Forensic Anthropology

Se presenta un nuevo método para la identificación humana por medio de análisis de imágenes y superposición fotográfica. Se discuten las ventajas que aporta la incorporación de imágenes tridimensionales del cráneo, ya que, por un lado, facilitan la superposición y por otro, eliminan errores de escalado al estar el modelo 3D a tamaño real. Este trabajo se ha desarrollado por un equipo interdisciplinar y su objetivo fundamental es proporcionar una herramienta semiautomática de identificación humana, basada en el reconocimiento craneofacial. Palabras clave: Identificación humana, Superposición de imágenes, Análisis tridimensional.

There are several methods used in the identification process of human remains. The most of them are based on comparing of antemortem and postmortem data available. Although the technique of fingerprinting is considered more accurate in many cases, it cannot be used when the bodies are mutilated, decomposed, burned, or fragmented. This article aims to compare the metric values obtained by Galvão (1994) and Saliba (2001) to differentiate male and female through dry skulls, using the measurement of the Radiocef Studio 2 Program. It was used 16 teleradiographs (11 females and 5 males). The linear measurements used in this article were: 1. The bodies stature of the mandible; and 2. Distance Nasium-Front Nasal Spine. Several radiological techniques are used to aid the human identification process for determining sex, ethnic group, and age. The analyses of X-rays and Computer Tomography (CT) scans, antemortem and postmortem, have been an important tool for human identification in forensic ...

H. Meller/R. Schwarz, Die steinerne Axt als Waffe und Symbol. Streitaxt der Schnurkeramikkultur. In: H. Meller/K. Gärtner (Hrsg.), Schönheit, Macht und Tod II. 275 Funde aus dem Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte Halle (Halle [Saale] 2023) 194–195.

Esta investigación se centra en las unidades fraseológicas de los idiomas español y alemán que podemos encontrar en los titulares de prensa de periódicos de tirada nacional tanto en España como en Alemania. Preten-demos estudiarlas en el marco de la metáfora cognitiva, uno de los recur-sos más frecuentes de los que se sirven los fraseologismos. Desde un pun-to de vista semasiológico hemos realizado un estudio sobre el uso de los términos puerta en español y Tür en alemán, cuya frecuencia en las uni-dades fraseológicas resulta notable en ambas lenguas. Después de un análisis semántico de los titulares correspondientes trataremos su posible traducción.

Forensic odontology plays a vital role in the identification and age estimation of unknown deceased individuals. The purpose of this study is to estimate the chronological age from Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) images by measuring the buccal alveolar bone level (ABL) to the cemento-enamel junction and to investigate the possibility of employing the age-related structural changes of teeth as studied by Gustafson. In addition, this study will determine the forensic reliability of employing CBCT images as a technique for dental age estimation. A total of 284 CBCT images of Malays and Chinese patients (150 females and 134 males), aged from 20 years and above were selected, measured and stages of age-related changes were recorded using the i-CAT Vision software. Lower first premolars of both left and right side of the jaw were chosen and the characteristics described by Gustafson, namely attrition, secondary dentine formation and periodontal recession were evaluated. Linear regression analysis was performed for the buccal bone level and the R values obtained were 0.85 and 0.82 for left and right side respectively. Gustafson's characteristics were analysed using multiple regression analysis with chronological age as the dependent variable. The results of the analysis showed R values ranged from 0.44 to 0.62. Therefore it can be safely concluded that the buccal bone level highly correlated with the chronological age and is consequently the most suitable age-related characteristic for forensic age estimation.

This study aims at a high-resolution analysis of Y-chromosome J and E haplogroups among Andalusians to reconstruct Neolithic, protohistorical and historical migrations in the Mediterranean region. Genotyping of two samples from Granada (n=250 males) and Huelva (n=167 males) (Spain) with Y-chromosome binary and microsatellite markers was performed, and the results compared with other Mediterranean populations. The two samples showed genetic differences that can be associated with different evolutionary processes. Migrations toward Andalusia probably originated in the Arabian Peninsula, Fertile Crescent, Balkan region and North Africa, and they would have predominantly occurred in protohistoric and historic times. Maritime travel would have notably contributed to recent gene flow into Iberia. This survey highlight the complexity of the Mediterranean migration processes and demonstrate the impact of the different population sources on the genetic composition of the Spanish population. ...

The identification of a reliable and accurate post-mortem interval (PMI) is a major challenge in the field of forensic sciences and criminal investigation. Several laboratory techniques have recently been developed that offer a better contribution to the estimation of PMI, in addition to the traditional physical or physico-chemical (body cooling, lividity, radiocarbon dating, rigor mortis), chemical (autolysis), microbiological (putrefaction), entomological, as well as botanical parameters. Molecular biology (degradation pattern of macromolecules such as proteins, DNA, RNA), biochemical analysis of biological fluids (such as blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and vitreous humor), and immunohistochemistry are some of the most recent technological innovations. A systematic review of the literature was performed with the aim of presenting an up-to-date overview on the correlation between the immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of specific antigenic markers at different PMIs. The systematic review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. Scopus and PubMed were used as search engines from January 1, 1998 to March 1, 2022 to evaluate the effectiveness of immunohistochemistry in estimating PMI. The following keywords were used: (immunohistochemical) OR (immunohistochemistry) AND (time since death) OR (post-mortem interval) OR (PMI). A total of 6571 articles were collected. Ultimately, 16 studies were included in this review. The results of this systematic review highlighted that IHC techniques, in association with traditional methods, add, in Bayesian terms, additional information to define a more accurate time of death and PMI. However, current IHC results are numerically limited and more data and studies are desirable in the near future.

