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Mardini M, Badawi A, Zaven T, Gergian R, Nikita E. Mechanical stress in the urbanized Roman Phoenician coast. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2023; 43:58-67. [PMID: 37804603 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2023.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Skeletal populations from Byblos, Beirut, and Tyre were studied to assess mechanical stress along the Roman Phoenician coast. MATERIALS The sample included 153 adult skeletons. METHODS Skeletal remains were macroscopically assessed for osteoarthritis, intervertebral disc disease (IDD), and Schmorl's nodes. RESULTS The Byblos population experienced higher levels of mechanical stress than the Beirut and Tyre ones. Sex-based differences were also found in all skeletal assemblages with males likely engaging in physically more demanding tasks. CONCLUSIONS The variation in mechanical stress, and associated physically demanding tasks, between these populations can be attributed to their differing political and economic status during the Roman period; textual sources highlight the economic and political dominance of Beirut and Tyre, emanating from their status as coloniae. SIGNIFICANCE This study represents one of the first attempts to investigate mechanical stress in coastal Phoenicia during the Roman period. It provides valuable insights into the biocultural structure of understudied communities at the periphery of the Roman world, and can serve as a basis for further future research into the occupational patterns of Phoenician communities. LIMITATIONS The contextual information for these skeletal populations is very limited and does not allow secure conclusions regarding their representativeness. The sample sizes are also rather small, especially when divided per sex and age. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH Further investigation employing complementary methods such as cross-sectional geometric properties and entheseal changes is needed to reconstruct the occupational patterns of these communities, taking into account cultural, environmental, and temporal factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud Mardini
- Science and Technology in Archaeology and Culture Research Center, The Cyprus Institute, 2121 Aglantzia, Nicosia, Cyprus.
| | - Ali Badawi
- Lebanese Directorate General of Antiquities, Damascus Road, Beirut, Lebanon; Lebanese University, 5th Branch, Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Sidon, Lebanon
| | - Tania Zaven
- Lebanese Directorate General of Antiquities, Damascus Road, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Raffi Gergian
- Lebanese Directorate General of Antiquities, Damascus Road, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Efthymia Nikita
- Science and Technology in Archaeology and Culture Research Center, The Cyprus Institute, 2121 Aglantzia, Nicosia, Cyprus
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Indra L, Vach W, Desideri J, Besse M, Pichler SL. Testing the validity of population-specific sex estimation equations: An evaluation based on talus and patella measurements. Sci Justice 2021; 61:555-563. [PMID: 34482935 DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2021.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Sex estimation is essential for forensic scientists to identify human skeletal remains. However, the most sexually dimorphic elements like pelvis or skull are not always assessable. Osteometric analyses have proven useful in sex estimation, but also to be population specific. The main purpose of this study was to test the validity of contemporary Greek and Spanish discriminant functions for the talus and the patella, respectively, on a Swiss skeletal sample and to quantify the utility of the measurements as a novel approach in osteometric sex assessment. Four talus and three patella measurements on dry bone were obtained from 234 individuals of the modern cemetery SIMON Identified Skeletal Collection. The previously derived discriminant functions were applied, accuracies determined, the utility of the different measurements was assessed and new multivariable equations constructed. Accuracies varied between 67% and 86% for talus and 63% and 84% for patella, similar to those reported by the original studies. Multivariable equations should be preferred over equations based on single measurements and combining the most significant measurements rather than using several variables obtained the best possible accuracy. The new discriminant functions did not provide a substantial improvement to the original ones. The overall utility of talus and patella is limited, allowing sex estimation with sufficient certainty only in a small proportion of individuals. Discriminant functions developed in contemporary Greek or Spanish populations are in principle applicable also to Swiss contemporary populations. We recommend that at present existent studies of this type should be validated and tested rather than developing new formulas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Indra
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Sulgenauweg 40, 3007 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Werner Vach
- Integrative Prehistory and Archaeological Science, University of Basel, Spalenring 145, 4055 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Jocelyne Desideri
- Laboratoire d'archéologie préhistorique et anthropologie, University of Geneva, 66, Boulevard Carl-Vogt, 1211 Genève 4, Switzerland.
| | - Marie Besse
- Laboratoire d'archéologie préhistorique et anthropologie, University of Geneva, 66, Boulevard Carl-Vogt, 1211 Genève 4, Switzerland.
| | - Sandra L Pichler
- Integrative Prehistory and Archaeological Science, University of Basel, Spalenring 145, 4055 Basel, Switzerland.
