Forensic age estimation in adults based on multidetector computed tomography analysis of bone density in the medial meta-epiphyseal region of clavicle.

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) to measure the bone mineral density (BMD) in the medial meta-epiphyseal region of clavicle (MERC) for adult age estimation. A total of 1064 chest MDCT scans from individuals aged 21 to 102 years were utilized to determine the MERC BMD. The Mimics software was used for the BMD measurements, and the average BMD of both MERC was also calculated.

Forensic Pathological Diagnosis of Acute and Old Myocardial Infarction Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy.

Objectives: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to analyze myocardial infarction tissues at different stages of pathological change to achieve the forensic pathology diagnosis of acute and old myocardial infarction.

Methods: FTIR spectra data of early ischemic myocardium, necrotic myocardium, and myocardial fibrous tissue in the left ventricular anterior wall of the sudden death group of atherosclerotic heart disease and the myocardium of the normal control group were collected using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining as a reference, and the data were analyzed using multivariate statistical analysis.

Results: The mean normalized spectra of control myocardium, early ischemic myocardium and necrotic myocardium were relatively similar, but the mean second derivative spectra were significantly different.

Research Progress and Forensic Application of Human Vascular Finite Element Modeling and Biomechanics.

The finite element method (FEM) is a mathematical method for obtaining approximate solutions to a wide variety of engineering problems. With the development of computer technology, it is gradually applied to the study of biomechanics of human body. The application of the combination of FEM and biomechanics in exploring the relationship between vascular injury and disease, and pathological mechanisms will be a technological innovation for traditional forensic medicine.

Evaluating Subtle Pathological Changes in Early Myocardial Ischemia Using Spectral Histopathology.

Early myocardial ischemia (EMI) is morphologically challenging, and the results from conventional histological staining may be subjective, imprecise, or even silent. The size of myocardial necrosis determines the acute and long-term mortality of EMI. The precise diagnosis of myocardial ischemia is critical for both clinical management and forensic investigation.

Use of deep learning in forensic sex estimation of virtual pelvic models from the Han population.

Accurate sex estimation is crucial to determine the identity of human skeletal remains effectively. Here, we developed convolutional neural network (CNN) models for sex estimation on virtual hemi-pelvic regions, including the ventral pubis (VP), dorsal pubis (DP), greater sciatic notch (GSN), pelvic inlet (PI), ischium, and acetabulum from the Han population and compared these models with two experienced forensic anthropologists using morphological methods. A Computed Tomography (CT) dataset of 862 individuals was divided into the subgroups of training, validation, and testing, respectively.

Cerebral hemorrhage caused by shaking adult syndrome? Evidence from biomechanical analysis using 3D motion capture and finite element models.

The present study combined three-dimensional (3D) motion capture with finite element simulation to reconstruct a real shaking adult syndrome (SAS) case and further explore the injury biomechanics of SAS. The frequency at which an adult male can shake the head of another person, head-shaking amplitude, and displacement curves was captured by the VICON 3D motion capture system. The captured shaking frequency and shaking curve were loaded on the total human model for safety (THUMS) head to simulate the biomechanical response of brain injury when a head was shaken in anterior-posterior, left-right, and left anterior-right posterior directions at frequencies of 4 Hz (Hz), 5 Hz, 6 Hz, and 7 Hz.

Reconstruction of a real-world car-to-pedestrian collision using geomatics techniques and numerical simulations.

The aim of this study is to provide an improved method for traffic accident reconstruction based on geomatics techniques and numerical simulations. A combination of various techniques was used. First, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), laser scanner and structured-light scanner were used to obtain information on the accident scene, vehicle and victim.

Dental age estimation of Tibetan children and adolescents: Comparison of Demirjian, Willems methods and a newly modified Demirjian method.

Tibetan ethnic group is one of the oldest ethnic groups in China and South Asia. This study set out to analyze the dental development and validate Demirjian method and Willems method in estimating dental age of Tibetan children and adolescents, and to modify Demirjian method based on Tibetan population to provide ethnic-specific reference data and a more reliable method for forensic age assessment in Tibetan ethnic group. In this study, 1951 samples aged between 4 and 15 years were retrospectively collected and analyzed.