The identification of a reliable and accurate post-mortem interval (PMI) is a major challenge in the field of forensic sciences and criminal investigation. Several laboratory techniques have recently been developed that offer a better contribution to the estimation of PMI, in addition to the traditional physical or physico-chemical (body cooling, lividity, radiocarbon dating, rigor mortis), chemical (autolysis), microbiological (putrefaction), entomological, as well as botanical parameters. Molecular biology (degradation pattern of macromolecules such as proteins, DNA, RNA), biochemical analysis of biological fluids (such as blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and vitreous humor), and immunohistochemistry are some of the most recent technological innovations. A systematic review of the literature was performed with the aim of presenting an up-to-date overview on the correlation between the immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of specific antigenic markers at different PMIs. The systematic r...

After attending this presentation, attendees will have a better understanding of the significance and utility of fingerprinting techniques following various postmortem changes in the positive identifications of unidentified migrants. This study was made by a collaboration with Operation Identification (OpID) and the Disaster Victim Identification Unit with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Impact on the Forensic Science Community: 

This presentation will impact the forensic science community by increasing the awareness of fingerprinting techniques following various postmortem changes for improving identification outcomes of unidentified remains from Maverick County, Texas.

Key words: postmortem fingerprints; human rights; DVI; 

In 2012, Texas surpassed Arizona as having the highest number of migrant deaths. According to the United States Customs and Border Protection statistics, a total of 1,976 migrant deaths occurred in Texas from 2012 to 2020, though more than 4,400 migrant individuals have died in the state since 19981. Arizona has centralized medical examiner’s offices like Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner (MCOME) and the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner (PCOME) to investigate unidentified migrant deaths; whereas investigations in Texas are county dependent and rely heavily on elected justices of the peace. Of the 254 counties in Texas, only 14 have medical examiner’s offices. Forensic experts are often not involved in the investigation of unidentified migrant deaths, despite the Texas Criminal Code of Procedure (TCCP) mandating that all unidentified remains be investigated, fingerprinted (if applicable), sampled for DNA, and tracked for a minimum of ten years. The degree to which South Texas counties are compliant is inconsistent, resulting in the burial of hundreds of unidentified persons without identification efforts. Shifts in migration routes have resulted in record-breaking deaths in Maverick County, making the county the new epicenter of migrant deaths. Medico-legal authorities and law enforcement there typically do not take fingerprints or DNA prior to burial due to the overwhelming number of deaths and exceed local capacity, creating a mass disaster.

Decedent fingerprints are typically taken with ink and paper or powder and an adhesive for identification purposes. However, unidentified migrants recovered in advanced stages of decomposition make it challenging to process postmortem prints, and alternative methods must be employed. OpID therefore sought to investigate the question: can fingerprints help facilitate identifications of decedents recovered in Texas border counties, especially for decomposed individuals? 

To address this question, in March 2024, OpID personnel participated in a fingerprint training workshop taught by the FBI’s Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) Unit. The OpID team learned about the different methods of which to obtain fingerprints of decedents in various stages of advanced decomposition.  Following the fingerprint training, the OpID team traveled to Maverick County to help collect and process fingerprints with the head of the FBI DVI Unit. The fingerprints of 26 deceased migrants were collected using various methods, such as an automated fingerprint identification system, wearing the degloved epidermis, injecting liquids beneath the dermal tissue, or submerging the hand into near-boiling water and printing the dermal ridges using fingerprint powder and adhesive lifters2,3. Fingerprints were searched in various databases by the FBI DVI Unit, leading to the identification of 14 individuals. 

A few months later, an additional 25 cases from Maverick County were transferred from the Webb County Medical Examiner’s Office to OpID. Of the 25 individuals 7 were identified prior to the transfer through fingerprint comparison, fingerprint database, or a DNA cold hit. OpID was able to use the boiling method to collect fingerprints from 14 of the 18 unidentified individuals, of which 2 were identified.

The objective of this presentation is to demonstrate that these methods should become standard practice for unidentified deceased persons in Texas and for any decomposed remains found in any jurisdiction. Further, the importance of international collaborations during the identification process will be discussed.

On November 12 and 13th, OpID and collaborators held a Mass Fatality Preparedness and Community Building workshop in Eagle Pass, Texas. This presentation will introduce the importance of local, federal, state, and international collaborations to collect postmortem data from unidentified human remains along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Age at death is one of the key elements of the "biological profile" prepared when analysing unidentified human remains. Biological age is determined according to physiological indicators and developmental stage, which can be determined by bone assessment. It is worth remembering that the researcher must interpret each case individually and in accordance with the current state of knowledge. One of the most developed tools for analysing human remains is postmortem computed tomography. This allows for the visualization not only of bones without maceration but also of the entire body under various altered states, including corpses in advanced stages of decomposition and burnt bodies. The aim of this review is to present the current methods for age estimation based on postmortem computed tomography evaluation, comparing the results presented in 18 research projects published between 2013 and 2023 on foetuses, children, and adults from contemporary populations. Recent literature includes assessment of bones and characteristics such as skulls, teeth, vertebrae, pelvises, and long bones to estimate age at death. We cover the methods used in this recent literature, including machine learning, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of them. Key points • Postmortem computed tomography allows the analysis of several areas of the body at the same time, which may not be possible in the case of clinical trials (where the examination area should be limited). • Postmortem computed tomography may enable the collection of data from people whose clinical examinations are relatively rare (e.g., pregnant women, children). • Artificial intelligence should increasingly be used in studies on age estimation. • Further research on modern populations is necessary to verify and refine the methods used to estimate age at death.

