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Recent Advances in Forensic Anthropology: From Experience to Current Applications...
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Recent Advances in Forensic Anthropology: From Experience to Current Applications and Innovative Approaches

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2023) | Viewed by 14989

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Annalisa Cappella

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Guest Editor
1. Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
2. U.O. Laboratorio di Morfologia Applicata, IRRCS Policlinico San Donato, 20097 San Donato Milanese, Italy
Interests: autophagy; mitophagy; apoptosis; skeletal system; bone tissue; healing process; skeletal diseases; role of antioxidants, aging
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Cristina Cattaneo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense (LABANOF), Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
Interests: forensic anthropology; forensic pathology; clinical forensic medicine; identification; migration; unidentified decedents; ambiguous loss
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are issuing a call for research articles, review articles, communications, and commentaries focusing on the developing applications of forensic anthropology and related research.

Forensic casework inevitably leads to new food for thought. Forensic anthropologists have in the past years developed promising multidisciplinary approaches and research. In fact, casework, whether “new” or “cold”, as in cold cases, is associated with specific issues that often require new experimental research in order to find objective answers and solutions. The recent literature includes plenty of studies in which forensic anthropology mixes with advanced biomedical technology such as microscopic, histological, molecular, chemical, radiological, 3D imaging, and bioengineering applications, just to name a few.

With the intent to disseminate such a diversity of perspectives and knowledge, this issue aims to cover a variety of topics related to forensic anthropology and to its cross-disciplinary approach. Topics we are looking to cover include but are not limited to biological profile (sex, age, stature, population affinity, pathological status), personal identification, trauma analysis (ante-, peri- and post-mortem), taphonomy, time since death, commingled remains, and much more.

We would therefore like to cordially invite you to contribute to the field we represent, with the common aim to provide new insight and solutions to criminal and humanitarian issues. We look forward to receiving your manuscripts.

Dr. Annalisa Cappella
Prof. Dr. Cristina Cattaneo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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

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

Keywords

  • personal identification
  • biological profile
  • taphonomy
  • trauma analysis
  • 3D imaging and advanced technologies
  • microscopic analysis
  • experimental studies
  • osteology

