No abstract

Despite varied attempts to achieve standardization in traditional techniques and the promotion of some newly developed ones, facial reconstruction remains on the threshold between art and science. It is the point at which science ends and the medical illustrator takes over that has led to most reservations over this branch of forensic anthropology. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that many techniques of facial reconstruction are prima facie questionable and to illustrate some possible solutions to the problems which are currently being explored by the Facial Reconstruction Project at the University of Sheffield (UK). The review includes 15 responses to a questionnaire which was offered to facial reconstruction experts and related specialists. The use of 3D color laser scanning equipment, collection of tissue depth measurements from CT scans and the development of a computer system for 3D forensic facial reconstruction, are described.

Specimens of human bone, teeth and dried blood spots from 3 months to 91 years old, with a variety of postmortem histories, were used in a comparative study of recovery of single-copy nuclear DNA sequences from forensic material. Sequences of the amelogenin and HLA-DPB1 genes were chosen for their value in sexing and identification. Sequences of the mitochondrial non-coding region V were also amplified to compare the recovery of mitochondrial and single-copy nuclear DNA. A variation of the silica method for DNA extraction was refined for application to the forensic specimens in this sample. Single-copy nuclear DNA was amplified from 100% of recent postoperative bone specimens (n = 6), 80% of forensic teeth and bone specimens (n = 10), 78% of recently extracted teeth (n = 18), 78% of exhumed bone up to 91 years old (n = 37) and 69% of 15 year old bone specimens fixed in 10% formalin (n = 20). Amelogenin sexing was correct in 85% of cases (n = 74) in which the sex of the donor had been recorded. There was no correlation between the age of the specimen and the extent of DNA preservation.

The study of facial growth is explored in many fields of science, including anatomy, genetics, and forensics. In the field of forensics, it acts as a valuable tool for combating child pornography. The present research proposes a new method, based on relative measurements and fixed references of the human face—specifically considering measurements of the diameter of the iris (iris ratio)—for the analysis of facial growth in association with age in children and sub-adults. The experimental sample consisted of digital photographs of 1000 Brazilian subjects, aged between 6 and 22 years, distributed equally by sex and divided into five specific age groups (6, 10, 14, 18, and 22 year olds ± one month). The software package SAFF-2D® (Forensic Facial Analysis System, Brazilian Federal Police, Brazil) was used for positioning 11 landmarks on the images. Ten measurements were calculated and used as fixed references to evaluate the growth of the other measurements for each age group, as well the accumulated growth (6–22 years old). The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) was applied for the evaluation of intra-examiner and inter-examiner reliability within a specific set of images. Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient was used to assess the association between each measurement taken and the respective age groups. ANOVA and Post-hoc Tukey tests were used to search for statistical differences between the age groups. The outcomes indicated that facial structures grow with different timing in children and adolescents. Moreover, the growth allometry expressed in this study may be used to understand what structures have more or less proportional variation in function for the age ranges studied. The diameter of the iris was found to be the most stable measurement compared to the others and represented the best cephalometric measurement as a fixed reference for facial growth ratios (or indices). The method described shows promising potential for forensic applications, especially as part of the armamentarium against crimes involving child pornography and child abuse.

The human KDM7 subfamily histoneH 3N emethyll ysine demethylases PHF8 (KDM7B) and KIAA1718 (KDM7A) have different substrate selectivities and are linked to genetic diseases and cancer.W ed escribe experimentally basedc omputational studies revealing that flexibility of the region linking the PHD finger and JmjC domains in PHF8 and KIAA1718 regulates interdomain interactions, the nature of correlated motions, and ultimately H3 binding and demethylation site selectivity.F 279S an Xlinked mental retardation mutation in PHF8 is involved in correlated motions with the iron ligandsa nd second sphere residues. The calculations revealkey roles of aflexible protein environment in productive formation of enzyme-substrate complexes and suggest targeting the flexible KDM7 linker region is of interest from am edicinal chemistry perspective.The methylation states of Lys-and Arg-residues on histones can have profound effects on the structures and functions of chromatin, with consequences for expression in healthy and diseased tissues. [1a, 2] Methyl transferases and demethylases regulate histone methylation status. The largestf amily of Nemethyl Lys-demethylases (KDMs)b elongs to as uperfamily of non-hemeF e II dependento xygenases, which catalyzeawide range of reactions including hydroxylations, deoxygenations, ring formations, halogenations, and demethylations, normally coupled to 2-oxoglutarate (2OG) cosubstrate oxidation. [1a, 2, 3]

Bedouin are traditionally nomadic inhabitants of the Persian Gulf who claim descent from two male lineages: Adnani and Qahtani. We have investigated whether or not this tradition is reflected in the current genetic structure of a sample of 153 Bedouin males from six Kuwaiti tribes, including three tribes from each traditional lineage. Volunteers were genotyped using a panel of autosomal and Y-STRs, and Y-SNPs. The samples clustered with their geographical neighbours in both the autosomal and Y-chromosomal analyses, and showed strong evidence of genetic isolation and drift. Whilst there was no evidence of segregation into the two male lineages, other aspects of genetic structure were in accord with tradition.

Improvement of methods for evidential facial comparison for the Courts relies on the collection of large databases of facial images that permit the analysis of face shape variation and the development of statistical tools. In this paper, we present a short description and key findings of an anthropometric study of face shape variation in three-dimensions. We used Statistical Shape Analysis to investigate a large database sample (n = 1968), classified by age and gender. We found that size, shape of the bilateral features and midline contributed successively to overall variation. Face size is associated with age. Sexual dimorphism is evident in size and shape, and shows patterns that affect male and female subjects differently. We anticipate this approach will lend itself to the development of methods for analysis of variation within subject groups and the establishment of the relative uniqueness or abundance of facial measurements within them.

Distinct conformational effects influence structure-function correlations in AlkB and FTO.