The over-citation of Daubert in forensic anthropology.

The 1993 US Supreme Court decision Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc. presented new guidance for the judicial assessment of expert witness evidence and testimony in the determination of admissibility.

Reconstruction of full femora from partial bone fragments for anthropological analyses using statistical shape modeling.

Objectives: Due to taphonomic processes such as burial, fire, or animal activity, bones are often found incomplete, which can pose problematic for establishing the biological profile of the deceased using anthropological methods. The aim of this study is to test the feasibility of using statistical shape modeling (SSM) to reconstruct full femora from simulated partial femora and determine the accuracy of the reconstruction. Moreover, we assess the accuracy of sex estimation and the degree of stature error added based on the reconstructed femur using different anthropological methods.

Detection of bone particles in non-carbonate soils.

A routine geologic test for the presence of carbonate minerals in soil is the application of dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl) and observation for an effervescent reaction. This study tests whether non-carbonate soils can exhibit effervescence in the presence of HCl if bone particles are present in the soil. Five bone fragments displaying various taphonomic alterations were ground and sieved to achieve uniform particle size fractions.

CT-based sex estimation on human femora using statistical shape modeling.

Objectives: Estimating the sex of decomposed corpses and skeletal remains of unknown individuals is one of the first steps in the identification process in forensic contexts. Although various studies have considered the femur for sex estimation, the focus has primarily been on a specific single or a handful of measurements rather than the entire shape of the bone. In this article, we use statistical shape modeling (SSM) for sex estimation.

Use of a Gelatin-based Consolidant to Preserve Thermally-Altered Skeletal Remains.

Thermally altered skeletal remains can be very fragile and fragmented and are typically further fragmented or even destroyed when handled; recovery of such remains from a scene can therefore be extremely challenging. There are few recommendations and no generally accepted practices for preserving burned bone for recovery and transport. Here, we test whether the application of a gelatin-based consolidant at the scene can preserve thermally altered bone in the condition and relative anatomical position in which it was discovered.

The Effect of Household Oxidizing Cleaners on Chemiluminescence of Blood Using Bluestar.

This study tests the effect of three common oxidizing cleaners on the ability of the Bluestar Forensic® presumptive test for blood to identify the presence of blood on ceramic tile after cleaning. The cleaners tested were Lysol®, OxiClean®, and Arm & Hammer®. This study also tested which cleaner was the most effective at removing blood, measured by the intensity of chemiluminescence, which was quantified using RGB values in ImageJ.

Bilateral Asymmetry of Nutrient Foramen Position in Forearm Bones: Implications for its Use in Sorting Commingled Remains.

Commingling is frequently encountered in cases examined by the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus, and pair-matching is routinely used as a preliminary segregation method. Here we examine the degree of bilateral asymmetry in nutrient foramen position of the radius and ulna to determine whether nutrient foramen position may be useful in visual and/or ostetometric pair-matching. Differences in nutrient foramen position between left-right pairs from the same individual were compared with differences in nutrient foramen position between different individuals.

Comparative radiologic identification with standardized single CT images of the paranasal sinuses-Evaluation of inter-rater reliability.

The aim of this study was to assess the reproducibility of a standardized image for personal identification (SIPI), used in the comparative analysis of paranasal sinuses, and test the effect of inaccurate reformation of the SIPI on suitability for comparative identification. Five raters with different professional backgrounds independently reformatted SIPIs from ten post-mortem head CTs. Inter-rater, intra-rater agreement as well angular deviations between reformatted SIPI images and reference SIPI images were calculated.

A test of the citrate method of PMI estimation from skeletal remains.

Citrate content in bone has been shown to be associated with the postmortem interval (PMI), with citrate decreasing after death as a function of time. Here we test this method using porcine ribs for the period of 1-165days after death, and also assess citrate content and variation from samples placed into two different postmortem environments (terrestrial and aquatic). Higher citrate variation, lower citrate recovery, and a weaker association with time were found in this study as compared to others.

The Effect of Time on Bone Fluorescence: Implications for Using Alternate Light Sources to Search for Skeletal Remains.

Bones fluoresce when exposed to certain wavelengths of shortwave light, and this property can be useful in locating and sorting skeletal remains in forensic contexts. The proteins in bone collagen are largely responsible for its fluorescent properties, but these proteins degrade and denature over time. This study examined the fluorescence of bones from four temporal groups (recent, semi-recent, ancient, and historic) ranging from 0 to 1064 years before present.

Effects of Aluminum Foil Packaging on Elemental Analysis of Bone.

Burned skeletal material is often very fragile and at high risk for fragmentation during packaging and transportation. One method that has been suggested to protect bones in these cases is to carefully wrap them in aluminum foil. Traces of aluminum, however, are known to transfer from foil packaging materials to food products.

Calcium and Phosphorus Detection Using Benchtop Versus Handheld X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometers.

Elemental analysis of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) has been shown to be useful in differentiating skeletal and nonskeletal material. X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) is an attractive, nondestructive technique for forensic anthropologists, and the development of portable XRF instrumentation is promising for field applications. This study examines the performance of handheld XRF instrumentation operated in air compared to a traditional benchtop XRF device that has the ability to control the analysis atmosphere.

