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In the modern world of human–computer interaction, notable advancements in human identification have been achieved across fields like healthcare, academia, security, etc. Despite these advancements, challenges remain, particularly in scenarios with poor lighting, occlusion, or non-line-of-sight. To overcome these limitations, the utilization of radio frequency (RF) wireless signals, particularly wireless fidelity (WiFi), has been considered an innovative solution in recent research studies. By analyzing WiFi signal fluctuations caused by human presence, researchers have developed machine learning (ML) models that significantly improve identification accuracy. This paper conducts a comprehensive survey of recent advances and practical implementations of WiFi-based human identification. Furthermore, it covers the ML models used for human identification, system overviews, and detailed WiFi-based human identification methods. It also includes system evaluation, discussion, and future trends related to human identification. Finally, we conclude by examining the limitations of the research and discussing how researchers can shift their attention toward shaping the future trajectory of human identification through wireless signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gait recognition in the wild has attracted the attention of the academic community. However, existing unimodal algorithms cannot achieve the same performance on in-the-wild datasets as in-the-lab datasets because unimodal data have many limitations in-the-wild environments. Therefore, we propose a multimodal approach combining silhouettes and skeletons and formulate the multimodal gait recognition problem as a multimodal co-learning problem. In particular, we propose a multimodal co-learning distillation network (MCDGait) that integrates two sub-networks processing unimodal data into a single fusion network. Based on the semantic consistency of different modalities and the paradigm of deep mutual learning, the performance of the entire network is continuously improved via the bidirectional knowledge distillation between the sub-networks and fusion network. Inspired by the observation that specific body parts or joints exhibit unique motion characteristics and have linkage with other parts or joints during walking, we propose a spatial-temporal graph reasoning module (ST-GRM). This module represents the parts or joints as graph nodes and the motion linkages between them as edges. By utilizing dynamic graph generator, the module implicitly captures the dynamic changes of the human body. Based on the generated graphs, the independent spatial-temporal linkage feature of each part and the interactive spatial-temporal linkage feature are aggregated simultaneously. Extensive experiments conducted on two in-the-wild datasets demonstrate the state-of-the-art performance of the proposed method. The average rank-1 accuracy on datasets Gait3D and GREW is 50.90% and 58.06%, respectively. The source code can be obtained from https://github.com/BoyeXiong/MCDGait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Estimating sex from a dry skull depends on studying validated and specific traits. One such reference area exhibiting sexual dimorphism is the glabella, located on the frontal bone. This anatomical landmark is easily classified and shows promising results in sexual identification due to its magnitude variations between sexes. The present study is methodologically based on Walker's approach, which visually analyzes cranial traits and scores them according to their morphology. This study aimed to investigate the sex estimation of dry skulls from Brazilian human skeletons for human identification through macroscopic analysis of the glabella. This analytical, quantitative, cross-sectional study utilized a sample of 471 skulls from both sexes, aged 25 years or older, belonging to the contemporary collection of the Center for Studies in Forensic Anthropology at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Pernambuco (CEAF/FOP/UPE), Brazil. Data were recorded in an Excel spreadsheet and subsequently subjected to statistical analysis using IBM© SPSS (version 22.0). Results: Initial observation of the skeletons excluded 52 (11.0%) due to age below 25 years, absence of a skull, or compromised glabella region, resulting in a final sample of 419 skulls. The mean age was 66.6 years, with a median of 67, a minimum of 25, and a maximum of 109 years. Regarding glabella types, score 2 showed the highest frequency (35.6%), while score 5 had the lowest percentage (7.9%). A statistically significant association was found between female sex and glabella scores 1 and 2. Also, individuals aged over 60 presented more glabella scores 1 and 2. The sex estimation accuracy for the sample was 76.1%, with females having a higher percentage of correct observations than males. Conclusions: The morphology of the glabella provides useful information for estimating sex in the biological profile. However, further studies on this morphological trait in other Brazilian osteological collections are encouraged to establish a national profile and contribute to human identification procedures in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intraoral scans (IOS) provide precise 3D data of dental crowns and gingival structures. This paper explores an application of IOS in human identification. Methods: We propose a dental biometrics framework for human identification using 3D dental point clouds based on machine learning-related algorithms, encompassing three stages: data preprocessing, feature extraction, and registration-based identification. In the data preprocessing stage, we use the curvature principle to extract distinguishable tooth crown contours from the original point clouds as the holistic feature identification samples. Based on these samples, we construct four types of local feature identification samples to evaluate identification performance with severe teeth loss. In the feature extraction stage, we conduct voxel downsampling, then extract the geometric and structural features of the point cloud. In the registration-based identification stage, we construct a coarse-to-fine registration scheme in order to realize the identification task. Results: Experimental results on a dataset of 160 individuals demonstrate that our method achieves a Rank-1 recognition rate of 100% using complete tooth crown contours samples. Utilizing the remaining four types of local feature samples yields a Rank-1 recognition rate exceeding 96.05%. Conclusions: The proposed framework proves effective for human identification, maintaining high identification performance even in extreme cases of partial tooth loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In mass disaster events, forensic DNA laboratories may be called upon to quickly pivot their operations toward identifying bodies and reuniting remains with family members. Ideally, laboratories have considered this possibility in advance and have a plan in place. Compared with traditional short tandem repeat (STR) typing, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may be better suited to these disaster victim identification (DVI) scenarios due to their small genomic target size, resulting in an improved success rate in degraded DNA samples. As the landscape of technology has shifted toward DNA sequencing, many forensic laboratories now have benchtop instruments available for massively parallel sequencing (MPS), facilitating this operational pivot from routine forensic STR casework to DVI SNP typing. Herein, we present the commercially available SNP sequencing assays amenable to DVI, we use data simulations to explore the potential for kinship prediction from SNP panels of varying sizes, and we give an example DVI scenario as context for presenting the matrix of considerations: kinship predictive potential, cost, and throughput of current SNP assay options. This information is intended to assist laboratories in choosing a SNP system for disaster preparedness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of locating and identifying missing persons presents a complex challenge that hinges on the collection and comparison of diverse data sets. This commentary offers an overview of some of the difficulties and considerations associated with data management in the context of large‐scale missing person