The examination of skull sexual dimorphism has been the subject of numerous morphologic and craniometric studies, but the disadvantage of these studies is that they are dependent on the experience of the operator and involve subjectivity. In 1996, a team from Taiwan refined the methods enabling the sex of an individual to be determined using cephalometric plots made from lateral teleradiography. To validate their work using a European population, 114 dry skulls (59 men and 55 women) were examined. Cephalometric plots were made on lateral teleradiography with an orthodontic software and 18 cephalometric variables were analyzed. Sex was determined with 95.6% accuracy using the 18 variables discriminant function. A subset of eight variables was selected and could predict sex with the same accuracy. In conclusion, it can be said that skull-sexing methods using lateral teleradiography seem always suitable but the most indicative variables could differ relative to the ethnic population concerned.

Introduction: Forensic anthropology deals with crime investigation, as such; detection and gender determination are key aspects in the medico-legal field. Gender is vital in personal identification; however this is difficult in cases of mass disasters, explosions, and assaults where the body is dismembered or mutilated. The study aims to seek a reliable, quick and easy anthropometric method to confirm the identity of victims using only the hand. Material and Methods: This cross sectional descriptive study was carried out on 384 student volunteers of Delta State University, Abraka. The sample consisted of 192 males and  females of Nigerian decent to the second generation, aged between 18-30 years. The hand lengths, breadths and indices as well as the index finger lengths (IFL), ring finger lengths (RFL) and ratios were estimated only on right handed subjects using standard techniques. Results: The mean hand dimensions and indices were statistically longer in males than females (p 0.0...

Human identification from a skull is a critical process in legal and forensic medicine, especially when no other means are available. Traditional clay-based methods attempt to generate the human face, in order to identify the corresponding person. However, these reconstructions lack of objectivity and consistence, since they depend on the practitioner. Moreover, the results of the reconstruction cannot be easily distributed and consulted from everywhere. This paper presents a completely objective 3D craniofacial reconstruction automatic system that provides access to the reconstructions through the Web. The software tool is able to generate an individual facial reconstruction from the 3D image of the skull and three parameters: age, gender and Body Mass Index (BMI) of the individual. Afterwards, the reconstruction can be manually modified by changing any tissue depth value. Both entry data and the reconstructions generated by the tool will be stored in a database, so they are accessible from the Internet. Conclusions of this paper yield promising results: on the one hand, the scientific and technical feasibility of the presented craniofacial reconstruction technique is proved, and also its preference against traditional craniofacial reconstruction methods. On the other hand, this procedure means a remarkable advantage from the point of view of access, visualization and sharing of information, and also in terms of security, since it includes an authentication protocol.

Los avances investigativos desarrollados durante los últimos años en el Río La Miel (Departamento de Caldas, Colombia) por un grupo interdisciplinario liderado por el Equipo Colombiano Interdisciplinario de Trabajo Forense y Asistencia Psicosocial (EQUITAS), ha conllevado a la generación de distintos avances científicos para la comprensión de los escenarios complejos vinculados a prácticas de desaparición forzada derivadas del conflicto armado interno en Colombia. A pesar de la magnitud y escala, así como los retos técnicos que presentan estos escenarios complejos, buena parte de las informaciones aportadas sobre el ocultamiento de cadáveres en cuerpos de agua continúan fundamentándose en versiones testimoniales que deben ser verificadas por medios científicos para determinar las posibilidades de corroboración y hallazgo. En este sentido, se han formulado aproximaciones que vinculan perspectivas disciplinarias de la antropología forense, la arqueología subacuática, la geografía, la hidráulica, entre otras, que en conjunto han generado avances sobre la búsqueda de evidencias asociadas a desaparición en los cuerpos de agua en medios ribereños colombianos. En este caso, según los resultados analíticos de una fase experimental previa, se mantuvieron como unidad de interés forense las áreas asociadas a barras de sedimentos (formación de playas) dadas las altas acumulaciones sedimentarias que configuran áreas de depositación o empalizadas. Bajo este enfoque, se buscó entender qué es lo que sucede con los restos óseos no humanos, bajo el agua, una vez se depositan en el lecho acuático y son transportados o no a determinadas áreas del Río La Miel.

This paper is an introduction and review for the special issue of AJBA on the Curation and Use of Human Skeletal Remains for Teaching and Research, which emerged from an organized session at the American Association of Biological Anthropologists in 2022. The authors of this special issue describe the ethical challenges surrounding the collection, curation, and use of human skeletal remains in biological anthropology, focusing particularly on the historical exploitation of marginalized communities, such as Indigenous and African American populations. These remains were often acquired without consent through colonial exploitation and unethical practices like grave robbing. This introduction presents a historical review of the dehumanization of these remains, which have been treated as scientific specimens rather than as individuals with complex histories. We highlight the ongoing misuse of human remains in academic settings and the perpetuation of structural violence. The papers in this special issue call for the development of ethical guidelines that emphasize transparency, respect for descendant communities, and the consideration of non-destructive research methods. The authors advocate for rehumanizing these remains, fostering collaboration with descendant communities, and supporting efforts for repatriation. This special issue aims to encourage biological anthropologists to pause and critically reflect on the discipline's colonial and racist foundations, taking meaningful steps toward a more ethical and just treatment of human remains in teaching and research.

