1,542 research outputs found
A Survey on Artificial Intelligence Techniques for Biomedical Image Analysis in Skeleton-Based Forensic Human Identification
This paper represents the first survey on the application of AI techniques for the analysis
of biomedical images with forensic human identification purposes. Human identification is of
great relevance in today’s society and, in particular, in medico-legal contexts. As consequence,
all technological advances that are introduced in this field can contribute to the increasing necessity
for accurate and robust tools that allow for establishing and verifying human identity. We first
describe the importance and applicability of forensic anthropology in many identification scenarios.
Later, we present the main trends related to the application of computer vision, machine learning
and soft computing techniques to the estimation of the biological profile, the identification through
comparative radiography and craniofacial superimposition, traumatism and pathology analysis,
as well as facial reconstruction. The potentialities and limitations of the employed approaches are
described, and we conclude with a discussion about methodological issues and future research.Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and UniversitiesEuropean Union (EU)
PGC2018-101216-B-I00Regional Government of Andalusia under grant EXAISFI
P18-FR-4262Instituto de Salud Carlos IIIEuropean Union (EU)
DTS18/00136European Commission H2020-MSCA-IF-2016 through the Skeleton-ID Marie Curie Individual Fellowship
746592Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities-CDTI, Neotec program 2019
EXP-00122609/SNEO-20191236European Union (EU)Xunta de Galicia
ED431G 2019/01European Union (EU)
RTI2018-095894-B-I0
Advanced analytical diagnostics applied to human osteological remains
Le ossa antiche, recuperate dai contesti archeologici e preservati all’interno dei Musei, rappresentano
una preziosa fonte di informazioni sull'alimentazione, lo stato di salute, la mobilitĂ delle popolazioni
antiche nonché sulla demografia e condizioni ambientali del passato, utili a ricercatori e accademici.
A seguito dello sviluppo di moderne tecnologie delle scienze omiche, i reperti osteologici sono
sempre piĂą richiesti e questo ha comportato un aumento dell'analisi del DNA antico (aDNA). I metodi
di campionamento per l'estrazione del DNA antico sono prevalentemente distruttivi e spesso possono
compromettere i reperti osteologici per ulteriori future analisi o per studi in altri campi di ricerca.
Oltre al campionamento invasivo e distruttivo, in condizioni di scarsa conservazione dell’osso
archeologico causata da alterazioni tafonomiche e diagenetiche, il sequenziamento del DNA antico
può essere un'operazione estremamente costosa.
Dati gli elevati costi della procedura di sequenziamento dell'aDNA, in questo lavoro di ricerca è stato
condotto uno studio analitico mediante spettroscopia a raggi infrarossi (FTIR) per sviluppare un
metodo di pre-screening affidabile, veloce ed economico per determinare la presenza/assenza di
molecole genetiche in un campione osseo archeologico.
La spettroscopia IR è uno strumento utile in quanto è rapida, minimamente distruttiva, economica e
sensibile alle variazioni delle proprietĂ strutturali delle componenti organiche (collagene) e
inorganiche (nano cristalli di bioapatite) che costituiscono l’osso. A livello ultrastrutturale, le
componenti organiche e inorganiche possono stabilire forti legami con il DNA , stabilizzandolo e
determinando la sua sopravvivenza nel tempo. Da campioni archeologici (di epoche e provenienze
diverse) estremamente alterati a moderne ossa fresche, abbiamo valutato la sensibilitĂ e l'efficacia di
nuovi parametri IR per caratterizzare la diagenesi subita dalle ossa tenendo in considerazioni i
cambiamenti delle condizioni climatico–ambientali e di seppellimento. Il lavoro è stato esteso per
esaminare le modificazioni indotte dalla diagenesi sulla struttura secondaria del collagene conservato,
valutandone gli effetti sui cristalli di bioapatite. I risultati ottenuti dimostrano che il parametro IR che
descrive l’ordine/disordine atomico, utilizzato in questa ricerca, è vantaggioso per il monitoraggio di
variazioni minime nella struttura e nelle proprietà chimiche della bioapatite nonché indirettamente
nel collagene. Questo metodo potrebbe migliorare il processo di selezione dei campioni ossei nonché
la loro idoneitĂ per analisi specifiche, ad es. analisi genetiche, paleoproteomiche e degli isotopi stabili
sulla base delle analisi spettrali. Viene qui proposto inoltre un modello predittivo funzionale con i
parametri infrarossi utilizzati, al fine di determinare il parametro piĂą predittivo per la
prensenza/assenza di DNA, utile per ridurre i costi delle analisi genetiche. Dai dati ottenuti, la
qualitĂ /quantitĂ di aDNA risulterebbe non essere determinabile a causa dell'influenza di fattori
ambientali locali.Ancient bone tissues, recovered from archaeological contexts and preserved within the Museums,
represent a valuable source of information on health, diet, mobility of ancient populations as well as
on demographics and environmental conditions of the past, useful for researchers and academics.
Following the development of modern technologies of omic sciences, osteological finds are
increasingly requested and this has led to an increase in the analysis of ancient DNA (aDNA).