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Budka M, Bennett MR, Reynolds SC, Barefoot S, Reel S, Reidy S, Walker J. Sexing white 2D footprints using convolutional neural networks. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0255630. [PMID: 34407096 PMCID: PMC8372903 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Footprints are left, or obtained, in a variety of scenarios from crime scenes to anthropological investigations. Determining the sex of a footprint can be useful in screening such impressions and attempts have been made to do so using single or multi landmark distances, shape analyses and via the density of friction ridges. Here we explore the relative importance of different components in sexing two-dimensional foot impressions namely, size, shape and texture. We use a machine learning approach and compare this to more traditional methods of discrimination. Two datasets are used, a pilot data set collected from students at Bournemouth University (N = 196) and a larger data set collected by podiatrists at Sheffield NHS Teaching Hospital (N = 2677). Our convolutional neural network can sex a footprint with accuracy of around 90% on a test set of N = 267 footprint images using all image components, which is better than an expert can achieve. However, the quality of the impressions impacts on this success rate, but the results are promising and in time it may be possible to create an automated screening algorithm in which practitioners of whatever sort (medical or forensic) can obtain a first order sexing of a two-dimensional footprint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Budka
- Department of Computing and Informatics, Bournemouth University, Poole, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew R. Bennett
- Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Bournemouth University, Poole, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Sally C. Reynolds
- Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, Bournemouth University, Poole, United Kingdom
| | - Shelby Barefoot
- Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Bournemouth University, Poole, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Reel
- Division of Podiatry and Clinical Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, Huddersfield, United Kingdom
| | - Selina Reidy
- Identification Bureau, Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Scientific Support Services, Wakefield, United Kingdom
| | - Jeremy Walker
- Sheffield Teaching Hospital, NHS Trust, Podiatry Services, Woodhouse Clinic, Sheffield, United Kingdom
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Faress F, Ameri M, Azizi H, Saboori Shekofte H, Hosseini R. Gender determination in adults using calcaneal diameters from lateral foot X-ray images in the Iranian population. Med J Islam Repub Iran 2021; 35:76. [PMID: 34291000 PMCID: PMC8285554 DOI: 10.47176/mjiri.35.76] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Using morphologic features of the bones is the basis of gender determination in anthropology and forensic medicine. In this study, we evaluated the calcaneus diameters for gender determination in the Iranian population.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on Iranians referring to Hazrat-e Rasool Hospital’s radiology ward for plain lateral X-ray of the foot. Lateral foot X-rays from 100 men and 100 women were gathered and evaluated for calcaneal indexes. These patients aged between 18 and 80 years old who did not suffer major trauma to the calcaneus bone were recruited. Using a picture archiving and communication system (PACS), four variables were calculated for each X-ray graph: Maximum anterior-posterior length of the calcaneus (MAXL), Maximum height of the bone (MAXH), Height of the cuboid facet (CFH) and Height the calcaneal body (BH). Cut off points for each index were calculated using the area under curve (AUC) in ROC curves.