identifications. Such complexities include the uniqueness of each disaster event, the response time to the event, the variable quality and quantity of data, and the involvement of numerous stakeholders, all of which contribute to the intricacies of data management. In addition, the paramount considerations of privacy and ethical standards further compound these challenges, especially when dealing with sensitive information such as genetic data. This commentary describes the integrated Data Management System (iDMS) developed by the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) as one example of a comprehensive, freely available solution for data collection, storage, protection, and analysis in missing person cases. The various advantages of the system are discussed, including the system's interoperability among the diverse array of stakeholders involved. While the iDMS streamlines data management processes and therefore represents a significant advancement in the field of missing person identification, it is concluded that the pending issue extends beyond the software tools to encompass the lack of political will among stakeholders to collaborate there remains a pressing need for all stakeholders involved in the identification process to commit to a mechanism that facilitates compatibility and interoperability if different tools are used in disaster victim identification (DVI) scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental identification is a pillar of disaster victim identification (DVI). Dental identification is accurate, efficient, inexpensive, and accepted in courts of law. The (known) antemortem (AM) dental charts and radiographic images acquired from the dentist of the missing person are evaluated, processed, and compared to post mortem (PM) findings present in the dentition or fragments of the dentition of the deceased individual. These comparisons evaluate and assess individuating restorative dental work, dental anatomical areas of concordance, spatial relationships of teeth one to another, and occasionally calculate the degree of "uniqueness" of either or both of the AM and PM dentition compared to known population databases. In a multiple fatality incident, odontologists may utilize age stratification to assist other means of identification. Computer comparison algorithms using recorded data can indicate possible matches between AM and PM data sets. Following clinical assessment, collection of post mortem tooth specimens for DNA profiling generation may be undertaken. This paper will highlight modern and efficient use of these tools. The framework for how dental identification in these incidents is currently managed is presented. The authors propose a change to this approach that moves away from interpretive subjective assessment toward comparisons based largely on objective data. The aim of this paper is to highlight the benefits of minimizing subjective decisions and maximizing objective data in the dental DVI process while simultaneously reducing risk to clinical personnel and minimizing costs by reducing the number of clinicians required onsite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Teeth are the anatomical tissue with the highest resistance to the action of chemical and physical agents. This is one of the reasons that make teeth particularly useful in the identification process of skeletonized and carbonized human remains. The aim of this research is to analyze the colorimetric changes in the enamel of teeth subjected to high temperatures to develop a reproducible colorimetric cataloging method. Methods: Six groups of 21 human teeth extracted from private clinics and from a Dental School for therapeutic reasons were used and subjected to three temperature ranges in a laboratory furnace: 400 °C, 700 °C, and 1000 °C. For each temperature, two time periods of 20 min and 60 min were chosen. Each group of dental elements was analyzed using a dental spectrophotometer to extract the colorimetric data of the crown. The obtained color coordinates were subsequently converted into Red–Green–Blue (RGB) values. The two predominant colors were also selected to create average colorimetric values, which demonstrate the change in color hue according to temperature. The groups of teeth subjected to 20 min at 400 °C exhibited a dark gray coloration, while the teeth subjected to 20 min at 700 °C showed a general increase in color brightness with beige–blueish hues. Results: The teeth subjected to 20 min at 1000 °C displayed progressively lighter shades with pinkish reflections. The teeth subjected to 60 min at the same temperatures demonstrated a general increase in brightness, making differentiation more challenging, except for the group of teeth burned at 400 °C, which showed light gray–blueish tones. Conclusions: This study further supports the existing literature on the correlation between colorimetric shifts in carbonized teeth and the maximum temperature reached, providing valuable assistance to forensic pathology and the forensic dental identification of burnt human remains. Additionally, this research has led to the development of a standardized colorimetric patented scale for the observation and examination of burnt human teeth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lip print analysis has been proposed as a new human identification technique that allows the estimation of various individual parameters, such as population affinity. However, more consensus among the scientific community regarding this topic is needed. This study aimed to conduct a systematic review to gather evidence that might clarify whether cheiloscopy can be used in population affinity estimation. The systematic review was performed following the PRISMA guidelines. A bibliographic survey was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, restricted to articles published between 2010 and 2022. Studies were selected according to eligibility criteria, and the study data were collected. The risk of bias in each study was assessed and applied as additional inclusion or exclusion criteria. A descriptive approach synthesized the results of the articles eligible for analysis. Out of seven included studies, six demonstrated differences in lip patterns between different population groups, and one obtained inconclusive results. Several methodological flaws in the studies and variations in the collection and analysis methodology applied, which may have conditioned the results obtained, were identified. The data gathered allowed us to conclude that no solid scientific evidence supports the use of cheiloscopy in population affinity estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biometric-based personal authentication systems have experienced significant demand, primarily driven by growing concerns surrounding privacy and security in various applications. However, research has demonstrated that the human ear possesses sufficient distinguishing features to serve as a robust biometric measure. Ear biometrics present significant challenges in uncontrolled environments due to variations in factors such as pose, scale, and occlusion. To tackle the issue of human identification using ear images, the study proposes a framework named CSA-GRU based on a convolutional neural network (CNN) and gated recurrent unit (GRU) with self-attention. The current study employed four distinct datasets, namely IITD-I, IITD-II, AMI, and AWE, which underwent five augmentation techniques, including flipping, Gaussian noise, color jitter, brightness adjustment, and translation. Subsequently, a hybrid approach employing CNN and GRU with self-attention is used to extract features and perform human identification. The performance of CSA-GRU has been evaluated and yielded recognition rates of 99.24%, 99.81%, 99.07%, and 98.81% for the datasets mentioned above. Furthermore, a comparative examination has been conducted on CSA-GRU in correlation with diverse established methodologies. The findings indicate enhancements of 0.40%, 1.07%, 0.97%, and 18.30% across the above-mentioned datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a forensic odontologist working remotely could accurately undertake forensic dental identifications using videos produced by non-dental forensic staff operating an intra-oral video camera (IOVC). The study’s aims were to assess the accuracy and time taken to perform remote forensic dental identifications in this manner. Materials