Three-dimensional (3D) coordinates of intra-skeletal human elements are among the most important data that anthropologists have to record in the field . These coordinates preserve information about spatial context destroyed by recovery but important for reconstructing funeral behavior and crime scenes. The 3D coordinates allow us to identify pattern of bone displacement due to differences in body decomposition in relation to funeral context and to reassociate disarticulated and commingled human remains in such complex deposits as mass graves . Despite the importance of 3D data, measuring intraskeletal elements of human remains in the field has not been thoroughly evaluated: there is no agreement as to which set of osteometric landmarks best represent a skeleton for spatial analysis; little is known about the appropriate anatomical location of measured points; there are virtually no studies in respect to the reliability of different measuring techniques in field applications. Our present study addresses the last point, i.e. which measurement technique is the most useful for recording of intra-skeletal features on the individual skeleton in the field? At least three techniques may be employed for 3D measuring of intra-skeletal relations on human remains in the field: grid technique (GT), total station (TS) and MicroScribe (MS). The first technique, GT, has been used frequently in forensic and anthropological research . GT uses a rectangular grid oriented according to N and E that represent respective Y and X axes. Vertical coordinates on a Z axis are measured with a leveling rod. The second technique, TS, has become a common tool for field research . TS records N, E, and Z coordinates by a single infrared laser operation whereby the prism is placed on an osteometric landmark and coordinates are automatically recalculated from vertical and horizontal angles and the distance from the prism to the TS. Finally, MS represents a relatively new tool with little Forensic Science International 221 (2012) 16-22

ObjectivesThe aim of this work is to study age, sex, and population variations in epiphyseal fusion and persistence of the epiphyseal line in the appendicular skeleton of two identified modern (19th–20th c.) adult skeletal samples, using a specifically designed macroscopic scoring method. The use of epiphyseal closure and persistence of the epiphyseal line as an adult‐age marker is also discussed.Materials and methodsThis study examined 981 adult skeletons of both sexes from two identified modern (20th c.) skeletal samples from the Sassari Collection (Museum of Anthropology, University of Bologna, Italy) and the Colecção de Esqueletos Identificados (Museum of Anthropology, University of Coimbra, Portugal). Our scoring method considers a five‐degree scale, from nonfusion (Degree 0) to complete fusion (Degree 4). In addition, the persistence of the epiphyseal line, a feature that is not commonly collected during routine anthropological analyses, is taken into account here as Degree 3....

Craniofacial anthropometry is critical in making a precise and organized measurement of human skull. The aim of this study is to document the mean cephalic width and length, nasal height, width and index of adult Sudanese from Khartoum State and to provide comprehensive data to be used by anthropologists and medical practitioners. A total of one hundred and ten (110) adults comprising 34 males and 76 females with mean age 40.88±16.39 and 38.89±12.36 years respectively were used for this study. All the subjects were drawn from Sudanese ethnic group in Khartoum State. The results showed that the Sudanese males and females had mean skull width of 126.38±7.99mm and 123.22±8.58 mm, mean nasal height of 43.29±3.4 mm and 40.75±3.68 mm, mean nasal width of 42.83±4.17 mm and 39.34±3.62 mm and mean nasal indices of 99.12±0.1 and 97.65±0.1 respectively. The t-test analysis indicates a sexual dimorphism, with significantly higher values of all the parameters in males compared to the females (p&...

Abstract:
This research explores sex estimation standards used in forensic anthropology in an effort to further the conversation about forensic anthropology's binary-focused language and methods. Discussions regarding sex estimation methodology are important in light of gender variance in the general population. Presently, there is minimal published research on the identification of gender non-conforming individuals in forensic anthropology.
Two researchers individually assigned scores to features associated with sexual dimorphism in the os coxae according to existing methods for 253 individuals, equally represented by self- reported males and females. These data were statistically analyzed for correlation and overlap between features.
Results mainly point to a high degree of variation among individuals, especially biological males who tended to be represented across most of the possible score values for a given feature.
Females showed markedly less variation, likely due to evolutionary constraints on os coxa morphology associated with the ability to give birth.
This variation establishes a need for revised methods for sex estimation, to account for a spectrum of gender variance, especially as it may relate to marginalized non-binary, transgender, and intersex individuals.

Lay Summary:
Forensic anthropology aims to positively identify an individual from their skeletal remains. Forensic anthropologists can accomplish this by identifying various characteristics such as sex, ancestry, age, etc. The estimation of sex, in particular, is predicated on the basis of a sex binary which becomes less descriptive and useful overtime as our societal understandings of sex and gender progress. This research examines sex estimation practices with acknowledgement to the prevalence of gender variance (i.e. any gender expression that falls outside of cultural gender norms). This research explores sex estimation in a broad sense, emphasizing human variability and overlap between self-ascribed male and female categories with discussion of possible confounding variables to sex estimation (e.g. body size and age). This variability-- which is especially pronounced in biological males-- introduces some questionability to the binary focus of current sex estimation standards' and encourages the development of more inclusive methods.

