Evaluation of Efficiency and Effectiveness of Mastoid Process Triangle Anthropometry for Sex Estimation in Brazilian Skulls

Existe uma corrente de pensamento em antropologia forense de que métodos antropométricos têm menos subjetividade e menores erros intra e interobservadores, quando comparados com métodos de tomada de decisões. Contudo, a antropometria também pode apresentar falhas de execução, sendo trabalhosa e requererendo tempo extra na coleta dos dados. Além disso, em amostras heterogêneas ou pouco homogêneas, como nos casos de intensa miscigenação, pode fornecer resultados igualmente heterogêneos. Neste estudo foi proposta a avaliação de eficiência e eficácia do método antropométrico do triângulo do processo mastoide (porion, asterion e mastoidale) para estimativa de sexo, como descrito nos trabalhos de Paiva & Segre e Kemkes & Göbel. Foram selecionados 74 crânios de ossadas sob a guarda do CEMEL/FMRP-USP. Destes, 28 foram excluídos por impossibilidade de execução do método antropométrico. Os 46 crânios restantes foram analisados por três vezes pela antropometria e os resultados comparados entre si, assim como ao método do Protocolo LAF/CEMEL baseado em tomada de decisão. Os resultados demonstraram que, além do alto número de exclusões por impossibilidade de execução e da necessidade de refinamento técnico para evitar erros intraobservador, as áreas obtidas contrastaram com os valores encontrados por Paiva & Segre em 60,9% dos casos. Conclui-se que, com o passar do tempo e refinamento técnico, o método antropométrico torna-se mais eficiente no que diz respeito à diminuição de erros do observador. Por outro lado, mostra-se ineficaz em estimar o sexo dos crânios analisados em amostra heterogênea (de população miscigenada), indicando o método de tomada de decisão como mais adequado. [There is a perception in forensic anthropology that anthropometric methods are less subjective, and have lower intra and inter observer error rates compared with more subjective classificatory or anthroposcopic approaches. Anthropometric methods have risks of execution errors, however, and may be laborious and time-consuming. Heterogeneous or less than homogeneous samples—such as in cases of intensive admixture—yield equally heterogeneous results. This study is an evaluation of the efficiency and effectiveness of an anthropometric method of sex estimation from the mastoid process triangle (porion, asterion and mastoidale), as described by Paiva & Segre and Kemkes & Göbel. Of 74 skulls selected from the CEMEL/FMRP-USP collection, 28 were excluded due to the impossibility of execution of the method. The remaining 46 skulls were measured three times and the results compared with each other, as well as with the assignments based on the classifications used in the LAF/CEMEL protocol. In addition to the high number of exclusions due to impossibility of execution of the method, and the need for technical refinements to avoid intra-observer errors, the results obtained contrasted with those obtained by Paiva & Segre in 60.9% of cases. Reduction of observer errors over time and with technical refinement led to the anthropometric method increasing in efficiency. It was not as effective in estimating the sex of the skulls in the heterogeneous admixed sample compared to the anthroposcopic methods, indicating that these are more useful on samples of this kind.

Morphological analysis of dental remains of a human skeleton found in a mountain-shell (Sambaqui) in Ilha Bela Archipelago on the northern coast of São Paulo, state, Brazil

The bioanthropological evaluation on remains of hard tissues can collaborate in identifying physicalcharacteristics of individuals. The teeth are important in the identification of human bodies that have undergone major changes particularly due to its resistance to degradation. The aim of this study is analyzing the dental remains of a human skeleton - dated of 1920 ± 40 years BP and located in a shell mound at the Ilhabela Archipelago, São Paulo State, Brazil - as a source of anatomical analysis for scientific purposes. The remaining teeth were classified according to dental notation and the authors concluded that even in a long time, teeth keep maintain anatomical features which may be helpful in identifying the deceased individual.  A avaliação bioantropológica em remanescentes de tecidos duros pode colaborar na identificação dascaracterísticas físicas dos indivíduos. Os dentes, estrutura dura que também se caracteriza por ser resistente à degradação, são importantes na identificação de corpos que passaram por grandes modificações. O objetivo deste estudo é analisar os remanescentes dentais de uma ossada humana datada de 1920 ± 40 anos AP localizados em sambaqui, no Arquipélago de Ilhabela – SP, Brasil, como fonte de análise anatômica para fins científicos. Os remanescentes dentais foram classificados segundo a notação dental e os autores concluíram que, mesmo com o passar do tempo, os dentes mantém características anatômicas marcantes, podendo ser de grande utilidade na identificação do indivíduo morto.  