and methods: Eight cadavers from the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification (CAHID), University of Dundee, UK, were examined by a forensic odontologist via a traditional dental examination. Their dental condition was recorded to serve as ante-mortem records for this study. Videos of each dentition were produced using an IOVC operated by a medical student. Post-mortem records were produced for each dentition from the videos by a remote second forensic odontologist who was not present at the traditional dental examination. The ante-mortem and post-mortem records were then compared, and identification was classified as positively established, possible or excluded. Results: Established identifications were positively made in all eight cases although there were some non-critical inconsistencies between ante-mortem and post-mortem records. Before the second opinion, 85.6% of the teeth per study subject were charted consistently. After the second opinion, the percentage of consistency increased to 97.2%. Each video on average was about 4.13 minutes in duration and the average time taken to interpret and chart the post-mortem dental examination at the first attempt was 11.63 minutes. The time taken to chart from the videos was greater than is typical of a traditional dental examination. Conclusion: This pilot study supports the feasibility of undertaking remote dental identification. This novel virtual dental autopsy approach could be a viable alternative to a traditional post-mortem dental examination, in situations where access to forensic dental services is difficult or limited due to geographical, logistical, safety, and/or political reasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Estimating sex from a dry skull depends on studying validated and specific traits. One such reference area exhibiting sexual dimorphism is the glabella, located on the frontal bone. This anatomical landmark is easily classified and shows promising results in sexual identification due to its magnitude variations between sexes. The present study is methodologically based on Walker’s approach, which visually analyzes cranial traits and scores them according to their morphology. This study aimed to investigate the sex estimation of dry skulls from Brazilian human skeletons for human identification through macroscopic analysis of the glabella. This analytical, quantitative, cross-sectional study utilized a sample of 471 skulls from both sexes, aged 25 years or older, belonging to the contemporary collection of the Center for Studies in Forensic Anthropology at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Pernambuco (CEAF/FOP/UPE), Brazil. Data were recorded in an Excel spreadsheet and subsequently subjected to statistical analysis using IBM© SPSS (version 22.0). Results Initial observation of the skeletons excluded 52 (11.0%) due to age below 25 years, absence of a skull, or compromised glabella region, resulting in a final sample of 419 skulls. The mean age was 66.6 years, with a median of 67, a minimum of 25, and a maximum of 109 years. Regarding glabella types, score 2 showed the highest frequency (35.6%), while score 5 had the lowest percentage (7.9%). A statistically significant association was found between female sex and glabella scores 1 and 2. Also, individuals aged over 60 presented more glabella scores 1 and 2. The sex estimation accuracy for the sample was 76.1%, with females having a higher percentage of correct observations than males. Conclusions The morphology of the glabella provides useful information for estimating sex in the biological profile. However, further studies on this morphological trait in other Brazilian osteological collections are encouraged to establish a national profile and contribute to human identification procedures in the country.

Background: Teeth are the anatomical tissue with the highest resistance to the action of chemical and physical agents. This is one of the reasons that make teeth particularly useful in the identification process of skeletonized and carbonized human remains. The aim of this research is to analyze the colorimetric changes in the enamel of teeth subjected to high temperatures to develop a reproducible colorimetric cataloging method. Methods: Six groups of 21 human teeth extracted from private clinics and from a Dental School for therapeutic reasons were used and subjected to three temperature ranges in a laboratory furnace: 400 °C, 700 °C, and 1000 °C. For each temperature, two time periods of 20 min and 60 min were chosen. Each group of dental elements was analyzed using a dental spectrophotometer to extract the colorimetric data of the crown. The obtained color coordinates were subsequently converted into Red–Green–Blue (RGB) values. The two predominant colors were also selected to create average colorimetric values, which demonstrate the change in color hue according to temperature. The groups of teeth subjected to 20 min at 400 °C exhibited a dark gray coloration, while the teeth subjected to 20 min at 700 °C showed a general increase in color brightness with beige–blueish hues. Results: The teeth subjected to 20 min at 1000 °C displayed progressively lighter shades with pinkish reflections. The teeth subjected to 60 min at the same temperatures demonstrated a general increase in brightness, making differentiation more challenging, except for the group of teeth burned at 400 °C, which showed light gray–blueish tones. Conclusions: This study further supports the existing literature on the correlation between colorimetric shifts in carbonized teeth and the maximum temperature reached, providing valuable assistance to forensic pathology and the forensic dental identification of burnt human remains. Additionally, this research has led to the development of a standardized colorimetric patented scale for the observation and examination of burnt human teeth.

Abstract Gait recognition has become an increasingly promising area of research in the search for noninvasive and effective methods of person identification. Its potential applications in security systems and medical diagnosis make it an exciting field with wide-ranging implications. However, precisely recognizing and assessing gait patterns is difficult, particularly in changing situations or from multiple perspectives. In this study, we utilized the widely used CASIA-B dataset to observe the performance of our proposed gait recognition model, with the aim of addressing some of the existing limitations in this field. Fifty individuals are randomly selected from the dataset, and the resulting data are split evenly for training and testing purposes. We begin by excerpting features from gait photos using two well-known deep learning networks, MobileNetV1 and Xception. We then combined these features and reduced their dimensionality via principal component analysis (PCA) to improve the model's performance. We subsequently assessed the model using two distinct classifiers: a random forest and a one against all support vector machine (OaA-SVM). The findings indicate that the OaA-SVM classifier manifests superior performance compared to the others, with a mean accuracy of 98.77% over eleven different viewing angles. This study is conducive to the development of effective gait recognition algorithms that can be applied to heighten people’s security and promote their well-being.

Introduction: The uniqueness of the human dentition serves its wide acceptance in the identification of individual in forensic science. Aim and Objectives: To estimate the accuracy of age by using modified Kvaal’s formula and coronal pulp cavity index (CPCI) and compare the standard error and establish the technique among the Pune population. Materials and Methods: Four hundred cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were randomly selected with satisfying the established criteria. The second premolar was included in the study and the maximum length of tooth, root, and pulp was measured using modified Kvaal’s method and CPCI by using Planmeca CBCT machine with Romexis-three-dimensional imaging software. Results: The results were analyzed using the Chi-square test and ANOVA. Modified Kvaal’s formula was found to be the better followed by CPCI in the estimation of age among Indians with lesser error in prior. Conclusion: Modified Kvaal’s formula is precise, noninvasive, and most reliable biomarker for age estimation than tooth-coronal index.