‹çeceklerle al›nan kafein miktar› ve kemik mineral yo¤un-lu¤u (KMY) aras›ndaki iliflkiyi ayr›nt›lar›yla inceleyen kapsam-l› çal›flmalar s›n›rl›d›r. Ayr›ca kafein ve KMY aras›ndaki iliflkiyi inceleyen çal›flmalar›n sonuçlar› kafein miktar› ve kayna¤›na göre farkl›l›k göstermektedir. Bu çal›flmada içeceklerle al›nan kafein miktar› ve KMY aras›ndaki iliflkinin incelenmesi amaç-lanm›flt›r. Çayla al›nan kafein ve KMY aras›ndaki iliflki ayr›ca incelenmifltir. Çal›flma kapsam›nda KMY lomber omurga L2-L4 ve femur üst uç toplam›nda çift enerjili X-›fl›n› absorbsiyometresiyle (DEXA) ölçülen ve efl zamanl› olarak Dünya Sa¤l›k Örgütünün (WHO) "Farkl› ülkelerdeki olgular ve toplumlar ara-s›nda kalça k›r›¤› risk faktörlerini örne¤in diyet ve fiziksel etkinlik ba¤lam›nda inceleme formunu" dolduran 708 kad›n, 307 erkek, toplam 1015 bireyin içeceklerle ald›¤› kafein mik-tar› verileri aras›ndaki iliflki, ayr›ca, 551 kad›n, 260 erkek, toplam 811 bireyin çayla ald›¤› kafein miktar› verileri aras›ndaki iliflkiler incelenmifltir. Tüketilen kafein miktrar›n›n L2-L4 KMY'nu bayanlar için istatistiksel olarak etkilemedi¤i ancak erkeklerde etkiledi¤i belirlenmifltir. Ayn› zamanda her iki cins için de femur üst uç bölgesinde KMY'nu kafeinden etkilemedi¤i sonucuna var›l-m›flt›r. Çayla al›nan kafein miktar›n›n her iki cins için de L2-L4 ve femur üst uç bölgelerinde KMY'nu etkilemedi¤i belirlenmifltir. Sonuç olarak osteoporozun de¤ifltirilebilir belirleyicilerinden birisi olan içeceklerle al›nan kafein miktar› ile KMY ara-s›ndaki iliflki incelendi¤inde cinse ve ölçümün yap›ld›¤› bölgeye ba¤l› farkl›l›klar›n oldu¤u saptanm›flt›r. Özellikle erkeklerin L2-L4 omurgalar›nda KMY'nu korumak ba¤lam›nda kafein tüketimini s›n›rlamalar›n›n do¤ru olaca¤› görüflüne var›lm›flt›r.

Özet: Resmi suç istatistiklerine göre ülkemizde son yıllarda çocuk suçluluğunda büyük bir artış gözlenmektedir. Özellikle sokakta yaşayan/çalışan çocukların yol açtığı şiddet, kamuoyunu sürekli meşgul etmektedir. Bu nedenle bu tür suçları tespit edip önlemek –veya en azından azaltmak- suç önleme stratejilerinde büyük bir önem arz etmeye başlamıştır. Suçluluğu önleme stratejileri bu konuda diğer birçok kuruluşa önemli sorumluluklar öngörse de sorumluluğun büyük çoğunluğunu polisin omuzlarına yüklemektedir.
Bu makalede Şanlıurfa’da toplum destekli polislik (TDP) çerçevesinde çocuk suçluluğunun önlenmesine yönelik yürütülen faaliyetlerden bir tanesi problem çözme teknikleri kullanılarak irdelenmektedir. Problem çözme esas olarak; bir bölgede mevcut problemlerin çok iyi tahlil edilip uygun yöntemlerin uygulamaya geçirilmesiyle, suçun ve asayiş bozukluğunun çok küçük bir alana hapsedilebileceği varsayımına dayanmaktadır. Şanlıurfa Emniyet Müdürlüğü, mevcut toplum kaynaklarını kullanarak belli bir bölgedeki çocuk suçluluğunu önlemek için Genç Turizm Gönüllüleri adlı bir projeyi uygulamaya koymuştur. Güvenlik güçleri ile toplumun; çocuk suçluluğu ve mağduriyetiyle baş edebilmek için ortak yürüttükleri bu proje, beş basamaklı problem çözme tekniği kullanılarak irdelenmiştir.
Anahtar Sözcükler: Çocuk Suçluluğu, Sokak Çocukları, Sokakta Çalışan Çocuklar, Polis, Toplum Destekli Polislik (TDP), Problem Çözme Teknikleri.

A Review of Şanlıurfa Juvenile Tourism Volunteers Project Through Problem Solving Strategy
Abstract: According to official records juvenile delinquency has increased sharply in Turkey in recent years. Especially violence and offence by street children have disturbed the community and been in the spotlight. Therefore, determining and stopping -or at least to reduce- these type of crimes is very important for crime prevention strategies. Although crime prevention strategies offer great responsibilities to many other institutions for preventing delinquency, a majority of the burden lies on police’s shoulders.
In this paper, a model project to prevent juvenile delinquency in Şanlıurfa is examined as a case study by use of problem solving approach to community policing. Problem solving is based on the assumption that crime and disorder can be reduced in small geographic areas by carefully studying the characteristics of problems in the area, and then applying the appropriate resources. Şanlıurfa Police Department has introduced a Juvenile Tourism Volunteers project for enhancing the prevention of delinquency in a certain area by improving the use of existing community resources. This project that law enforcement agencies implemented by the support of community organizations is examined through five-step problem solving strategy.
Keywords: Juvenile delinquency, Street Children (Children of the Street, Children on the Street), Police, Community Policing (CP), Problem Solving Techniques.

Age-related patterns in cranial suture and synchondrosis obliteration in 371 known-age North American grey wolves (Canis lupus) are examined to assess their utility in estimating the age of archaeological and paleontological wolf crania. Differences in age-related obliteration patterns between these wolves and 576 known-age domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) also are explored. Domestication has likely altered the growth and development of dog crania in relation to that of wolves, but these processes remain poorly understood. Wolf total suture obliteration score and age were positively correlated, indicating that the level of suture obliteration can be used to track age to some extent. Wolf sex and dietary patterns had no meaningful effects on this correlation. Mesocephalic or dolichocephalic dogs generally begin exhibiting more extensive suture obliteration than wolves during early adulthood, at about 2-4 years of age. This pattern of more extensive obliteration persists throughout the lifespan, with dogs tending to experience more obliteration in the observed sutures and synchondroses. Several interrelated factors may contribute to this pattern, all outcomes of domestication, including differences in physical strains in the cranium, alteration of development and ageing, and the emergence of diverse head shapes that relate in part to suture closure timing.