Procedural and political aspects of forensic exhumation in Brazil

Exhumation may be defined as the legally sanctioned excavation and recovery of the remains of lawfully buried or – occasionally – cremated individuals, as distinct from forensic excavations of clandestinely buried remains conducted as part of a criminal investigation and from unlawful disinterment of human remains, commonly referred to as ‘bodysnatching’. The aim of this article is to review the role of exhumation – so defined – in the activities of CEMEL, the Medico-Legal Centre of the Ribeirão Preto Medical School-University of São Paulo, in international, regional and local collaborations. Exhumations form part of routine forensic anthropology casework; scientific research in physical and forensic anthropology; and forensic casework conducted in collaboration with the Brazilian Federal Police; and are carried out as part of humanitarian investigations into deaths associated with the civil–military dictatorship of 1964 to 1985. This article aims to offer a non-technical summary – with reference to international comparative information – of the role of exhumation in investigative and scientific work and to discuss developments in their historical and political context

A antropologia forense como triagem para as análises da genética forense

A Genética Forense hoje é uma das principais ferramentas utilizadas em casos de identificação humana. Esta emprega as técnicas da biologia molecular para auxiliar na elucidação de crimes, principalmente na determinação da autoria deste. Contudo é sabido que a análise do DNA ainda é um exame de alto custo e que muitas vezes, em centros que não possuem um laboratório para esse fim, os mesmos têm que enviar as suas amostras para serem analisadas em outros locais, o que pode demorar meses até a obtenção do resultado. Como uma técnica aliada para a identificação humana, podemos incluir a Antropologia Forense, que vem a ser uma área de conhecimento que aplica os métodos da antropologia física e arqueologia para coleta e análise de evidências legais, buscando estabelecer a identidade de um ser humano. O exame antropológico forense consiste em traçar um perfil bioantropológico da vítima, incluindo: sexo, ancestralidade, idade, estatura, mão dominante (lateralidade), características dentárias, anomalias ósseas, patologias ósseas e características individuais. Com isso espera-se reduzir o número de análises de DNA forense, uma vez que a análise antropológica forense fornece dados que permite o direcionamento e a aplicação do exame de DNA para um indivíduo ou um grupo específico de pessoas. Com isto, também é possível a redução dos gastos de um laboratório de Genética Forense, pois também há a otimização dos resultados. A aplicação do protocolo para análise de ossadas do Laboratório de Antropologia Forense (LAF) serve como triagem para o exame de DNA forense. Este protocolo já é utilizado na Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP/USP) e foi criado em 2005, em um projeto entre a University of Sheffield (UK) e o Centro de Medicina Legal (CEMEL) da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP/USP). Com os resultados bioantropológicos de um exame de antropologia forense é possível reduzir o número de amostras para que seja feito um exame de DNA, sendo possível reduzir o tempo e o custo de um exame dessa natureza. Isso é demonstrado na análise de caso apresentada aqui.Nowadays, Forensic Genetics is one of the main tools used is the main tool used in cases of human identification. It uses molecular biology techniques to help in crime clarification, especially in the determination of the perpetrators. However, it is known that DNA analysis is still a high priced exam and that many times it is necessary for centers that don’t have a laboratory for this purpose to send their samples to be analyzed to other places, which can take months to get the results. As an adjunct technique to human identification, we can include the Forensic Anthropology, which is a field that applies physical anthropological and archeological methods for collecting and analyzing legal evidence, in order to to establish the identification of a human being. The anthropological forensic exam consists of tracing the bio-anthropological profile of the victim, including: sex, ancestry, age, stature, handedness, dental characteristics, bone abnormalities, bone diseases and individual characteristics. Whereby, it is hoped that the number of forensic DNA analyses will be reduced, once the forensic anthropological analysis shows data that make it possible to directly apply the DNA exam to a specific person or group of people. As a result, it is also possible to reduce the costs of a Genetic Forensic laboratory because there is also optimization of results. The protocol application to the bones analyzes of the Anthropological Forensic Laboratory (LAF) serves as a screening process prior to the forensic DNA exam. This protocol is already used in the Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (FMRP/USP) and it was created in 2005, in a joint project of the University of Sheffield (UK) and the Legal Medicine Center (CEMEL) of Medicine College of São Paulo University at Ribeirão Preto (FMRP/USP). With the bio-anthropological results of an anthropological forensic exam, it is possible to reduce the sample number of the DNA exam to be done, making it possible to reduce the time and the cost of these nature exams. This is demonstrated in the case report submitted here