Results: Lateral foot X-rays from 100 men and 100 women were gathered and evaluated for calcaneal indexes. The means of the four indexes were compared between the sexes which showed all four means are significantly different p value <0.001. AUC for MAXL in differentiating the genders was 0.824, which showed 86.8 as the cut off with a sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 69.0%. Cut off point for MAXH was set at 59.8 with sensitivity and specificity of 78.0% and 60.0%, respectively. For BH, 49.5 was set as the cut off point with a sensitivity of 79.0% and specificity of 64.0%. The best cut off point for CFH was 27.8 with 76.0% sensitivity and 63.0% specificity.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that the calcaneal diameters are reliable criteria for sex determination. Although the cutoff points are different between various races and populations, it is evident that these diameters can be used for sex determination in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Foroozan Faress
- Department of Legal Medicine & Toxicology,Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Ameri
- Department of Legal Medicine & Toxicology,Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hanieh Azizi
- Department of Legal Medicine & Toxicology,Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Rozita Hosseini
- Department of Nephrology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Schmutz B, Lüthi M, Schmutz-Leong YK, Shulman R, Platt S. Morphological analysis of Gissane's angle utilising a statistical shape model of the calcaneus. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 2021; 141:937-945. [PMID: 32785762 DOI: 10.1007/s00402-020-03566-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Gissane's crucial angle (GA) facilitates to diagnose calcaneal fractures, and serves as an indicator of the quality of anatomical reduction after fixation. The study aimed to utilise statistical shape models (SSM) for analysing the complex 3D surface anatomy of the calcaneus represented by the simplified GA measurement on lateral radiographs. MATERIALS AND METHODS SSMs were generated from CT scans of paired adult calcanei from 10 Japanese and 31 Thai specimens. GA measurements in 3D and 2D were obtained for the lateral, central and medial anatomy of the posterior facet and sinus tarsi. The correlation between calcaneal length and GA was analysed. Regression and principal component (PC) analyses were conducted for analysing morphological variability in calcaneal shape relating to GA. The bilateral symmetry of the obtained measurements was analysed. RESULTS The mean GA (lateral) for the Japanese specimens was 105.1° ± 7.5 and 105.4° ± 8.5 for the Thai. The projected 2D angles of the central and medial measurements were larger (P < 0.00) than the 3D values. The medial projected 2D angles were larger (P ≤ 0.02) compared to the lateral. Despite the bilateral symmetry of GA and calcaneal length, their correlation displayed clear signs of asymmetry, which was confirmed by regression and PC analyses. CONCLUSIONS Japanese and Thai specimens revealed lower GAs (both range and mean) compared to reported reference values of other ethnicities. As a reduced GA is generally indicative of a calcaneal fracture, our results are important to surgeons for their diagnostic assessment of Japanese and Thai patients. The results indicate that the GA measurement on a plain radiograph is a simplified representation of the lateral-to-central 3D calcaneal anatomy but significantly underestimates the angle measurement on the medial aspects of the respective surface areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beat Schmutz
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4059, Australia. .,Jamieson Trauma Institute, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Herston, QLD, 4029, Australia.
| | - Marcel Lüthi
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Basel, Spiegelstrasse 1, 4051, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Yohan Kai Schmutz-Leong
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4059, Australia
| | - Ryan Shulman
- Queensland X-Ray, Mater Hospital Brisbane, 301 Vulture St, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia
| | - Simon Platt
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Gold Coast University Hospital, 1 Hospital Boulevard, Southport, QLD, 4215, Australia
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Vassallo S, Davies C, Biehler-Gomez L. Sex estimation using scapular measurements: discriminant function analysis in a modern Italian population. AUST J FORENSIC SCI 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/00450618.2020.1868575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Steffi Vassallo
- Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification, Medical Sciences Institute, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Catriona Davies
- Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification, Medical Sciences Institute, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Lucie Biehler-Gomez
- LABANOF, Laboratorio Di Antropologia E Odontologia Forense, Sezione Di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento Di Scienze Biomediche per La Salute, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, Milan, Italy
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Nikita E. Documented skeletal collections in Greece: Composition, research, and future prospects. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Efthymia Nikita
- Science and Technology in Archaeology and Culture Research Centre The Cyprus Institute Nicosia Cyprus
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Sorrentino R, Belcastro MG, Figus C, Stephens NB, Turley K, Harcourt-Smith W, Ryan TM, Benazzi S. Exploring sexual dimorphism of the modern human talus through geometric morphometric methods. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0229255. [PMID: 32059040 PMCID: PMC7021319 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex determination is a pivotal step in forensic and bioarchaeological fields. Generally, scholars focus on metric or qualitative morphological features, but in the last few years several contributions have applied geometric-morphometric (GM) techniques to overcome limitations of traditional approaches. In this study, we explore sexual dimorphism in modern human tali from three early 20th century populations (Sassari and Bologna, Italy; New York, USA) at intra- and interspecific population levels using geometric morphometric (GM) methods. Statistical analyses were performed using shape, form, and size variables. Our results do not show significant differences in shape between males and females, either considering the pooled sample or the individual populations. Differences in talar morphology due to sexual dimorphism are mainly related to allometry, i.e. size-related changes of morphological traits. Discriminant function analysis using form space Principal Components and centroid size correctly classify between 87.7% and 97.2% of the individuals. The result is similar using the pooled sample or the individual population, except for a diminished outcome for the New York group (from 73.9% to 78.2%). Finally, a talus from the Bologna sample (not included in the previous analysis) with known sex was selected to run a virtual resection, followed by two digital reconstructions based on the mean shape of both the pooled sample and the Bologna sample, respectively. The reconstructed talus was correctly classified with a Ppost between 99.9% and 100%, demonstrating that GM is a valuable tool to cope with fragmentary tali, which is a common occurrence in forensic and bioarchaeological contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Sorrentino
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Maria Giovanna Belcastro
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- ADES, UMR 7268 CNRS/Aix-Marseille Université/EFS, Aix-Marseille Université, Bd Pierre Dramard, France
| | - Carla Figus
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Nicholas B. Stephens
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, United States of America
| | - Kevin Turley
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States of America
| | - William Harcourt-Smith
- Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States of America
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, NY, United States of America
- Department of Anthropology, Lehman College, New York, NY, United States of America
- Division of Paleontology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Timothy M. Ryan
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, United States of America
| | - Stefano Benazzi
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
- Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
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Bidmos MA, Adebesin AA, Mazengenya P, Olateju OI, Adegboye O. Estimation of sex from metatarsals using discriminant function and logistic regression analyses. AUST J FORENSIC SCI 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/00450618.2019.1711180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. A. Bidmos
- College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - A. A. Adebesin
- Department of Human Anatomy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Ga-Rankuwa, South Africa
| | - P. Mazengenya
- School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- College of Medicine, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - O. I. Olateju
- School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - O. Adegboye
- Department for Management of Science and Technology Development, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Faculty of Mathematics and Statistics, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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Bonczarowska JH, Bonicelli A, Papadomanolakis A, Kranioti EF. The posterior portion of the ilium as a sex indicator: A validation study. Forensic Sci Int 2019; 294:216.e1-216.e6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.10.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Revised: 10/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Assessing the accuracy of cranial and pelvic ageing methods on human skeletal remains from a modern Greek assemblage. Forensic Sci Int 2018; 286:266.e1-266.e8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Revised: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 03/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Nikita E, Michopoulou E. A quantitative approach for sex estimation based on cranial morphology. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2017; 165:507-517. [PMID: 29265191 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2017] [Revised: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This paper proposes a method for the quantification of the shape of sexually dimorphic cranial traits, namely the glabella, mastoid process and external occipital protuberance. MATERIALS AND METHODS The proposed method was developed using 165 crania from the documented Athens Collection and tested on 20 Cretan crania. It is based on digital photographs of the lateral view of the cranium, drawing of the profile of three sexually dimorphic structures and calculation of variables that express the shape of these structures. RESULTS The combinations of variables that provide optimum discrimination between sexes are identified by means of binary logistic regression and discriminant analysis. The best cross-validated results are obtained when variables from all three structures are combined and range from 75.8 to 85.1% and 81.1 to 94.6% for males and females, respectively. The success rate is 86.3-94.1% for males and 83.9-93.5% for females when half of the sample is used for training and the rest for prediction. Correct classification for the Cretan material based upon the standards developed for the Athens sample was 80-90% for the optimum combinations of discriminant variables. DISCUSSION The proposed method provides an effective way to capture quantitatively the shape of sexually dimorphic cranial structures; it gives more accurate results relative to other existing methods and it does not require specialized equipment. Equations for sex estimation based on combinations of variables are provided, along with instructions on how to use the method and Excel macros for calculation of discriminant variables with automated implementation of the optimum equations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Efthymia Nikita
- Science and Technology in Archaeology Research Center, The Cyprus Institute, 2121 Aglantzia, Nicosia, Cyprus
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Ekizoglu O, Inci E, Palabiyik FB, Can IO, Er A, Bozdag M, Kacmaz IE, Kranioti EF. Sex estimation in a contemporary Turkish population based on CT scans of the calcaneus. Forensic Sci Int 2017; 279:310.e1-310.e6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.07.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2017] [Revised: 07/15/2017] [Accepted: 07/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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