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1045 KiB  
Article
Third Molar Eruption in Dental Panoramic Radiographs as a Feature for Forensic Age Assessment—Presentation of a New Non-Staging Method Based on Measurements
by Maximilian Timme, Jostin Bender, Laurin Steffens, Denys Shay and Andreas Schmeling
Biology 2023, 12(11), 1403; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12111403 - 5 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2092
Abstract
The evaluation of third molar eruption in dental panoramic radiographs (DPRs) constitutes an evidence-based approach for forensic age assessment in living individuals. Existing methodologies involve staging morphological radiographic findings and comparing them to reference populations. Conversely, the existing literature presents an alternative method [...] Read more.
The evaluation of third molar eruption in dental panoramic radiographs (DPRs) constitutes an evidence-based approach for forensic age assessment in living individuals. Existing methodologies involve staging morphological radiographic findings and comparing them to reference populations. Conversely, the existing literature presents an alternative method where the distance between third molars and the occlusal plane is measured on dental plaster models. The aim of this study was to adapt this measurement principle for DPRs and to determine correlation between eruption and chronological age. A total of 423 DPRs, encompassing 220 females and 203 males aged 15 to 25 years, were examined, including teeth 38 [FDI] and 48. Two independent examiners conducted the measurements, with one examiner providing dual assessments. Ultimately, a quotient was derived by comparing orthogonal distances from the mesial cementoenamel junctions of the second and third molars to a simplified radiological occlusal plane. This quotient was subsequently correlated with the individual’s age. We estimated correlations between age and quotients, as well as inter- and intra-rater reliability. Correlation coefficients (Spearman’s rho) between measurements and individuals’ ages ranged from 0.555 to 0.597, conditional on sex and tooth. Intra-rater agreement (Krippendorf’s alpha) ranged from 0.932 to 0.991, varying according to the tooth and sex. Inter-rater agreement ranged from 0.984 to 0.992, with distinctions drawn for different teeth and sex. Notably, all observer agreement values fell within the “very good” range. In summary, assessing the distance of third molars from a simplified occlusal plane in DPRs emerges as a new and promising method for evaluating eruption status in forensic age assessment. Subsequent reference studies should validate these findings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Forensic Anthropology: From Experience to Current Applications and Innovative Approaches)
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18 pages, 5739 KiB  
Article
Subaerial Decomposition of Small-Sized Remains in The Netherlands: Important Findings Regarding the PMI of a Four-Year Taphonomic Study
by Iris Sluis, Wilma Duijst and Tristan Krap
Biology 2023, 12(9), 1164; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12091164 - 24 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1768
Abstract
Studying post-mortem changes based on signs of decomposition (e.g., using scoring models) is one of the methods used in scientific studies to relate observable changes to the post-mortem interval (PMI). The majority of the studies on cadaver decomposition are based on large cadavers. [...] Read more.
Studying post-mortem changes based on signs of decomposition (e.g., using scoring models) is one of the methods used in scientific studies to relate observable changes to the post-mortem interval (PMI). The majority of the studies on cadaver decomposition are based on large cadavers. There is limited literature on the decomposition pattern and rate of small cadavers, even though it is at least as important to be able to estimate the PMI for infants and subadults. Therefore, it is crucial to acquire knowledge of the decomposition process of child-sized remains. To fill this knowledge gap, a season-based subaerial outdoor decomposition study was conducted with small pig cadavers at the Forensic Anthropological Outdoor Research Facility located in Den Ham, The Netherlands, over a period of 4 years. Den Ham is located in the eastern part of the Netherlands, close to the German border, and has a temperate maritime climate, with a Cfb classification according to the Köppen–Geiger system. Salient findings were acquired during the decomposition study, specifically regarding a deviating decomposition rate during winter and the subsequent spring, reproducibility, the effect of body weight, post-mortem movement, the effect of heavy rainfall on insect activity, delayed bloating, the interaction of different insect species, and invertebrate activity. This article includes a systemic review of the results obtained during this four-year decomposition study and discusses the impact of the findings on the estimation of the PMI. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Forensic Anthropology: From Experience to Current Applications and Innovative Approaches)
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11 pages, 1038 KiB  
Article
Skeletal Markers of Physiological Stress as Indicators of Structural Violence: A Comparative Study between the Deceased Migrants of the Mediterranean Sea and the CAL Milano Cemetery Skeletal Collection
by Lucie Biehler-Gomez, Andrea Palamenghi, Marie Baudu, Giulia Caccia, Giuseppe Lanza Attisano, Daniele Gibelli, Debora Mazzarelli and Cristina Cattaneo
Biology 2023, 12(2), 335; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12020335 - 20 Feb 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2578
Abstract
Structural violence is an indirect form of violence that can lead to physiological consequences. Interestingly, these physiological disruptions may affect the skeletons and can therefore provide relevant information on violence and way of life in the analysis of skeletal remains. The aim of [...] Read more.
Structural violence is an indirect form of violence that can lead to physiological consequences. Interestingly, these physiological disruptions may affect the skeletons and can therefore provide relevant information on violence and way of life in the analysis of skeletal remains. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that migrants who died in the Mediterranean Sea would present physiological cranial stress markers such as cribra orbitalia (CO), porotic hyperostosis (PH), and linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) more frequently and more severely than Italians of the 20th century. With this intent, a total of 164 crania were examined: 139 from deceased migrants recovered from a shipwreck in the Mediterranean Sea in 2015, aged between 16 and 35 years old, and 25 of the same age from the CAL Milano Cemetery Skeletal Collection. Both presence and severity of CO, PH, and LEH were evaluated. The data obtained were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank and independence Chi-squared tests to compare the results between the two samples and to test whether there was an association between the sample of migrants and the occurrence of lesions. As a result, CO and PH appeared more frequently and more severely in the migrant sample. In addition, migrants were significantly associated with CO, PH, and LEH (p-values < 0.05). Although this does not imply in any way that CO, PH, and LEH are specific to migration, they should be regarded as indicators of structural violence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Forensic Anthropology: From Experience to Current Applications and Innovative Approaches)
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10 pages, 2704 KiB  
Article
3D-3D Superimposition of Pubic Bones: Expanding the Anthropological Toolkit for the Pair-Matching of Commingled Skeletal Remains
by Andrea Palamenghi, Annalisa Cappella, Michaela Cellina, Debora Mazzarelli, Danilo De Angelis, Chiarella Sforza, Cristina Cattaneo and Daniele Gibelli
Biology 2023, 12(1), 30; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12010030 - 23 Dec 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2090
Abstract
Virtual anthropology (VA) has recently produced an additional tool for the analysis of commingled remains and is based on the distance analysis between three-dimensional (3D) models of bones. To date, the pair-matching of the innominate bone through a 3D approach remains partially unexplored. [...] Read more.
Virtual anthropology (VA) has recently produced an additional tool for the analysis of commingled remains and is based on the distance analysis between three-dimensional (3D) models of bones. To date, the pair-matching of the innominate bone through a 3D approach remains partially unexplored. Here, 44 abdominal CT scans (22 males and 22 females) were selected from a hospital database, and the pubic bones were segmented through ITK-SNAP software. The models were hollowed with Viewbox4 to minimize the amount of trabecular bone. The left pubic bones were mirrored and superimposed on the right ones, according to the smallest point-to-point difference between the two surfaces through VAM software. RMS distances between models were calculated through VAM, producing RMS values for 20 matches and 420 mismatches for each sex group. Differences in RMS distance values between matches and mismatches were investigated through Mann–Whitney tests (p < 0.05); the repeatability of the procedure was assessed through absolute and relative technical error measurement (TEM and rTEM). RMS distance values of matches and mismatches were significantly different (p < 0.01) in both groups. The method yielded optimal results with high sensitivity (100.0%) and specificity (99.8% in males, 98.8% in females) rates according to the chosen threshold. This project contributes to the research field of VA with a valuable adjunct that may bolster and strengthen the results of the current visual and osteometric methods through a multidisciplinary approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Forensic Anthropology: From Experience to Current Applications and Innovative Approaches)
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Review

