The application of miniplex primer sets in the analysis of degraded DNA from human skeletal remains.

A new set of multiplexed PCR primers has been applied to the analysis of human skeletal remains to determine their efficacy in analyzing degraded DNA. These primer sets, known as Miniplexes, produce shorter amplicons (50-280 base pairs (bp)) than standard short tandem repeat (STR) kits, but still utilize the 13 CODIS STR loci, providing results that are searchable on national DNA databases. In this study, a set of 31 different human remains were exposed to a variety of environmental conditions, extracted, and amplified with commercial and Miniplex DNA typing kits.

Geographical height variation among Ohio Caucasian male convicts born 1780-1849.

To more completely answer questions regarding health in the past, social scientists are utilizing previously underutilized data sources. This study focuses on one such source: penitentiary records, in order to examine geographical variation in height from a sample of 2554 male Caucasian convicts aged 23-45 years. Data collected include height, age, ancestry, nationality, and year and place of birth.

Variation in the human cervical neural canal.

Background Context: The dimensions of the cervical spinal canal can impact the likelihood of an individual suffering longtime effects from a spinal neck injury as well as influence recovery time. Most studies have used radiographic studies to compare differences in the neural canal, but few have examined skeletal populations to determine variation in the neural canal dimensions without the presence of soft tissue.

Purpose: To analyze variation seen in the cervical neural canal (anterior-posterior and transverse diameters) with respect to sex and ancestry and to define cervical canal narrowing in the sample.

Human identification from the ankle with pre- and postsurgical radiographs.

Fifty-four sets of presurgical ("premortem") and postsurgical ("postmortem") foot and ankle radiographs were retrospectively evaluated to simulate a postmortem identification. The entire foot and ankle was examined in a previous study. The present study evaluates only the ankle for positive identification.

Using pre- and post-surgical foot and ankle radiographs for identification.

An evaluation of the effect of surgical intervention on foot and ankle radiographic comparisons was performed. In this study, 34 sets of pre-surgical ("premortem") and post-surgical ("postmortem") foot and ankle radiographs were retrospectively evaluated simulating a postmortem identification. In each radiographic set, the films were separated by a surgical event to reproduce the effects of an alteration in the anatomy.