The Use of Femoral Neck Axis Length to Estimate Sex and Ancestry.

Having multiple reliable methods of estimating sex and ancestry from various skeletal features increases the likelihood of identifying skeletal remains. Femoral neck axis length (FNAL), as measured in living individuals, has been shown to vary by sex and ancestry. FNAL has not, however, been previously measured directly from skeletonized remains and investigated for its potential use in forensic anthropological applications.

Elemental Analysis of Variably Contaminated Cremains Using X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry.

Analyzing and identifying skeletal remains becomes increasingly difficult when remains have been cremated, especially in cases where the cremated material may have been intentionally contaminated with nonskeletal material. This study examined the potential of X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) to detect the presence of nonskeletal contaminants in samples of cremains. Eleven samples of cremains were variably combined with concrete mix and analyzed using XRF.

The use of an alternate light source for detecting bones underwater.

When searching underwater crime scenes or disaster scenes for fragmentary human remains, it may be advantageous for forensic divers to be able to detect the presence of bones and teeth among other marine materials (such as shells and rocks). In terrestrial environments, this can typically be accomplished by visual and instrumental methods, but underwater conditions make it difficult to employ detection and sorting techniques in these environments. This study investigates fluorescence of bones and teeth and other marine materials using a submersible alternate light source (ALS) and concludes that an ALS can be a useful tool for detecting bones and teeth in underwater searches as well in terrestrial searches and laboratory environments.

Ancestral differences in femoral neck axis length: possible implications for forensic anthropological analyses.

In forensic anthropological contexts, very few methods of estimating ancestry from the postcranial skeleton are available. The cranium is widely recognized to show the greatest ancestral variation, and is often regarded by forensic anthropologists as the only reliable bone for estimating ancestry from unidentified skeletal remains. Several studies have demonstrated ancestral variation in aspects of the femur, but none have shown significant predictive power for discriminating multiple groups, and have therefore not gained wide acceptance by forensic anthropologists.

Error and its meaning in forensic science.

The discussion of "error" has gained momentum in forensic science in the wake of the Daubert guidelines and has intensified with the National Academy of Sciences' Report. Error has many different meanings, and too often, forensic practitioners themselves as well as the courts misunderstand scientific error and statistical error rates, often confusing them with practitioner error (or mistakes). Here, we present an overview of these concepts as they pertain to forensic science applications, discussing the difference between practitioner error (including mistakes), instrument error, statistical error, and method error.

Rib butterfly fractures as a possible indicator of blast trauma.

Forensic anthropologists have become increasingly involved in the interpretation of skeletal trauma caused by exploding ordnance. This study examines the cause and significance of butterfly fractures observed in a recent study investigating skeletal blast trauma by Christensen et al. Fractured ribs resulting from blast events carried out in the original study were re-examined revealing that rib butterfly fractures with the tensile indicator on the visceral surface were present in 100% of viable pig specimens.

Validation of X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for determining osseous or dental origin of unknown material.

Forensic anthropological examinations typically involve the analysis of human skeletal remains, but in cases where samples are very small and/or physically compromised, it may first be necessary to determine whether the material is even osseous or dental in origin. X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) is a technique that reveals the elemental composition of materials and is hypothesized to have utility in such cases. XRF analysis was conducted on a variety of tissues and materials in unaltered and altered (damaged) states.

Primary and secondary skeletal blast trauma.

This study examines primary (resulting from blast wave) and secondary (resulting from disintegrated, penetrating fragments) blast trauma to the skeleton. Eleven pigs were exposed to semi-controlled blast events of varying explosive type, charge size, and distance, including some cases with shrapnel. Skeletal trauma was found to be extensive, presenting as complex, comminuted fractures with numerous small, displaced bone splinters and fragments.

Macroscopic observations of the effects of varying fresh water pH on bone.

Little is known about the decomposition of remains in aquatic environments of varying pH, and even less is known about the specific effects of these environments on bone. Bovine bones were placed in solutions of pH 1, 4, 7, 10, and 14 and observed over a period of 1 year. All solutions eventually removed or dissolved the soft tissues from the external surface of the bone.

The reliability of visually comparing small frontal sinuses.

Several studies have investigated frontal sinus comparison for personal identification. One study addressed the statistical reliability of correct identification using automated digital methods and resulted in a 96% accuracy rate. Missed matches with the digital methods generally involved small, less featured sinuses.

Techniques for siding manual phalanges.

Identifying the anatomical origin of skeletal elements is a basic and important part of a forensic anthropological investigation, but techniques for determining the side and ray of the phalanges are conspicuously scarce in the physical anthropology literature. Features of particular phalanges are important to aspects of archaeological and paleoanthropological studies, as well as for identification and trauma analysis in forensic cases. Correct siding of phalanges may therefore be quite critical in certain contexts.

Evidentiary standards for forensic anthropology.

As issues of professional standards and error rates continue to be addressed in the courts, forensic anthropologists should be proactive by developing and adhering to professional standards of best practice. There has been recent increased awareness and interest in critically assessing some of the techniques used by forensic anthropologists, but issues such as validation, error rates, and professional standards have seldom been addressed. Here we explore the legal impetus for this trend and identify areas where we can improve regarding these issues.