OBJECTIVES: To examine the reliability and accuracy of Walker's model for estimating the sex of Han adults in western China by using cranium three-dimensional (3D) CT reconstruction, and to study the suitable cranial sex estimation model for Han people in western China. METHODS: A total of 576 cranial CT 3D reconstructed images from Hanzhong Hospital in Shaanxi Province from 2017 to 2021 were collected. These images were divided into the experimental group with 486 samples and the validation group with 90 samples. Walker's model was used by observer 1 to estimate the sex of experimental group samples. The logistic function applicable to Han people in western China was corrected by observer 1. The 90 samples in the validation group were scored and substituted into the modified logistic function to complete the back substitution test by observer 1, 2 and 3. RESULTS: The accuracy of sex estimation of Han adults in western China was 63.2%-77.2% by applying Walker's model. The accuracy of modified logistic function was 82.9%. The accuracy of sex estimation through back substitution test by 3 observers was 75.6%-91.1%, with a Kappa value of 0.689 (P<0.05) for inter-observer consistency and 0.874 (P<0.05) for intra-observer consistency. CONCLUSIONS There are great differences in bone characteristics among people from different regions. The modified logistic function can achieve higher accuracy in Han adults in western China.
Humans ; Adult ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sex Determination by Skeleton/methods* ; Forensic Anthropology ; Skull/anatomy & histology* ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; China ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Humans ; Water ; Rivers ; Skull/anatomy & histology* ; Brain/diagnostic imaging* ; Forensic Medicine ; Forensic Anthropology

OBJECTIVES: To find the appropriate method for age estimation for different ages and sexes. METHODS: The costal cartilage, sternum and pubic symphysis of 91 unknowns from 2000 to 2020 from the Forensic Department of the Criminal Investigation Team of Shanghai Public Security Bureau were collected. Costal cartilage, sternal and pubic symphysis inferences were used to estimate the age, and the consistency between the estimated results and the actual physiological age of the unknowns was tested. The accuracy of age estimation of different samples was compared, and the relationship between accuracy and age and sex was analyzed. RESULTS: Using the costal cartilage method, the inference errors of males, females and the whole population under 40 years old were (0.608±2.298) years, (0.429±1.867) years and (0.493±2.040) years, while those over 40 years old were (-1.707±3.770) years, (-3.286±4.078) years and (-2.625±4.029) years. The differences between different age groups in these three populations were statistically significant (P<0.05). Using the sternum method, the inference errors of males and females under the age of 40 were (0.921±3.019) years and (0.452±1.451) years, while those over the age of 40 were (-5.903±5.088) years and (-1.429±2.227) years. The differences between different age groups in males and females were statistically significant (P<0.05). Using the pubic symphysis method, the inference errors of males and females under 40 years old were (-0.204±1.876) years and (0.238±2.477) years, while those over 40 years old were (1.500±2.156) years and (-2.643±4.270) years. The differences between different age groups in males and females were statistically significant (P<0.05). Using the sternum method and pubic symphysis method for age estimation of over 40 years old, the difference between different sexes was statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS All three methods of age estimation are stable and effective and more accurate for people under 40 years old. For age estimation of unknowns over 40 years old, the pubic symphysis method is preferred in males and the sternum method is preferred in females.
Adult ; Age Determination by Skeleton/methods* ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Forensic Anthropology/methods* ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pubic Symphysis/anatomy & histology*

Frontal sinus imaging is an important research object in forensic individual identification due to the highly specific irregular air cavity shape of frontal sinus, the stability of its shape after maturity, and the wide clinical application of radiology technology. The use of frontal sinus imaging for individual identification has significance in the court. When the application of traditional individual identification methods such as fingerprint identification and DNA analysis are limited or cannot be effectively carried out, or when the corresponding dental records are lacking and in other special cases, individual identification with frontal sinus imaging comparison is an effective alternative. Various types of image data can be used for individual identification with frontal sinus, mainly based on artificial visual comparing. With limitations such as, high professional requirements, low efficiency and small application range, the methods cannot be used in mass disasters. In recent years, some computer image recognition techniques have been used in identification of frontal sinus imagings and can significantly improve the efficiency of recognition. Difficulties such as low manual recognition efficiency may be overcomed. This study summarizes the reports on forensic individual identification using frontal sinus imaging, to review the research progress on individual identification with frontal sinus imaging, to provide a reference for further research on frontal sinus imaging, and to provide ideas for exploration and establishment of a faster, more efficient and more accurate individual identification system.
Diagnostic Imaging ; Forensic Anthropology ; Forensic Medicine ; Frontal Sinus/diagnostic imaging* ; Torso