Introduction: The femur forms the skeleton of the thigh and its proximal segment is a component of the hip joint which is the largest mobile synovial joint of the human body. Although, the hip joint has a very remarkable stability, it may become dislocated with accompanying fracture of the femoral head and neck sequel to considerable trauma. Definitive management of intracapsular fracture neck of the femur in the elderly is surgical operation at which the fractured proximal end of the femur is replaced with an inert metallic implant. Methodology: This study set to establish the length of the femur, diameter of the femur head and the relationship between these two parameters in Nigerians (Black Africans) using direct bone measurement technique. Original Research Article side of the femur (0.1±0.01) also the median value was 0.1 cm. The correlation coefficient (r), of the ratio of the head diameter to bone length was positive for both the right and left side. Conclusion: A linear relationship exists between the head diameter and the length of the femur. In essence the wider the diameter of the head, the longer the length of the femur.

Background Forensic anthropology has evolved significantly, from its foundations in the nineteenth century to its formal establishment in the twentieth century and in particular with modern advancements from the 1970s onward. Its role in human rights investigations during the 1980s in Latin America and the 1990s in the Balkans, exemplifies its global impact. However, the practice and application of forensic anthropology in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region remain underexplored. This study assesses the current status of forensic anthropology in this region through a brief literature review and online interviews with academics and practitioners in forensic anthropology or closely related disciplines. The interviews addressed the medico-legal system structure, forensic science capabilities, training efforts, practitioner availability, case types (medico-legal and humanitarian), and resources like radiological imaging. Results The study revealed that forensic anthropology is largely underutilized in the MENA region's medico-legal death investigation systems. Factors such as limited human capital, lack of discipline awareness, varying legal and procedural systems, and insufficient academic infrastructure hinder its integration. Challenges include political instability, safety concerns for practitioners, and inadequate resources. The study highlights ongoing efforts by practitioners to improve the field through theoretical and practical training, capacity building, and resource development. Conclusion The findings underscore the need for strategic investments to strengthen forensic anthropology in the MENA region. Recommendations include enhancing education and training, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, disseminating scientific knowledge, increasing access to resources, and revising medico-legal frameworks. These measures can bridge existing gaps and advance forensic anthropology's role in medico-legal and humanitarian contexts.

A number of genetic systems for human genetic identification based on short tandem repeats or single nucleotide polymorphisms are widely used for crime detection, kinship studies and in analysis of victims of mass disasters. Here, we have developed a new set of 32 molecular genetic markers for human genetic identification based on polymorphic retroelement insertions. Allele frequencies were determined in a group of 90 unrelated individuals from four genetically distant populations of the Russian Federation. The mean match probability and probability of paternal exclusion, calculated based on population data, were 5.53Â10 À14 and 99.784%, respectively. The developed system is cheap and easy to use as compared to all previously published methods. The application of fluorescence-based methods for allele discrimination allows to use the human genetic identification set in automatic and high-throughput formats.

The 15th century Inuit mummies excavated at Qilakitsoq in Greenland in 1978 were exceptionally well preserved and represent the largest find of naturally mummified specimens from the Arctic. The estimated ages of the individuals, their distribution between two adjacent graves, the results of tissue typing, and incomplete STR results led researchers to conclude that the eight mummies formed two distinct family groups: A grandmother (I/5), two daughters (I/3, I/4), and their two children (I/1, I/2) in one grave, and two sisters (II/6, II/8) and a daughter (II/7) of one of them in the other. Using mtDNA from hair and nail, we have reanalyzed the mummies. The results allowed the unambiguous assignment of each of the mummies to one of three mtDNA haplogroups: A2b (I/5); A2a (I/2, I/3, II/6, II/8); A2a‐311 (I/1, I/4, II/7), excluded some of the previous relations, and pointed to new ones. I/5 is not the grandmother/mother of the individuals in Grave I, and she is not maternally related to...

Mass migration and migrant death at the U.S. southern border highlight the disconnectedness of the systems for transnational decedent identifications. Death investigation cases in Texas face delays and barriers at all stages of an investigation. Additionally, fragmentation of DNA databases exacerbate challenges in comparing genetic samples from unidentified human remains (UHR) and families of the missing. We sought to pilot alternative workflows for processing UHR and family reference samples (FRS) for the identification of probable migrant decedents. Primarily using Rapid DNA, but also accredited non-CODIS DNA laboratories, the piloted approaches were conducted in parallel to existing medicolegal workflows under the relevant case jurisdictional guidance. Our data show that Rapid DNA is a valid path for anthropology laboratories to support identification hypotheses and that accredited non-CODIS forensic and genetic laboratories also can support families to identify remains, especially when families reside outside of the United States.