Background: Studies on stature estimation models for North West Indian populations are limited. The present study attempts to develop stature estimation models for the Indian population using hand and foot dimensions. Materials and Methods: Hand and foot measurements of 280 individuals (140 males and 140 females) were recorded for the estimation of stature in the present study. The stature and nine hand and foot anthropometric measurements were obtained using standard methods and relevant landmarks. For bilateral and sex differences, independent and paired t-tests were used to statistically analyze the data. Results: The findings showed statistically significant sex differences (P < 0.05) in stature, foot, and hand measurements. However, there were no significant bilateral differences. The Pearson correlation coefficient assessed the association between stature and hand/foot measurements. All the studied parameters in both sexes demonstrated a statistically significant (P < 0.001) and strong positive correlation with stature. Males and females had the strongest correlation coefficients for right-foot length (r = 0.70) and right-hand length (r = 0.64), respectively. Each sex’s regression equations were calculated separately. Stature predictions were accurate to within 4.02–6.64 cm. Conclusion: Stature estimated from hand and foot measurements can help in personal identification by creating an individual’s biological profile. Morphological differences in feet and hands demonstrate the significance of developing ethnic group-specific models to determine stature. According to the study’s findings, the stature of a person belonging to the Indian subcontinent can be estimated using hands and feet for anthropological and forensic purposes.

Because of systemic discrimination, transgender individuals are at greater risk of being the victims of violence and of homicide. Accurate post-mortem identification from skeletonized remains of transgender individuals must be incorporated into a new standard for forensic anthropological analyses. A critical component of any investigation is the assessment of skeletal remains for evidence of gender-affirming care. A systematic review of the current medical literature was conducted to compile in one document descriptions of changes that could be used by forensic anthropologists to recognize skeletal manifestations resulting from gender-affirming surgeries, including facial feminization surgery (FFS), shoulder width reduction surgery, and limb-lengthening procedures. These skeletal changes, when present bilaterally and without evidence of healed trauma, serve as key indicators of a person’s transgender identity postmortem. Recognizing common patterns in bone structure alterations due to gender-affirming interventions will assist in identifying transgender individuals and providing closure for families. By integrating markers from gender-affirming care practices into forensic investigations, this research contributes to more inclusive and rigorous forensic investigations.

Gait recognition has become an increasingly promising area of research in the search for noninvasive and effective methods of person identification. Its potential applications in security systems and medical diagnosis make it an exciting field with wide-ranging implications. However, precisely recognizing and assessing gait patterns is difficult, particularly in changing situations or from multiple perspectives. In this study, we utilized the widely used CASIA-B dataset to observe the performance of our proposed gait recognition model, with the aim of addressing some of the existing limitations in this field. Fifty individuals are randomly selected from the dataset, and the resulting data are split evenly for training and testing purposes. We begin by excerpting features from gait photos using two well-known deep learning networks, MobileNetV1 and Xception. We then combined these features and reduced their dimensionality via principal component analysis (PCA) to improve the model's performance. We subsequently assessed the model using two distinct classifiers: a random forest and a one against all support vector machine (OaA-SVM). The findings indicate that the OaA-SVM classifier manifests superior performance compared to the others, with a mean accuracy of 98.77% over eleven different viewing angles. This study is conducive to the development of effective gait recognition algorithms that can be applied to heighten people's security and promote their well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human skull is the part of the skeleton most frequently used in population studies, as it was more exposed to genetic factors and less exposed to environmental factors. The skull is an important component in human forensic identification. The craniometric characteristics of 186 male and 114 female skulls found on the territory of Kazakhstan were studied. Dimensions were measured using standard anthropometric methods and instruments. The results of measurements of 25 craniometric parameters are presented. Methods of descriptive and parametric statistics were used. Statistical analysis showed significant regional dimorphism, confirming theindividuality of the Kazakhstan population. Statistically significant deviations werefound in 6 male craniometric characteristics and 4 female craniometric characteristics(p<0.05). The most dimorphous variables for regional identification in Kazakhstanmales were the higher skull base and frontal chord width , full face height , condylarand bigonial width , and low mandibular body reference values (p<0.05). For females,significant statistical discrepancies were seen in the transverse diameter and skullbase width, mastoid and occipital aperture width (p<0.05). The recorded variations and changes in the morphology of the humanskull of the population of Kazakhstan indicate the need to develop and updateosteometric standards used in practice for specific populations. All this will significantlyimprove the accuracy of forensic identification and more fully study the biologicalpatterns of population formation, as well as evaluate the comparative effectiveness ofindividual features in the reconstruction of the population history of various populationgroups. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subject identification via the subject's gait is challenging due to variations in the subject's carrying and dressing conditions in real-life scenes. This paper proposes a novel targeted 3-dimensional (3D) gait model (3D Gait) represented by a set of interpretable 3D Gait descriptors based on a 3D parametric body model. The 3D Gait descriptors are utilised as invariant gait features in the 3D Gait recognition method to address object carrying and dressing. The 3D Gait recognition method involves 2-dimensional (2D) to 3D Gait data learning based on 3D virtual samples, a semantic gait parameter estimation Long Short Time Memory (LSTM) network (3D-SGPE-LSTM), a feature fusion deep model based on a multi-set canonical correlation analysis, and SoftMax recognition network. First, a sensory experiment based on 3D body shape and pose deformation with 3D virtual dressing is used to fit 3D Gait onto the given 2D gait images. 