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18 pages, 1187 KiB  
Review
Estimation of Late Postmortem Interval: Where Do We Stand? A Literature Review
by Lorenzo Franceschetti, Alberto Amadasi, Valentina Bugelli, Giulia Bolsi and Michael Tsokos
Biology 2023, 12(6), 783; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12060783 - 28 May 2023
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4921
Abstract
Estimating time since death can be challenging for forensic experts, and is one of the most challenging activities concerning the forensic world. Various methods have been assessed to calculate the postmortem interval on dead bodies in different stages of decomposition and are currently [...] Read more.
Estimating time since death can be challenging for forensic experts, and is one of the most challenging activities concerning the forensic world. Various methods have been assessed to calculate the postmortem interval on dead bodies in different stages of decomposition and are currently widely used. Nowadays, the only well-recognized dating technique is carbon-14 radioisotope measurement, whereas other methods have been tested throughout the years involving different disciplines with different and sometimes not univocal results. Today, there is no precise and secure method to precisely determine time since death, and late postmortem interval estimation remains one of the most debated topics in forensic pathology. Many proposed methods have shown promising results, and it is desirable that with further studies some of them might become acknowledged techniques to resolve such a difficult and important challenge. The present review aims at presenting studies about the different techniques that have been tested in order to find a valuable method for estimating time since death for skeletal remains. By providing a comprehensive overview, the purpose of this work is to offer readers new perspectives on postmortem interval estimation and to improve current practice in the management of skeletal remains and decomposed bodies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Forensic Anthropology: From Experience to Current Applications and Innovative Approaches)
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