, the Centre for Ethics of Yenepoya University hosted a national workshop entitled: "Respect for human dignity of the unidentified dead from mass disasters and other violence: strategies for the ethical management of biological samples and personal data". The aim was to explore and share experience and ethical considerations regarding the management and identification of human remains in the event of disasters, with the purpose to arrive at a general consensus about what constitutes the ethical foundation of the management of unidentified human remains in forensic practice and, in particular, contextualizing this in India. The main ethical consideration that emerged was tracing the missing and identifying the dead are crucial to maintaining or restoring basic human rights and responsible relief activities. Identification is not only an organizational and scientific achievement but, regardless of circumstances, also necessarily and always an activity with significant political, epistemic, and philosophical relevance and consequence. In India, it could be important to consider new legal provisions for the management of human samples so that this would provide a starting point for the treatment of human remains managed for forensic purposes with uniformity in the country. Another important step in which governments should take part regards the involvement and education of the general public to develop their interest in this important goal. In the field of forensic anthropology, artificial intelligence can support, through the use of algorithms, the decision-making process that leads to the identification of the victim or its remains. Furthermore, they can be used to extract new knowledge from huge databases and shorten identification through computer automation of data binding activities. Applying artificial intelligence tools in forensic sciences to collect new information from massive datasets to enhance knowledge, and reduce human subjectivity and errors, provides a greater scientific basis that could improve the strength of the evidence and support the admissibility of expert evidence. In light of the general lack of national/international guidance about ethical oversight for identification and care of human remains, the fact that regulations are frequently not adequate to govern ethical aspects, we hope that an internationally recognized body should develop such guidance in collaboration with relevant organizations.

Dental Age Estimation Methods Tested in a Sample of the Pakistani Population: Cross-Sectional Study

Forensic dentistry is still an emerging field in Pakistan. The lack of scientific literature on the topic may lead to difficulties in situations where age estimation has a significant part such as in criminal and civil litigation. In mass disasters such as earthquakes and accidents, the correct investigation of the chronological age can be less troublesome if population-specific evidence is available. This is the rationale that justifies dedicated dental age estimation studies. This cross-sectional study aimed to test the time efficiency, validity and applicability of four dental age estimation methods: two invasive (Bang and Ramm and Lamendin) and two non-invasive (Kvaal and Cameriere) in an adult Pakistani population. A total of 37 teeth collected from a dental hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan, were used. Teeth included the central and lateral incisors, canines, and first and second premolars of males and females. Results were calculated using a Microsoft Office 2007 excel spreadsheet. Overall, Kvaal’s method mean absolute error between chronological and estimated ages (MAE: 12.33) showed the highest variation and Bang and Ramm showed more accurate results in comparison with other methods (MAE: 4.80). It was both time-efficient and practical to use. It can be stated that these were preliminary cross-sectional outcomes and that studies with larger samples are necessary.

Impact of Digital Literacy on Cyberloafing and Compulsive Social Media Use Post-Kahramanmaraş Earthquake

In recent years, mass disasters have begun to occur in the world and the business world has been greatly affected by these disasters. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic period, many processes have shifted to digitalization and people have increased their technology usage levels. It can be said that a similar situation was experienced in the Kahramanmaraş earthquake. From this point of view, within the scope of the research, the effects of digital literacy on cyberloafing and compulsory social media use were tried to be examined. The research was carried out with 244 participants aged between 18-30 working in any business line, in a quantitative research design. The data were collected using the questionnaire technique. The obtained data were subjected to descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, reliability analysis and simple regression analysis. According to the research findings, the digital literacy scale and its sub-dimensions are in a moderately and highly significant positive relationship with the cyberloafing scale and its sub-dimensions. However, the scale of compulsive social media use has a low level of positive and significant relationship with the scale of digital literacy and cyberloafing. According to the results of the regression analysis, it was determined that digital literacy has a statistically significant and positive effect on cyberloafing. In addition, it has been determined that digital literacy has a statistically significant and positive effect on compulsive social media use.