A potential method for sex estimation of human skeletons using deep learning and three-dimensional surface scanning.

Deep learning based on radiological methods has attracted considerable attention in forensic anthropology because of its superior classification capacities over human experts. However, radiological instruments are limited in their nature of high cost and immobility. Here, we integrated a deep learning algorithm and three-dimensional (3D) surface scanning technique into a portable system for pelvic sex estimation.

Diagnosis of Vascular Rupture Due to Arteriovenous Malformation Using Postmortem Angiography and 3-Dimensonal Printing: A Case Report.

Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT), PMCT angiography, and 3-dimensonal (3D) printing technology are increasingly applied to forensic practice. Although their effectiveness is undeniably confirmed, their potential role in practice still needs to be further explored. Here, we report a typical case in which such 4 technologies were applied to a woman found dead with stomach content beneath the head on the pillow in her residence.

Preliminary study on the mechanisms of ankle injuries under falling and impact conditions based on the THUMS model.

Ankle injuries are common in forensic practice, which are mainly caused by falling and traffic accidents. Determining the mechanisms and manners of ankle injuries is a critical and challenging problem for forensic experts. The identification of the injury mechanism is still experience-based and strongly subjective.

Current state and progress of research on forensic biomechanics in China.

Forensic biomechanics gradually has become a significant component of forensic science. Forensic biomechanics is evidence-based science that applies biomechanical principles and methods to forensic practice, which has constituted one of the most potential research areas. In this review, we introduce how finite element techniques can be used to simulate forensic cases, how injury criteria and injury scales can be used to describe injury severity, and how tests of postmortem human subjects and dummy can be used to provide essential validation data.

The influence of sample geometry and size on porcine aortic material properties from uniaxial tensile tests using custom-designed tissue cutters, clamps and molds.

The aim of this study was to identify the influence of specimen geometry and size on the results of aortic uniaxial tensile tests using custom-designed tissue cutters, clamps and molds. Six descending thoracic aortas from pigs were used for rectangular sample tests, in which the circumferential and axial specimens had widths of 6 mm, 8 mm and 10 mm. The other six aortas were used for the dog-bone-shaped sample tests and were punched into circumferential, axial and oblique specimens with widths of 2 mm, 4 mm and 6 mm.

Pulmonary PMCT angiography by right ventricle cardiac puncture: a novel, promising approach for investigating pulmonary thromboembolism.

Forensic scholars are paying more attention to postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) and PMCT angiography (PMCTA), which are gradually becoming effective and practical methods in forensic practice. However, few studies have focused on the application of PMCTA to cardiac ventricular puncture-especially of the right ventricle. In this article, we introduce a pulmonary PMCTA approach by right ventricle cardiac puncture and its potential value in fatalities from pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE).

An efficient method for building a database of diatom populations for drowning site inference using a deep learning algorithm.

Seasonal or monthly databases of the diatom populations in specific bodies of water are needed to infer the drowning site of a drowned body. However, existing diatom testing methods are laborious, time-consuming, and costly and usually require specific expertise. In this study, we developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-based system as a substitute for manual morphological examination capable of identifying and classifying diatoms at the species level.

Rupture of the Ascending Aorta Surgical Area Detected Using Isolated Cardiopulmonary Organ Computed Tomography Angiography: An Autopsy Case Report After Cardiac Surgery.

We report cause of death after cardiac surgery using isolated cardiopulmonary organ computed tomography angiography (CTA) and a conventional autopsy. A 56-year-old man underwent aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass graft surgery under extracorporeal circulation. Massive bleeding occurred suddenly, and the patient died 25 days later.

Massive Brainstem and Cerebellum Infarction Due to Traumatic Extracranial Vertebral Artery Dissection in a Motor Traffic Accident: An Autopsy Case Report.