Forensic Anthropology Developments of cases in Legal Medicine Center (CEMEL), Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto USP from 1999 to 2010. 2011.

A Antropologia Forense é uma área de conhecimento que aplica os métodos da antropologia física e da arqueologia para coleta e análise de evidências legais, buscando estabelecer a identidade de um ser humano. O Centro de Medicina Legal (CEMEL) da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP/USP) possui um Laboratório de Antropologia Forense (LAF), criado em 2005, em um projeto de parceria com a University of Sheffield (UK) e financiado pelo British Foreign and Commonwealth Office Global Opportunities Fund. Durante esse projeto, foi elaborado um protocolo para análise de ossadas com uma estrutura científica atualizada, aplicável ao contexto social brasileiro. Durante esses doze anos ocorreu uma aparente modificação das características dos casos encaminhados ao LAF/CEMEL, o que levou à necessidade de uma análise detalhada e comparativa dos casos. A proposta deste trabalho foi de evidenciar a evolução histórica dos casos de análise antropológica forense no LAF/CEMEL. Na primeira etapa foram analisados os casos acumulados de 1999 a 2004, na segunda etapa foram analisados os casos de 2005 a 2010, totalizando doze anos; por fim, foi realizado o estudo de acordo com a causa jurídica da morte, comparando os casos encaminhados ao LAF/CEMEL com os casos totais de morte por causa externa para Ribeirão Preto e região. Com base nos relatórios de Antropologia Forense (REAFs), as características antropológicas predominantes das ossadas analisadas no LAF/CEMEL foram: indivíduos do sexo masculino, caucasianos, com uma faixa etária média de 37 anos (1999 a 2004) e 35 anos (2005 a 2010); uma média de estatura de 1,68 metros (1999 a 2004) e 1,70 metros (2005 a 2010); destreza manual não determinada (1999 a 2004) e destros (2005 a 2010); com elementos odontológicos informativos; com achados patológicos (1999 a 2004) e achados patológicos ausentes (2005 a 2010); sem roupas e/ou pertences (1999 a 2004) e com roupas e/ou pertences (2005 a 2010). Foi verificado que os parâmetros (oito) analisados para a identificação de um indivíduo através do exame antropológico aumentou de 65% (1999 a 2004) para 93% (2005 a 2010). Conclui-se que a atuação constante na análise antropológica de ossadas tem levado a uma melhor qualidade dos dados obtidos e maiores chances de identificação individual, cumprindo seu papel científico e social. Foi realizado um estudo para verificar a relação existente entre as mortes por causa externa (especificando homicídios) ocorridos nas últimas décadas em Ribeirão Preto e região e os casos de ossadas encaminhadas ao LAF/CEMEL. Os homicídios reduziram de 34 para 7 casos por 100 mil habitantes/ano. Contudo, o número médio de ossadas encaminhadas ao LAF/CEMEL se manteve em um mesmo padrão no decorrer desses doze anos, evidenciando que não há relação entre o número de homicídios ocorridos em Ribeirão Preto e região com o número de ossadas encaminhadas ao LAF/CEMEL com diagnóstico de morte por causa externa. Estima-se que os casos de ossadas encaminhadas ao LAF/CEMEL estejam ligados com maior probabilidade