Review of the book “Radiology in Forensic Medicine. From Identification to Postmortem Imaging” translated from English under the editorship of Professor V.A. Klevno

The book Radiology in Forensic Medicine. From Identification to Postmortem Imaging, translated from English under the editorship of Professor V.A. Klevno, is reviewed.
 The review aimed to objectively evaluate the content of the scientific and practical publication and to determine its value for science and practice.
 The book consists of 29 chapters. Each chapter includes a list of references. The history of forensic radiology is briefly described, and the advantages, and disadvantages of traditional autopsy versus postmortem imaging are reviewed. This book focuses on postmortem imaging in forensic medicine and special forensic radiology, including imaging of corpses after various types of external exposure, during sudden death, of fetuses, and newborns and of putrefied and charred corpses. Several chapters are devoted to imaging in clinical forensic medicine to assess injuries, detect drug smuggling by body packers, and diagnose some occupational diseases. The role of postmortem imaging in identifying victims of mass disasters is discussed. The authors critically evaluate the advantages and limitations of virtual autopsy.
 Given the advancements of interdisciplinary approaches in forensic medicine and the increasing role of radiologists in forensic practice, the publication of this book in Russian is more relevant than ever. It will be of interest to both forensic physicians and radiologists.

Революционный и эволюционный пути развития: историко-философский анализ

In modern society, unfortunately, the danger of destructive revolutionary upheavals is still not understood seri-ously enough. The events in Ukraine in 2014 serve as a reminder to all subsequent generations of how a storm of mass emotions, not supported by an understanding of the expediency of the social order, can lead into a long-term mass catastrophe, in general, a fairly successful economic and social society. This is precisely why a balanced comparative analysis of revolutionary and evolutionary ways of society's development is necessary to explain and understand the only way of normal development – evolutionary progressive development, oppo-site to destructive revolutionary development. Experience in history has shown that mass terror and unjustified social experiments in the field of economy and social life have devastating effects on the state. A case in point is Western Europe during the crisis of feudal relations and Russia in the early XX century.

Success rate of rapid DNA technology in kinship analysis for forensic purpose.

Reducing the time required for DNA analysis in forensic genetics can yield significant benefits, both in determining genealogical relationships for legal proceedings and in criminal cases. Swift identification of individuals plays a pivotal role in solving crimes and apprehending perpetrators. Additionally, in situations like mass disasters, prompt victim identification holds utmost importance. The Rapid DNA technology, introduced in 2012 to expedite DNA analysis, has evolved to streamline the process into a single step. This advancement not only minimizes the risk of human error and contamination, but also boasts a remarkable time advantage, delivering results in as little as 90min. In this study, DNA profiles of 30 families (consisting of mothers, fathers, and children) were analyzed using the RapidHITTM ID System. The system automatically calculated maternity-paternity probabilities to assess the suitability of Rapid DNA technology for kinship analysis. For validation, DNA profiles were also generated using the 3500 GA method. The study revealed that 9 out of 30 families exhibited discrepancies in DNA profiling, leading to inaccuracies in automatic kinship analysis. Consequently, while the method offers rapid and user-friendly advantages for forensic sciences, the software underlying the system requires re-evaluation. Issues such as maternal-paternal exclusion in kinship analyses, arising from challenges like un-called alleles, warrant further attention.

Establishing the reliability of incisive papilla and palatal rugae patterns in individual identification.

The study of palatal rugae forms an important basis of human identification, especially due to mass disasters where routinely used techniques may not be helpful. This study aimed at evaluating the palatal rugae and incisive papilla on the basis of shape. The study was conducted in 280 individuals (males and females) among dental students of Dayananda Sagar College of Dental Sciences. The study included 280 students from Dayananda Sagar College and out-patients from the orthodontics department. Pictures of rugae and the incisive papilla were taken from individuals aged 10-36 using a camera, mirror, and lighting. Two investigators analysed the shape of the rugae and incisive papilla using classification systems by Thomas and Kotze, and Ortman and Tsao, respectively. The data were statistically analysed using SPSS 20.0 software, and a significance level of P ≤ 0.05 was used. The results suggested that rugae showing a wavy shape were the most common pattern in both the genders. Significant differences were observed in the curved rugae type between males and females. In incisive papillae evaluation, the pear shape was the most common, with the triangular shape being the least common. It can be concluded that evaluation of palatal rugae along with the incisive papilla can be an important tool for identification of an individual and for evaluating various ethnic populations.