3D interpretable semantic parameters control the 3D morphing and dressing involved. Similarity degree measurement determines the semantic descriptors of 2D gait images of subjects with various shapes, poses and styles. Second, using the 2D gait images as input and the subjects' corresponding 3D semantic descriptors as output, an end-to-end 3D-SGPE-LSTM is constructed and trained. Third, body shape, pose and external gait factors (3D- eFactors) are estimated using the 3D-SGPE-LSTM model to create a set of interpretable gait descriptors to represent the 3D Gait Model, i.e. 3D intrinsic semantic shape descriptor (3D- Shape); 3D skeleton-based gait pose descriptor (3D- Pose) and 3D dressing with other 3D- eFators. Finally, the 3D- Shape and 3D- Pose descriptors are coupled to a unified pattern space by learning prior knowledge from the 3D- eFators. Practical research on CASIA B, CMU MoBo, TUM GAID and GPJATK databases shows that 3D Gait is robust against object carrying and dressing variations, especially under multi-cross variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of DNA technology in legal forensic examinations was a pivotal point in the history of the legal justice system. It has helped law enforcement agencies worldwide solve cases such as rape, murder, terrorism and mass disasters. Commonly known as DNA fingerprinting or DNA profiling, this technology is used to identify individuals and establish relationships by analysing certain segments of DNA and their inheritance patterns. India was an early adopter of forensic DNA testing, which has now become an integral part of the judicial process across the country. Despite the continued success of DNA technology, laboratories across India are struggling to reach the global standards of DNA examination and have an overwhelming backlog of cases. This article reviews the development of human identification forensic DNA technologies and their adoption in India. Future prospects and challenges for the technology have also been elaborated, including a discussion on the recently introduced legal reforms assimilating modern forensic examination in the judicial process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to analyze the volume and area of sphenoid sinuses of Brazilian individuals' cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images using the beta version of the DDS-Pro™ 2.14.2_2022 software (DPP Systems, Czestochowa, Poland), to assess a potential correlation to sex, age, skin color, and nutritional status, and to evaluate differences between the right and left sides. Three-dimensional volume and area measurements were made with the software using CBCT images of 113 living Brazilian individuals of both sexes (67 females and 46 males). TEM, rTEM, and R were used to assess the reproducibility of inter- and intra-examiner measurements. The measurement means were estimated with 95% confidence intervals according to sex and age group. There were no significant differences between the left and right sides for both volume and area and between the sexes and black and white individuals. Volume and area were significantly higher in 18 years or older (p < 0.05) and in individuals with normal body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.05). The obtained results do not allow indicating the use of sphenoid sinuses volume and area measurements to estimate sexual dimorphism, and the same occurred for skin color. However, such measures can help to estimate age. Further studies are suggested with a larger sample, especially for the nutritional status variable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the insertion/deletion (InDel) polymorphism has become a preferred genetic marker in forensic genetics due to its low mutation rates and small amplicon sizes. In this study, a 36-InDelplex identification panel, consisting of autosomal 34 InDel loci, 1 Y InDel locus, and amelogenin, was developed, and gene frequencies in the Turkish population were determined. The loci of the InDel panel with global minimum allele frequencies (MAF) ≥ 0.4 were selected from the 1000 Genomes Project Phase 3 data. The amplicon sizes of the loci were designed in the range of 69-252 bp. In the validation study of the developed panel, analysis threshold, dynamic range, sensitivity, stochastic threshold, inhibitor tolerance, and reproducibility parameters were studied by following the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM) guidelines. The sensitivity studies indicated that complete and reliable InDel profiles could be obtained with 0.25 ng of DNA. A population study was evaluated using 250 samples from Turkey. The mean observed heterozygosity ratio (Ho) of all loci was 0.48. The combined discrimination power (CPD) is 0.999999999990867 and the combined exclusion probability (CPE) was 0.9930. The population comparison was also made using Turkish and the five major populations from the 1000 Genomes Phase 3 populations' data (Africa, Europe, East Asia, South Asia, and America). In conclusion, the results showed that the 36-InDelplex panel is a reliable, sensitive, and accurate system that is suitable for human identification and population genetics purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of systemic discrimination, transgender individuals are at greater risk of being the victims of violence and of homicide. Accurate post-mortem identification from skeletonized remains of transgender individuals must be incorporated into a new standard for forensic anthropological analyses. A critical component of any investigation is the assessment of skeletal remains for evidence of gender-affirming care. A systematic review of the current medical literature was conducted to compile in one document descriptions of changes that could be used by forensic anthropologists to recognize skeletal manifestations resulting from gender-affirming surgeries, including facial feminization surgery (FFS), shoulder width reduction surgery, and limb-lengthening procedures. These skeletal changes, when present bilaterally and without evidence of healed trauma, serve as key indicators of a person's transgender identity postmortem. Recognizing common patterns in bone structure alterations due to gender-affirming interventions will assist in identifying transgender individuals and providing closure for families. By integrating markers from gender-affirming care practices into forensic investigations, this research contributes to more inclusive and rigorous forensic investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facial identification for surgical and non-surgical datasets is getting popular. The reason behind this popularity is the growing need of a robust facial recognition system which is consistent to occlusion, spoofing attacks and last but most important plastic surgery effects. Plastic therapies are undertaken by individuals to beautify their external appearance but it is also undertaken by impostors to commit crimes and falsify their true identities. This research work aims at developing a facial recognition system which can identify genuine and impostor pairs. The projected methodology optimizes face detection via Back-Propagation Neural Network (BPNN) and dimensionality reduction by means of Speeded Up Robust Features followed by Multi-K-Nearest-Neighbor technique. The novelty is the production of an innovative-fangled T-Database which trains the BPNN. Thus, BPNN converges faster and achieves higher recognition. The proposed scheme is not applied till date on a medically altered dataset. We have applied five distance metrics and integrated them to acquire T-Dataset, which is fed to the BPNN. This scheme is tested on surgical and non-surgical datasets and it is deduced that higher recognition is achieved with non-surgical databases as compared to surgical ones. For both surgical and non-surgical datasets, the computational cost attained is the modest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA analysis plays a crucial role in forensic investigations, helping in criminal cases, missing persons inquiries, and archaeological research. This study focuses on the DNA concentration in different skeletal elements to improve human identification efforts. Ten cases of unidentified skeletal remains brought to the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Timisoara, Romania, underwent DNA analysis between 2019 and 2023. The results showed that teeth are the best source for DNA extraction as they contain the highest concentration of genetic material, at 3.68 ng/µL, compared to the petrous temporal bone (0.936 ng/µL) and femur bone (0.633 ng/µL). These findings highlight the significance of teeth in forensic contexts due to their abundant genetic material. Combining anthropological examination with DNA analysis enhances the understanding and precision of identifying human skeletal remains, thus advancing forensic science. Selecting specific skeletal elements, such as the cochlea or teeth, emerges as crucial for reliable genetic analyses, emphasizing the importance of careful consideration in forensic identification procedures. Our study concludes that automated DNA extraction protocols without liquid nitrogen represent a significant advancement in DNA extraction technology, providing a faster, more efficient, and less labor-intensive method for extracting high-quality DNA from damaged bone and tooth samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The frontal sinus is a well-preserved structure, hence making it a potential site of choice during forensic identification. The coexistence of 2-dimensional (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D) models from imaging has gained