aos crimes de execução e ocultação de cadáver nos canaviais de Ribeirão Preto e região.Forensic Anthropology is an area of knowledge that applies the methods of physical anthropology and archeology for the collection and analysis of legal evidences, to establish the identity of a human being. The Legal Medicine Center (CEMEL), of the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (FMRP/USP) has a Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology (LAF), created in 2005 as a partnership project with the University of Sheffield (UK) and funded by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office Global Opportunities Fund. During this project, a protocol for the analysis of bones with an updated scientific framework applicable to the Brazilian social context was designed. During these twelve years there was an apparent change in the characteristics of the cases referred to the LAF/CEMEL, which led to the need of a detailed analysis and comparative of the cases. The purpose of this study was to show the historical evolution of the forensic anthropological cases analysis in LAF/CEMEL. In a first step, we analyzed the cases accumulated from 1999 to 2004. In a second step, we analyzed cases from 2005 to 2010. Finally, the study was conducted in accordance to the legal cause of death comparing the cases referred to LAF/CEMEL with the total cases of death from external causes in Ribeirão Preto and surrounding region. Based on the reports of Forensic Anthropology (REAFs), the predominant characteristic of bones analyzed anthropologically in LAF/CEMEL were: males, Caucasians, with an average age of 37 years (1999-2004) and 35 years (2005 to 2010 ), an average height of 1.68 meters (1999 to 2004) and 1.70 meters (2005 to 2010), handedness is non-specific (1999-2004), right-handed (2005-2010), with elements of dental information, with pathological findings (1999-2004) and no pathological findings (2005-2010), with clothing and/or belongings (1999-2004) and clothing and/or belongings (2005-2010). It was found that the parameters (eigth) analysed to identifying an individual only through the anthropological examination increased from 65% (1999 to 2004) to 93% (2005 to 2010). We conclude that the constant action in the anthropological analysis of bones has improved the quality of data and increased the likelihood of identifying, fulfilling its scientific and social role. A study was conducted to investigate the relationship between deaths from external causes (homicides) in recent decades occurred in Ribeirão Preto and surrounding region and the bones referred to LAF/CEMEL. Homicides decreased from 34 to 7 cases per 100 000 inhabitants/year. However, the average number of skeletons sent to LAF/CEMEL remained in the same pattern during these twelve years,, showing that there is no relationship between the number of homicides occurred in Ribeirão Preto and surrounding region with the number of bones sent to LAF/CEMEL diagnosed with death from external causes. It is estimated that the cases referred to the LAF/CEMEL bones are most likely linked to the crimes of running and hiding a corpse in the sugar cane fields of Ribeirão Preto and surrounding region