Craniofacial superimposition, although existing for one century, is still a controversial technique within the scientific community. Objective and unbiased validation studies over a significant number of cases are required to establish a more solid picture on the reliability. However, there is lack of protocols and standards in the application of the technique leading to contradictory information concerning reliability. Instead of following a uniform methodology, every expert tends to apply his own approach to the problem, based on the available technology and deep knowledge on human craniofacial anatomy, soft tissues, and their relationships. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability of different craniofacial superimposition methodologies and the corresponding technical approaches to this type of identification. With all the data generated, some of the most representative experts in craniofacial identification joined in a discussion intended to identify and agree on the most important issues that have to be considered to properly employ the craniofacial superimposition technique. As a consequence, the consortium has produced the current manuscript, which can be considered the first standard in the field; including good and bad practices, sources of error and uncertainties, technological requirements and desirable features, and finally a common scale for the craniofacial matching evaluation. Such a document is intended to be part of a more complete framework for craniofacial superimposition, to be developed during the FP7-founded project MEPROCS, which will favour and standardize its proper application.

Antecedentes: los nukaks makús son un grupo nómada que habita la zona del Guaviare (selva amazónica colombiana), cuya subsistencia se basa en la caza y la recolección, actividades que, como en otras tribus indígenas, pueden relacionarse con el desgaste dental. Hoy en día, esta población indígena está siendo afectada por enfermedades, violencia y el olvido de los gobiernos local y nacional. Objetivo: identificar la presencia de desgaste dental y determinar su localización y distribución de acuerdo con el sexo y la edad en la tribu. Métodos: la población blanco correspondió a 47 personas del asentamiento Barrancón en San José del Guaviare, 25 hombres y 22 mujeres, de los cuales 20 eran adultos y 27 niños. La muestra estuvo conformada por 17 sujetos. Por medio de exploración clínica y modelos de estudio, se clasificó el desgaste dental según la escala de Guerasimov-Zoubov. Resultados: se encontró desgaste dental generalizado, mayor en incisivos que en molares y en mayor grado de severidad en el grupo de edad más avanzada (35 a 45 años) y en la población femenina, donde predominó el desgaste grado 4. Conclusión: la muestra analizada mostró que todos los individuos presentaron desgaste dental probablemente asociado con sus costumbres y medios de subsistencia. Desgaste dental, dieta, nukak makú, patrones socioculturales, población indígena. Nukak Makú, aspectos socioculturales, desgaste de los dientes, antropología dental, atrición dental. Epidemiología oral, antropología dental.

Recreational drugs have a significant impact on the lives of drug users, their close families andfriends, as well as their society. Social, psychological, biological, and genetic factors could make a personmore prone to using recreational drugs. Finger and A-B ridges (dermatoglyphics) are formed during the firstand second trimesters of fetal development, under the influence of environmental and genetic factors. Theaim of our study was to investigate and evaluate a possible link between dermatoglyphics and opium usage. The pattern of dermatoglyphics - finger and A-B prints - obtained from a group of opium users(121 patients) was compared to those obtained from a group of opium non-users (121 patients) from Birjand,Iran. The results were analyzed using chi-square, t and Mann-Whitney tests. The results showed that although A-B ridges of palms and fingers in our study group were highercompared to the control group, there was no significant difference between these groups. The only signi...

This article contributes to the growing body of research on the increasing role of judicial systems in regulating politics and religion ('judicialization of politics and religion') across the globe. By examining how academic expertise is deployed in anti-extremist litigation involving Russia's minority religions, this article reveals important processes involved in this judicial regulation, in particular when legal and academic institutions lack autonomy and consistency of operation. It focuses on the selection of experts and the validation of their opinion within Russia's academia and the judiciary, and identifies patterns in the experts' approach to evidence and how they validate their conclusions in the eyes of the judiciary. Academic expertise provides an aura of legitimacy to judicial decisions in which anti-extremist legislation is used as a means to control unpopular minority religions and to regulate Russia's religious diversity. As one of the few systematic explorations of this subject and the first focused on Russia, this article reveals important processes that produce religious discrimination and the role that anti-extremist legislation plays in these processes.

An unknown juvenile female mixed breed dog was found non‐ambulatory on a dead‐end street in an urban setting adjacent to a public park. During initial veterinary examination, she was assessed to have untreatable injuries and was humanely euthanized. The forensic veterinarian requested consultation from a forensic anthropologist to assist with documenting antemortem skeletal trauma. Analyses of skeletal tissues indicated numerous injuries in various stages of healing diagnostic of non‐accidental injuries. Veterinary forensic cases may benefit from collaborative analysis of bony remains by forensic anthropologists.

In the past, improvements in craniofacial reconstructions (CFR) methodology languished due to the lack of adequate 3D databases that were sufficiently large and appropriate for 3-dimensional shape statistics. In our study, we created the "FACE-R" database from CT records and 3D surface scans of 400 clinical patients from Hungary, providing a significantly larger sample that was available before. The uniqueness of our database is linking of two data types that makes possible to investigate the bone and skin surface of the same individual, in upright position, thus eliminating many of the gravitational effects on the face during CT scanning. We performed a preliminary geometric morphometric (GMM) study using 3D data that produces a general idea of skull and face shape correlations. The vertical position of the tip of the (soft) nose for a skull and landmarks such as rhinion need to be taken into account. Likewise, the anterior nasal spine appears to exert some influence in this regard.

Metric analysis of skeletal material is integral to the analysis and identification of human remains, though one commonly used measuring device, the osteometric board, has lagged in recent advancement. Traditional boards are bulky and require manual measurement recording, potentially generating intra-and interobserver error. To address these limitations, we tested the reliability, validity, and error rates of a novel device, the Portable Osteometric Device Version 1 (PODv1), which measures distance using laser sensors with time-of-flight technology. Forty-five volunteers measured four skeletal elements with the PODv1 and a PaleoTech osteometric board in three rounds. Comparison of tibia, humerus, and femur measurements with both devices showed no significant differences, although the maximum length of the ulna did differ, potentially because of observer confusion regarding the PODv1's user instructions for this element. Our results suggest that the PODv1 is a reliable, valid measurement device compared to traditional osteometric boards. Although both device types can produce calibration, transcription, and observer errors, the time-of-flight technology and the absence of manual recording built into the PODv1 may limit those errors. These advancements and their potential positive impacts on the accuracy of osteometric data collection may have far-reaching benefits for osteological, bioarchaeological, paleopathological, and forensic anthropological data collection.

