Rediscovering the value of images in supporting personal identification of missing migrants.

The crisis concerning the identification of dead migrants is forcing forensic scientists to deal with the unavailability of classical antemortem (AM) data such as radiological information and DNA. However many times there is abundant AM photographic data of which the availability and quality is underestimated. Independently of when facial image comparison can be used as a valid identification method, description of the unexpected quality and quantity of images in the scenario of unidentified migrant decedents is given in this observational study.

Preliminary study on sexual dimorphism of metric traits of cranium and mandible in a modern Italian skeletal population and review of population literature.

This study aims to assess the sexual dimorphism of skull in a modern skeletal collection through a direct anthropometric methodology by using a logistic regression analysis as statistical approach in order to provide specific regression formulae for the Italian population. Thirtyfour measurements (24 from cranium, 10 from mandible; 33 linear distances, one angle) were taken on 80 individuals (40 males, 40 females). A stepwise discriminant function analysis selected the combination of variables which best discriminated between sexes, and a cross-validation assessed the accuracy rate of the original sample.

Population specific data improves Fordisc's performance in Italians.

Using discriminant functions based on morphometric data is one of the most approved methods for sex and ancestry estimation on skeletons. Nevertheless, population data from various parts of the world is needed in order to reliably classify an individual into a group. Due to population variation even sex estimation is biased when there is a lack of adequate data.