Approaching utility in forensic anthropology

Efficacy and cost-effectiveness have emerged as important topics in forensic science. So far, however, social research has tended to neglect infrequently used and highly specialized sub-disciplines of forensic science. This paper begins to address this deficiency with regard to one such sub-discipline, namely forensic anthropology, the analysis of skeletal remains in the interests of criminal justice. A simple attrition model is derived from the quantitative analysis of caseloads encountered at two contrasting regional medico-legal institutes: Sheffield Medico-Legal Center (SMLC) in the United Kingdom and the Centro de Medicina Legal (CEMEL) in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. The pattern of cases encountered in these samples (n = 105) is assessed against 36 measures of case provenance and type, methods employed in casework, case demography, and contribution to the investigation recorded in a matrix of 3,780 data items. Representativeness in relation to forensic anthropology casework in general is established via comparison with four published surveys—Smithsonian (n = 474), Tennessee (n = 513), Montevideo (n = 344), and Porto Alegre (n = 276). The model may be improved via systematic case recording, including courtroom finalizations and verdicts. It suggests case conversions would be increased via scene attendance, improved communication and integration, end-to-end performance management, feedback on evidential reliability, and tailoring of research and education to reflect caseload. Following contemporary expectations in social research, the model is used to identify policy changes that would contribute to crime reduction and prevention. The value of forensic anthropology to public health and safety and its significance to human rights is discussed. Males predominated all of the studies considered in this analysis, whether victims of homicide, suicide, accident, or natural causes. These findings appear to offer compelling evidence to support human rights policies that recognize the right to life and health for males as well as females in countries at all stages of socioeconomic development. The right to life is the most fundamental human right to which one is entitled without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion. Despite its longevity, forensic anthropology has many attributes of a nascent discipline. Its definition and its disciplinary boundaries are uncertain, and—outside of the United States, at least—standards and regulation are inconsistent. The paper represents an attempt to offer a comprehensive, if preliminary, approach to utility in forensic anthropology in anticipation that it will provoke debate and further researc

The impact of burial period on compact bone microstructure: histological analysis of matrix loss and cell integrity in human bones exhumed from tropical soil

Human bone histological analysis is a useful tool to assess post mortem diagenesis and to predict successful nuclear DNA typing of forensic material. This study is part of a series of studies developed by the authors intended to improve the understanding of post mortem diagenesis and to develop applications for DNA analysis of skeletal species from tropical soils, in order to optimize genetic and anthropological protocols. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of burial period on the integrity of exhumed compact bone microstructure from tropical climate. In fragments of exhumed human femora from 39 individuals from the same cemetery (exhumed group) and 5 fresh femora from routine autopsies (control group), sections stained by hematoxylin-eosin were analyzed in order to measure bone microstructural integrity. We found that bone integrity index in exhumed group was negatively influenced by the period of burial (r=-0.37, p<0.05) and highly significantly decreased (p<0.0001) in comparison to control group. The period of burial and nitric acid decalcification time was positively correlated (r=0.51; p<0.01), leading to imply a bone petrification process during inhumation. Exhumed group showed higher level of matrix bone loss (p<0.001), as expected, and 87% of cases analyzed were “tunneled” as described by Hackett. Bone integrity index and bone matrix tend to decrease in bones buried in tropical soil between 8-14 years of inhumation. This period is short if we consider cases in which there are preserved bones interred for longer periods in other environments. These data must be considered in cases where genetic identification of exhumed skeletons from tropical environment is required. The diagenesis in these bones and the variations of results found are discussed, clarifying some challenges for forensic laboratories, especially in DNA analysis

Validation of a standard forensic anthropology examination protocol by measurement of applicability and reliability on exhumed and archive samples of known biological attribution

Forensic anthropology makes an important contribution to human identification and assessment of the causes and mechanisms of death and body disposal in criminal and civil investigations, including those related to atrocity, disaster and trafficking victim identification. The methods used are comparative, relying on assignment of questioned material to categories observed in standard reference material of known attribution. Reference collections typically originate in Europe and North America, and are not necessarily representative of contemporary global populations. Methods based on them must be validated when applied to novel populations. This study describes the validation of a standardized forensic anthropology examination protocol by application to two contemporary Brazilian skeletal samples of known attribution. One sample (n=90) was collected from exhumations following 7-35 years of burial and the second (n=30) was collected following successful investigations following routine case work. The study presents measurement of 1) the applicability of each of the methods used and 2) the reliability with which the biographic parameters were assigned in each case. The results are discussed with reference to published assessments of methodological reliability regarding sex, age and—in particular—ancestry estimation