Individual identification based on imaging data of the skeleton of a corpse is a key technique for forensic identification. To reduce the influence of artificial factors, computer-aided semi-automatic or automatic individual identification has become one of the research directions of skeleton-based individual identification in forensic radiology. Therefore, this paper reviews and summarizes literatures related to estimation of anthropological information such as, age and sex by computer-aided forensic radiology bone characteristics and individual identification based on bone imaging characteristics, in order to provide reference on skeleton-based individual identification in forensic radiology.
Age Determination by Skeleton ; Bone and Bones ; Computers ; Forensic Anthropology ; Radiology

One of the major tasks in the forensic field is age estimation in living individuals, especially in adolescents and young adults. The X-ray examination of left hand, panoramic radiograph and CT scan of the sternal end of clavicles are mature means that are widely used. However, the X-ray technique has great radiation on the human body, and imaging radiation for non-diagnosis and treatment purposes does not conform to the current mainstream medical ethics. MRI is nonradioactive tomographic imaging and is one of the research and development directions in forensic age estimation in living individuals now. This paper summarizes the common indicators and analysis methods of MRI in previous research of age estimation, in order to get better understanding of its trends and provide a clue for future relevant studies.
Adolescent ; Age Determination by Skeleton ; Clavicle/diagnostic imaging* ; Forensic Anthropology ; Hand ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Young Adult

no abstract.
Anthropology ; Forensic Anthropology

Adult age determination plays an important role in individual identification, criminal investigation and social welfare. The most popular adult age determination indicators are pubic symphysis, iliac auricular surface, costal cartilage, cranial sutures, teeth, laryngeal cartilage, etc. In recent years, with the progress of CT imaging and 3D reconstruction technology, the adult age determination study gradually has transferred from a time-consuming general observation of bones with complex pre-processing in the past to the non-destructive, convenient, time-saving and easy to store image analysis technology. To explore more accurate, rapid and convenient adult age determination methods, multiple imaging methods and artificial intelligence have been applied in adult age determination. This paper reviews the common methods and research progress of adult age determination at home and abroad, infers the development direction of adult age determination, in order to provide reference for the improvement and optimization of forensic adult age determination.
Age Determination by Skeleton ; Artificial Intelligence ; Forensic Anthropology ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Pubic Symphysis/anatomy & histology* ; Research

Facial reconstruction is a way to recover facial morphology by restoring soft tissues based on unidentified skulls using the knowledge of anatomy, anthropology, aesthetics, and computer science. It is applied in forensic science, oral plastic surgery and archeology, and especially plays an important role in the identification of the origin of the unknown corpses in forensic science. Facial reconstruction is the supplementary means of identification when other approaches （such as DNA comparison, imaging matching, dental records comparison, etc.） cannot identify individual identity. Facial soft tissue thickness （FSTT） is the basis of facial reconstruction and with the development of imaging and computer science, the techniques for measuring FSTT are improving rapidly and many related researches have appeared. This paper summarizes the application of facial reconstruction in forensic science, the accuracy of different methods and the research progress of this field to provide reference to this field.
Face/surgery* ; Forensic Anthropology ; Forensic Sciences ; Research ; Skull/surgery*

Objective To develop mathematical models for skeletal age determination with multiple statistic method based on the correlation between age and the growth of the epiphysis of extremitas sternalis of clavicle in Shanxi adolescents. Methods The 562 Shanxi sternoclavicular joint samples （454 cases of modelling, 108 cases of external verification） were scanned by the thin-section computed tomography. After volume rendering was obtained, indicators such as area of epiphysis, area of metaphysis, longest diameter of epiphysis and longest diameter of metaphysis of both extremitas sternalis of clavicle were collected. Indicators such as the ratio of area of epiphysis to area of metaphysis, and the ratio of longest diameter of epiphysis to longest diameter of metaphysis of both sides were calculated. Then multiple linear regression and random forest discriminant models were used to build mathematical models for age determination of adolescents. Results The obtained indicators exhibited a strong correlation with age （r>0.85）. The multiple linear regression model for males and females （all 4 indicators entering the model） based on the ratio of longest diameter of epiphysis to longest diameter of metaphysis and the ratio of area of epiphysis to area of metaphysis had an internal validation accuracy rate （±1.0 year） of over 92% and 108 cases had an external validation accuracy rate of over 70% （±1.0 year）. The out of bag error rates of random forest discriminant models were less than 2% for people over 18.0 years old （≥18.0 years old） and under 18.0 years old. The external validation accuracy rates of the 108 cases were over 80%. Conclusion The regression and discriminant models established in this study have certain reliability and accuracy and can be used in age determination of Shanxi adolescents.
Adolescent ; Age Determination by Skeleton ; Clavicle/diagnostic imaging* ; Epiphyses/diagnostic imaging* ; Female ; Forensic Anthropology ; Humans ; Male ; Models, Theoretical ; Osteogenesis ; Reproducibility of Results