interest for forensic usage. Despite the existing comparison between 2D and 3D models, the comparison using frontal sinus within the same patient is yet to be explored. This upsurges a key question on the morphological consistency of 3D over 2D models on the frontal sinus. This pilot study compares the consistency of frontal sinus morphology between 2D and 3D frontal sinus reconstructed models. Methods: The samples comprised 30 digital skull radiographs and CT scans of the same subject. The 3D models of the frontal sinus were reconstructed from CT scans. The 2D and 3D models were superimposed, and the congruence of the morphological features was assessed in a superimposed state using a mix and wipe method. Results: The superimposed frontal sinus morphology on the 2D and 3D models shows a perfect match of 100% in the posteroanterior view. In the lateral view, 77% of the samples failed to match. Conclusion: The 3D frontal sinus model is more recommended to evaluate the frontal sinus region compared to the 2D model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular identification of extremely compromised human remains in forensic field is usually performed from DNA typing of bones, which are a difficult sample to work with. Moreover, autosomal STR profiles do not always result in the identification of the donor due to lack of comparisons or non-hit throughout database searching. An attempt to overcome these issues is represented by fingernails as an alternative DNA source and Y-STRs typing to infer both geographical and familial ancestry of the unknown donor. In this study, we analyzed both 24 autosomal and 27 Y-chromosome STRs from unidentified human remains (UHRs) of five males recovered from the water near the southwestern coast of Sardinia by the Italian Harbor Master's Office. Nail clippings provided an optimal source of autologous DNA for molecular identification in a very short time, producing complete autosomal and Y-STR profiles even under conditions of high body degradation. Unfortunately, no match neither compatibility occurred using autosomal STRs (aSTRs), initially. Upon analyzing the Y-haplotypes, we found out they had already been observed in northern Africa, providing us important investigative leads. This prompted the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) to provide us with references of alleged relatives that were then confirmed to be related. The use of fingernails represents an excellent DNA source especially for genetic identification of decomposed bodies recovered in seawater environment. Notably, DNA extracted from nails gave high-quality Y-STR haplotypes by which predicting paternal ancestry of the unidentified donors may result fundamental in the forensic investigative context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Badly burned skeletal remains are commonly submitted to forensic laboratories for victim identification via DNA analysis methods. Burned skeletal remains present many challenges for DNA analysis as they can contain low amounts of DNA which can also be damaged and degraded, resulting in partial or no STR profiles. Therefore, a simple, but effective screening method that identifies which samples may provide the most successful STR or mtDNA typing results for identification would enable forensic laboratories to save time, money, and resources. One metric that can be used and a screening method is the color of burned bone, as bone color changes with exposure to fire as temperature and length of exposure increase. This research developed a quantitative screening method based on the surface color of burned bone. The different visual bone colors (light brown, dark brown, black, gray, and white) were quantified using the Commission on Illumination L*a*b color space. These values were then compared to DNA yield, STR, and mtDNA profile completeness to identify whether the L*a*b values can predict genotyping success. A Bayesian network was constructed to determine the probability of STR typing success, given a set of L*a*b values. Results demonstrated that samples with an a* value greater than or equal to one and b* value greater than eight (light brown and dark brown burned samples) were the most predictive of STR typing success and mtDNA typing success. A decision tree for processing burned bones was constructed based on the color value thresholds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Age estimation is a crucial component of human identification in forensic science. It has a vital role in forensic anthropology, including examinations of skeletal remains, disaster victim identification, and locating missing individuals. Present communication focuses on the age estimation through the examination of ossification centers of bones and its significance in identifying the age of 18 years old, a recognized age of majority in many countries. The process of ossification is integral to biological development and serves as critical standard for age estimation in forensic identification. This study reviews relevant literature from well-known databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect. Additionally, the present review elaborates various classification methods used by authors to classify the stages of ossification centers of bones. The objective of this communication is to assess the effectiveness of both imaging and physical methods for age estimation and to provide a critical comparison to determine the superior approach. The findings suggest that imaging methods are more reliable for the estimation of age from ossification centers. Staging methods introduced by Schmeling et al, Kellinghaus et al, Dedouit et al, Vieth et al, and Kvist et al. are found to be the best methods for age estimation.

Introduction: Apart from age, sex and racial affiliation, the estimation of stature from human extremities is an important step in developing a biological profile for identifying an unknown individual, especially when the body found is either dismembered, mutilated, or disfigured. Aim: To estimate the stature from upper arm dimensions such as arm span, Hand Length (HL) and Hand Breadth (HB) in the adolescent age group of the West Bengal population. Materials and Methods: The present analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at a school in Kolkata from January 2023 to March 2023, involving 120 adolescent school-going boys aged 10-16 years. The arm span, HL and HB of both right and left hands were measured using standard anthropometric procedures. The Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationship between stature and various upper limb dimensions. The significance of differences was tested using an independent t-test. Results: The mean age of the study population was 12.05 years. The mean of arm span was 145.83 cm and, mean of HB (right and left sides) and; HL (right and left sides) were 7.52953 cm and 7.52955 cm; 16.13221 cm and 16.13218 cm, respectively. Univariate linear regression analysis showed that all variables, including arm span, HB and HL were significant predictors of stature (p-value

Abstract Facial identification for surgical and non-surgical datasets is getting popular. The reason behind this popularity is the growing need of a robust facial recognition system which is consistent to occlusion, spoofing attacks and last but most important plastic surgery effects. Plastic therapies are undertaken by individuals to beautify their external appearance but it is also undertaken by impostors to commit crimes and falsify their true identities. This research work aims at developing a facial recognition system which can identify genuine and impostor pairs. The projected methodology optimizes face detection via Back-Propagation Neural Network (BPNN) and dimensionality reduction by means of Speeded Up Robust Features followed by Multi-K-Nearest-Neighbor technique. The novelty is the production of an innovative-fangled T-Database which trains the BPNN. Thus, BPNN converges faster and achieves higher recognition. The proposed scheme is not applied till date on a medically altered dataset. We have applied five distance metrics and integrated them to acquire T-Dataset, which is fed to the BPNN. This scheme is tested on surgical and non-surgical datasets and it is deduced that higher recognition is achieved with non-surgical databases as compared to surgical ones. For both surgical and non-surgical datasets, the computational cost attained is the modest.