Sampling methods for ancient DNA extraction are predominantly destructive and may often
compromise osteological findings for further future analysis or for studies in other research fields. In
addition to invasive and destructive sampling, in poor conservation conditions of the archaeological
bone caused by taphonomic and diagenetic alterations, the sequencing of ancient DNA can be an
extremely expensive operation.
Given the high costs of the aDNA sequencing procedure, an analytical study by means of infrared
spectroscopy (FTIR) was conducted in this research work to develop a reliable, fast and inexpensive
pre-screening method to determine presence/absence of genetic molecules in an archaeological bone
sample.
Infrared spectroscopy is a useful tool fast, minimally destructive, inexpensive and sensitive to changes
in the structural properties of the organic (collagen) and inorganic (bioapatite nanocrystals)
components that make up bone. At the ultrastructural level, the organic and inorganic components of
bone may stabilize strong bounds with DNA, stabilizing it and determining its survival over time.
The sensitivity and efficiency of new IR parameters was tested on fresh bones and extremely altered
archaeological samples, characterized by different chronology and origin. The diagenesis undergone
by the bones was characterized taking into account changes in climatic-environmental and burial
conditions. The research was expanded by examining changes induced by diagenesis on the
secondary structure of collagen preserved, evaluating their effects on bioapatite crystals.
The results obtained demonstrate that the IR parameter used in this research, that describes the atomic
order/disorder, is advantageous for monitoring minimal changes in the structure and chemical
properties of bioapatite as well as indirectly in collagen. This method may improve the selection
process of bone samples as well as their suitability for specific analyzes, e.g. genetic, paleo-proteomic
and stable isotope analysis on the basis of infrared spectra. A functional predictive model with the
infrared parameters used, in order to determine the most predictive parameter for the
presence/absence of DNA, allowing to reduce the costs of genetic analyzes, was proposed here. The
results obtained, shows that the quality/quantity of aDNA cannot be determined due to the influence
of local environmental factors
Latent Print Examination and Human Factors: Improving the Practice Through a Systems Approach: The Report of the Expert Working Group on Human Factors in Latent Print Analysis
Fingerprints have provided a valuable method of personal identification in forensic science and criminal investigations for more than 100 years. Fingerprints left at crime scenes generally are latent prints—unintentional reproductions of the arrangement of ridges on the skin made by the transfer of materials (such as amino acids, proteins, polypeptides, and salts) to a surface. Palms and the soles of feet also have friction ridge skin that can leave latent prints. The examination of a latent print consists of a series of steps involving a comparison of the latent print to a known (or exemplar) print. Courts have accepted latent print evidence for the past century. However, several high-profile cases in the United States and abroad have highlighted the fact that human errors can occur, and litigation and expressions of concern over the evidentiary reliability of latent print examinations and other forensic identification procedures has increased in the last decade.
“Human factors” issues can arise in any experience- and judgment-based analytical process such as latent print examination. Inadequate training, extraneous knowledge about the suspects in the case or other matters, poor judgment, health problems, limitations of vision, complex technology, and stress are but a few factors that can contribute to errors. A lack of standards or quality control, poor management, insufficient resources, and substandard working conditions constitute other potentially contributing factors
LIPIcs, Volume 277, GIScience 2023, Complete Volume
LIPIcs, Volume 277, GIScience 2023, Complete Volum
An investigation into 3D printing of osteological remains: the metrology and ethics of virtual anthropology
Three-dimensional (3D) printed human remains are being utilised in courtroom demonstrations of evidence within the UK criminal justice system. This presents a potential issue given that the use of 3D replicas has not yet been empirically tested or validated for use in crime reconstructions. Further, recent movements to critically evaluate the ethics surrounding the presentation of human remains have failed to address the use of 3D printed replica bones. As such, this research addresses the knowledge gap surrounding the accuracy of 3D printed replicas of skeletal elements and investigates how the public feels about the use of 3D printed replicas. Three experimental studies focussed on metrology and identified 3D printed replicas to be accurate to within ± 2.0 mm using computed tomography (CT) scanning, and to within ± 0.2 mm or to 0-5% difference using micro-CT. The potential loss of micromorphological details was also examined and identified that quality control steps were key in identifying and mitigating loss of detail. A fourth experimental study collected data on the opinion of the public of the use of 3D printed human remains in courtroom demonstrations. Respondents were broadly positive and considered that prints can be produced ethically by maintaining the dignity and respect of the decedent. A framework that helps to assess ethical practices was developed as well as an adaptable pathway that can assist with assessing the quality and accuracy of 3D prints. The findings from this research contribute to an empirical evidence base that can underpin future 3D printed crime reconstructions and provides guidance for creating accurate 3D prints that can inform future practice and research endeavours
Saving Bones: a direct comparison of FTIR-ATR, whole bone percent nitrogen, and NIR
89th Annual Meeting of the American-Association-of-Physical-Anthropologists (AAPA), Los Angeles, CA, APR 15-18, 202
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