South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world, which is associated with an increasing number of unidentified individuals. Forensic anthropologists can assist in these cases to reduce the number of potential victims the remains may belong to. Sex estimation potentially decreases the number of possible victims by half. The mixed ancestry population in South Africa is the second largest group of people; however, there remains a paucity of data and population-specific methods for sex estimation in this group. The aim of this study was to assess the potential for metrices obtained around the nutrient foramen and the maximum length of upper limb long bones to estimate sex in mixed ancestry South Africans using discriminant function analysis. A total of 328 humeri, radii and ulnae from individuals of mixed ancestry were analysed. Sex was correctly classified with an average classification accuracy of 84.3% in the humeri, 88.3% for radii and 83.5% for the ulnae. Total length was the single best predictor of sex; the combination of total length with dimensions related to the nutrient foramen produced high classification accuracies in the current study. Overall, sexual dimorphism was observed in mixed ancestry South Africans upper limb long bones. The findings of this study further emphasise the need for population-specific standards of sexing in an attempt to improve current methods of forensic identification of descendants.

DNA profiling of a cancer tissue can be problematic because of genomic instability. Here we have analyzed gastrointestinal cancer specimens from 46 males, of which seven (15%) showed aberrations in determination of gender by the widely used amelogenin test. The X-type amelogenin allele in all cases remained intact. All male tumor samples showing frequent autosomal loss of heterozygosity had a decreased signal of the Y allele from the amelogenin marker. When tested with an alternate set of primers for the amelogenin locus, the Y-type allele showed loss of heterozygosity in the same seven cases. However, when amplified with 15 Y-specific STR primers, all the cancerous tissue Y chromosomes seemed to be intact. These results indicate when malignant neoplastic tissue specimens are used, that amelogenin-based gender determination should be carefully interpreted.

During excavation campaigns carried out in north-eastern Spain (Aragonese), a well -preserved late 18th century infant mummy was exhumed from the topsoil of El Piquete church (Quinto, Zaragoza). At morphological macroscopical observation, a penetrating lesion lateral to the right knee was identified. The lesion was covered by linen bindings with a circumscribed brownish discoloration. Investigations were carried out with a special focus on the lower tight lesion in order to ascertain whether it had occurred intra-vitam, perimortem or post-mortem. A CT scan was performed to establish the age at death of the infant and to identify possible pathological disorders of the skeleton and internal organs. Histology was performed on the ovoid, deep penetrating lesion in order to determine whether it was vital or was due to taphonomic alterations. The body belonged to a male, 12-16 months old infant. It did not show any pathological disorder apart from the presence of an ovoid deep penetrating skin lesion lateral to the right knee. Histology showed that, apart from the typical postmortem alterations, several small haemosiderin deposits, such as in siderophages, were present, thus indicating, not only the vitality of the ulceration, but also its age of more than several days. We conclude that the infant survived the traumatic lesion for a few days and he most likely died of systemic infection related syndrome (SIRS). This rare case adds to the paleopathological literature on children's possible cause of death.

In 1976, Diana Russell described the term "Femicide" as the violent death of a woman (girls, adolescents, and women) at a man's hands simply because she is a woman, whether or not there is a relationship between the aggressor and the victim. This term in English will be adapted in Latin America by the Mexican anthropologist Marcela Lagarde, who will convert it into "Feminicide." The difference between these two terms has been the subject of much discussion, and to date, there is no complete consensus on the theoretical de nition of both terms, and they are even used as synonyms. However, at present, there are already some conceptual parameters to establish a differentiation, from which "Femicide" would refer to "those deaths of women that were caused by actions or omissions that do not necessarily constitute a crime" (Toledo, 2009, p. 26), either because they did not have the explicit intention of killing them or because such acts cannot be imputed to a speci c person since they are actions arising from customs that obey cultural norms that still exist from past times or that are dictated by religious precepts. According to this de nition, this term would not necessarily be characterized by hatred toward women. On the other hand, "Feminicide" would refer to the "intentional homicide of a woman for misogynistic motives" (Toledo, 2009, p. 27), accompanied by any type of gender violence (rape, antemortem or postmortem physical mutilation, or any other physical aggression). In the latter case, the psychological autopsy, based on information provided by the victim's close associates, often reveals a history of violence in the victim's family or work environment.

In the course of conducting forensic analysis of exposed to dangers from soft tissue, blood and bodily fluids in a human skeletal material, anthropologists are exposed to a number number of settings. Detailed dissection of muscular tissue is often of biological and chemical hazards. This paper reviews the primary concerns in terms of infection or exposure. Handling of human essential in order to link morphological features of the skeleton to tissue provides an avenue through which bloodborne pathogens may functional differences in locomotion, manipulation or posture and be transported. Scene recovery also includes a set of hazards investigate the interaction between soft and hard tissue. Removal through exposure to human, animal and soil vectors. Basic personof already dissected tissue reveals underlying skeletal morphology nel protection and laboratory procedures should be established for the protection of all personnel involved in this work. for research or teaching. Forensic anthropologists frequently work with extensive quantities of unpreserved soft tissue in various