Traumatic unilateral vertebral artery (VA) injury can cause focal thrombosis and may block the basilar artery which can further lead to ischemic stroke and massive cerebral infarction and subarachnoid hemorrhage and even rapid death. Here, we present an autopsy case with a traumatic extracranial VA dissection in a motor traffic accident, and the identification of cause of death underwent 2 autopsies. A 62-year-old male pedestrian collided with the right rearview mirror of a car and fell down to the ground.

Estimation of sex based on patella measurements in a contemporary Chinese population using multidetector computed tomography: An automatic measurement method.

Sex estimation is an important part of creating a biological profile, and ultimately assisting in creating a presumptive identification of unidentified skeletal remains. However, manual methods of anthropometric are time-consuming and prone to observer variability. The present study is an attempt to estimation of sex from automatic measurement of patella by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in a contemporary Chinese population.

Finite element analysis to determine the cause of ring fractures in a motorcyclist's head.

The finite element (FE) method can potentially help in reconstructing skull fracture biomechanisms, enabling differentiation of the injury patterns caused by traffic accidents. This study aims to (1) reconstruct a motorcycle driver-car accident case using the total human model for safety and FE simulations; and (2) analyze the biomechanisms of fatal ring fractures in the motorcyclist's skull base to determine if the fatal craniocerebral injuries were caused by a fall onto the highway after hitting a pedestrian or by the subsequent impact of a car. We simulated a series of loading scenarios of falls onto the road and impacts by a car, with and without a helmet being used.

Diagnosis of drowning using postmortem computed tomography combined with endoscopic autopsy: A case report.

Rationale: Postmortem forensic imaging technologies provide a noninvasive/minimally invasive approach for imaging of internal organ structures of the human body to detect injuries, diseases, and other morphologic changes. Currently, postmortem forensic imaging methods have been widely used in determination of the cause of death. However, these methods do not allow histologic examinations.

Determination of causes of death via spectrochemical analysis of forensic autopsies-based pulmonary edema fluid samples with deep learning algorithm.

This study investigated whether infrared spectroscopy combined with a deep learning algorithm could be a useful tool for determining causes of death by analyzing pulmonary edema fluid from forensic autopsies. A newly designed convolutional neural network-based deep learning framework, named DeepIR and eight popular machine learning algorithms, were used to construct classifiers. The prediction performances of these classifiers demonstrated that DeepIR outperformed the machine learning algorithms in establishing classifiers to determine the causes of death.

Postmortem Diagnosis of Fatal Hypothermia by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopic Analysis of Edema Fluid in Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded Lung Tissues.

The goal of this study was to investigate whether pulmonary edema could become a specific diagnostic marker for fatal hypothermia using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in combination with chemometrics. The spectral profile analysis indicated that hypothermia fatalities associated with pulmonary edema fluid contained more β-sheet protein conformational structures than the control causes of death, which included sudden cardiac death, brain injury, cerebrovascular disease, mechanical asphyxiation, intoxication, and drowning. Subsequently, the results of principal component analysis (PCA) further revealed that the content of β-sheet protein conformational structures in the pulmonary edema fluid was the main discriminatory marker between fatal hypothermia and the other causes of death.

Quantitative analysis of noncoding RNA from paired fresh and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded brain tissues.

Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues are commonly used both clinically and in forensic pathology. Recently, noncoding RNA (ncRNA) has attracted interest among molecular medical researchers. However, it remains unclear whether newly identified ncRNAs, such as long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) and circular RNA (circRNA), remain stable for downstream molecular analysis in FFPE tissues.

Estimation of stature and sex from skull measurements by multidetector computed tomography in Chinese.

The present study is an attempt to estimation of stature and sex from skull measurements by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in contemporary Chinese. In the present study, fifteen measurements for every skull were taken from CT image of 382 Chinese. The sample was composed of 200 males and 182 females with an average age of 47 and 46 years, respectively.

Virtual reality and integrated crime scene scanning for immersive and heterogeneous crime scene reconstruction.

Crime scene reconstruction plays a significant role in crime solving by helping to determine the course of events. Non-invasive, high-resolution measurement and increased insight are always the goal of forensic crime scene documentation. However, entire crime scenes cannot be effectively reconstructed with traditional methods.