Background: Studies on stature estimation models for North West Indian populations are limited. The present study attempts to develop stature estimation models for the Indian population using hand and foot dimensions. Materials and Methods: Hand and foot measurements of 280 individuals (140 males and 140 females) were recorded for the estimation of stature in the present study. The stature and nine hand and foot anthropometric measurements were obtained using standard methods and relevant landmarks. For bilateral and sex differences, independent and paired t-tests were used to statistically analyze the data. Results: The findings showed statistically significant sex differences (P < 0.05) in stature, foot, and hand measurements. However, there were no significant bilateral differences. The Pearson correlation coefficient assessed the association between stature and hand/foot measurements. All the studied parameters in both sexes demonstrated a statistically significant (P < 0.001) and strong positive correlation with stature. Males and females had the strongest correlation coefficients for right-foot length (r = 0.70) and right-hand length (r = 0.64), respectively. Each sex's regression equations were calculated separately. Stature predictions were accurate to within 4.02-6.64 cm. Conclusion: Stature estimated from hand and foot measurements can help in personal identification by creating an individual's biological profile. Morphological differences in feet and hands demonstrate the significance of developing ethnic group-specific models to determine stature. According to the study's findings, the stature of a person belonging to the Indian subcontinent can be estimated using hands and feet for anthropological and forensic purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background/Objectives: Accurate determination of chronological age is crucial in legal dental identification. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of different formulas in estimating the age of a Brazilian subpopulation by analyzing the pulp/tooth ratio of the maxillary canine and mandibular second premolar in panoramic and periapical radiographs. (2) Methods: The sample consisted of panoramic and periapical radiographs of 247 individuals. The file of each radiograph was opened in the Adobe Photoshop CS4® program to outline and obtain values in pixels for calculating the pulp/tooth ratio. Statistical analysis was conducted using the SPSS program, with a significance level set at 5%. (3) Results: The interclass correlation coefficient demonstrated excellent intra-observer agreement (0.990–0.999). The determination coefficients (R2) suggested that only 30–35% of the actual age results could be explained by the pulp/tooth ratio. The smallest differences were observed with Cameriere's formula for the mandibular second premolar on panoramic radiographs (+4.1 years). The greatest differences were found with the formulas for the mandibular second premolar in panoramic radiographs of the Korean (+12.5 years) and Portuguese (−12.1 years) populations. (4) Conclusions: The equations employed showed little agreement between the actual age and the estimated age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forensic dental photography is an integral aspect of forensic odontology, serving as a pivotal tool for the accurate documentation and analysis of dental structures in the identification of human remains. This specialized field focuses on the meticulous capture of visual records, including teeth, oral tissues, and bite marks, to support the process of establishing individual identities and aiding criminal investigations. This abstract underscores the critical role played by forensic dental photography in producing detailed and reliable images, essential for comparing antemortem and postmortem dental records, as well as evaluating dental anomalies and pathologies. Specialized techniques, such as ultraviolet and infrared imaging, are employed to enhance the visibility of subtle features that may be overlooked using traditional methods. The systematic approach employed in image acquisition ensures the creation of a standardized forensic dental profile, contributing to the interdisciplinary collaboration among forensic odontologists, photographers, and law enforcement agencies. The abstract emphasizes the evolving nature of forensic dental photography and its continued significance in advancing criminal investigations and providing resolution for families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Human Identification based on dental evidence cannot be accomplished if antemortem dental records are unavailable or of poor quality. The involvement of the orthodontist in mass disaster victim identification processes may be crucial in relation to the amount and quality of the records which can be obtained before, during, and following the treatment. Aim: The aim of the study is the description of the contribution of the findings drawn from orthodontic records to the identification of victims of mass disasters who had received an orthodontic treatment, through the presentation of two cases. The first case involves the identification of a child victim of a plane crash and the second case involves the identification of two identical twin girls who died in a fire. In both cases, the identification was based on the findings obtained from the ante-mortem records provided by the orthodontist. Conclusions: The orthodontists apply customized orthodontic appliances and keep a comprehensive file of images, casts, radiographs, and other records in their practice. As a result, they can make a substantial contribution to the identification of young people or even adult victims of mass disasters in any case in which the authorities make a request. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. This meta-analysis addresses the use of mandibular computed tomography (CT) scans for age and/or sex determination in forensic science. Methods. Six databases were searched until June 2023, using the keyword "mandible" combined with keywords related to "multislice computed tomography" (MCT) or "cone-beam computed tomography" (CBCT) and keywords related to "skeletal age determination" or "sex determination analysis." Main Results. Among the 23 studies included, 11 used MCT and 12 used CBCT to perform forensic assessments. Age determination was the aim of a single study, sex and age determinations were the objective of five studies, and the other studies investigated the determination of sex only. Metaanalysis could be performed only for sex determination. Conclusions. Mandible measurements are useful in sex determination, as the bicondylar and bigonial breadth are larger in males than in females. For the mandible angle, the meta-analysis results confirm sex dimorphism in CBCT scans but not in MCT scans. For age estimation, further studies are needed to prove that the mandible hole is a reliable parameter for age estimation. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021260967. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to better health care anticipates that more medical devices can be found alongside skeletal remains. Those employed in oral rehabilitation, with available brands or batch/series, can prove useful in the identification process. A previous study in the Colecção de Esqueletos Identificados Século XXI described macroscopically the dental prostheses. An unusual case of a dental device with chromatic alterations demonstrated to require a more detailed analysis. The individual, a 53-year-old male, exhibited, at both arches, a fixed tooth-supported rehabilitation, with gold colouring classified initially as a gold-palladium alloy. Simultaneously, a green pigmentation deposit was observable in bone and prosthesis. This investigation aimed to verify the elemental composition of the dental prosthesis alloy. Elemental analysis was performed by X-ray fluorescence in two regions (labial surface of the prosthetic crown and the root surface of the lower right lateral incisor). Both the spectra and the qualitative results found higher levels of copper and aluminium, followed by nickel, iron, zinc, and manganese. No gold or palladium was detected. The most probable assumption is that a copper-aluminium alloy was used, as its elemental concentration corresponds to those measured in similar devices. Dental prostheses of copper-aluminium alloys have been made popular since the 1980s, particularly in the USA, Japan, and Eastern Europe. Apart from the biographical information, it was also known that the individual's place of birth was an Eastern European country, which highlighted the usefulness of this type of information when dealing with missing people cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to conduct a systematic review to gather evidence to clarify if cheiloscopy can be used in sex estimation and identify the reasons behind the lack of consensus in the scientific community. The systematic review was performed following the PRISMA guidelines. A bibliographic survey was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, restricted to articles published between 2010 and 2020. Studies were selected according to eligibility criteria, and then the study data were collected. The risk of bias in each study was assessed and applied as additional inclusion or exclusion criteria. The results of the articles eligible for analysis were synthesized using a descriptive approach. In the 41 included studies, several methodological flaws and variations between studies that contribute to the discrepancy in results were identified. The data gathered allowed us to conclude that there is no strong scientific evidence to support the use of cheiloscopy in sex estimation, as there is no specific pattern for each sex, which reduces the criminalistic interest of cheiloscopy in estimating this parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forensic Odontology (FO) identification compares antemortem (AM) and postmortem (PM) dental datasets and is widely accepted as a primary identifier. Traditionally, a PM dental examination is undertaken in the same manner as a dental examination conducted for a living patient. Recently, the increased forensic application of computed tomography (CT) offers an alternative source of PM data. While charting from PMCT is widely accepted as less accurate, the impact on reconciliation is unknown. This study aims to determine if reconciliation outcome differs when PM dental data is collected from PMCT, compared with conventional PM examination. PMCT data was reviewed for 21 cases previously completed using conventional PM dental examination. Operators blinded to original identification outcomes charted from CT images before comparing to AM data to form an opinion regarding identity. Opinions formed were compared with original identification outcomes. Differences in PM dental charting between the two methods and the evidentiary value of AM and PM datasets were assessed to determine driving factors of differences in identification outcome. Compared to conventional PM dental examination, PMCT examination resulted in similar or less certain identification outcomes. Discrepancies in outcome were driven by the quality of AM and PM datasets rather than inaccuracies in charting from PMCT. Based on the results of this study, both conventional and PMCT methods of PM dental examination can reach similar identification outcomes. However, operators remained more certain in establishing identity when conducting conventional PM dental examinations especially when AM data was lacking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A common application for intraoral scanners is the digitization of the morphology of teeth and palatal rugae. Palatal scans are most commonly required to fabricate complete dentures and immediate transitional dentures and serve as a reference point for assessing orthodontic results. However, they are also frequently included by accident, even though the main purpose of intraoral scanning is to reconstruct dentition using computer-aided manufacturing (CAM). The literature shows that the identification of disaster victims has frequently involved palatal rugae impressions. As the skull provides sound insulation, the rugae are resistant to heat, chemicals, and stress. Antemortem data might be difficult to find during a forensic inquiry, particularly in disaster victim identification cases. In contrast with DNA and fingerprints, there is a greater likelihood of having a dental record that contains palatal scans. With specialized software, the scans can be exported as open stereolithography (STL) files. Considering that a full case consumes up to about 100 MB of hard drive space, long-term storage should not be an issue compared to a plaster model. Additionally, dentists widely use online databases to exchange data for smile design, implant registration, and orthodontic purposes. This will produce a digital database that grows quickly and is readily usable for forensic investigations. The uniqueness of forensic features is frequently challenged; however, palatal morphology's unique trait could make it possible as it is characteristic of individuals as well as the most distinguishing factor. This review will highlight how rugae, palatal morphology, mirroring, superimposition, and geometrics can serve in forensic identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Grinding enamel samples improves reproducibility and yield of isotope analyses. • Acetic acid leaching of enamel causes systematic shift in δ18O values. • Oxidant treatment did not further affect values if followed by acid leaching. • Samples stored in ambient and dry environments gave similar results. • For well-preserved samples, grinding without chemical treatment is optimal. Isotopic analysis of human tooth enamel can provide life history information useful in forensic identification. These applications depend on the availability of reference data documenting isotopic values for individuals with known life history and on the comparability of data from reference and case work samples. Here we build on previous methodological research, which has largely focused on paleontological and archaeological samples, and conduct experiments using enamel from modern human teeth targeting three sample preparation variables (sample particle size, storage conditions, and chemical pretreatments). Our results suggest that differences in particle size affect the efficiency of sample reactions during pretreatment and analysis, with coarse particles giving reduced loss of enamel carbonate during acid pretreatments but producing slightly higher oxygen isotope values than fine particles during analysis. Data for samples stored in dry and ambient environments following pretreatment were indistinguishable, suggesting no exchange of oxygen between samples and ambient water vapor. Finally, chemical pretreatments with a range of commonly used reactants and conditions showed a pervasive, moderate oxygen isotope shift associated with acetic acid treatment, which may be caused by exchange of enamel hydroxyl groups with reagents or rinse waters. Collectively, the results emphasize the importance of methodological standardization to improve comparability and reduce potential for bias in the forensic application of tooth enamel isotope data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In October 2022, the Centre for Ethics of Yenepoya University hosted a national workshop entitled: "Respect for human dignity of the unidentified dead from mass disasters and other violence: strategies for the ethical management of biological samples and personal data". The aim was to explore and share experience and ethical considerations regarding the management and identification of human remains in the event of disasters, with the purpose to arrive at a general consensus about what constitutes the ethical foundation of the management of unidentified human remains in forensic practice and, in particular, contextualizing this in India. The main ethical consideration that emerged was tracing the missing and identifying the dead are crucial to maintaining or restoring basic human rights and responsible relief activities. Identification is not only an organizational and scientific achievement but, regardless of circumstances, also necessarily and always an activity with significant political, epistemic, and philosophical relevance and consequence. In India, it could be important to consider new legal provisions for the management of human samples so that this would provide a starting point for the treatment of human remains managed for forensic purposes with uniformity in the country. Another important step in which governments should take part regards the involvement and education of the general public to develop their interest in this important goal. In the field of forensic anthropology, artificial intelligence can support, through the use of algorithms, the decision-making process that leads to the identification of the victim or its remains. Furthermore, they can be used to extract new knowledge from huge databases and shorten identification through computer automation of data binding activities. Applying artificial intelligence tools in forensic sciences to collect new information from massive datasets to enhance knowledge, and reduce human subjectivity and errors, provides a greater scientific basis that could improve the strength of the evidence and support the admissibility of expert evidence. In light of the general lack of national/international guidance about ethical oversight for identification and care of human remains, the fact that regulations are frequently not adequate to govern ethical aspects, we hope that an internationally recognized body should develop such guidance in collaboration with relevant organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]