The Effects of Sharp‐Force Thoracic Trauma on the Rate and Pattern of Decomposition

Smith, Ashley C.

doi:10.1111/1556-4029.12338

Cited by 17 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 19 publications

(68 reference statements)

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“…Degree-days (DD) were calculated with the formula DD = T − LT, where T is the mean daily temperature of the ground level and LT is a lower temperature threshold. For the purpose of this study, 0 °C was used as the lower temperature threshold, as this threshold is widely accepted in forensic decomposition studies [ 16 , 22 – 29 ]. When T < LT, DD were set to zero.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of body mass and clothing on decomposition of pig carcasses

et al. 2014

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Carcass mass and carcass clothing are factors of potential high forensic importance. In casework, corpses differ in mass and kind or extent of clothing; hence, a question arises whether methods for post-mortem interval estimation should take these differences into account. Unfortunately, effects of carcass mass and clothing on specific processes in decomposition and related entomological phenomena are unclear. In this article, simultaneous effects of these factors are analysed. The experiment followed a complete factorial block design with four levels of carcass mass (small carcasses 5–15 kg, medium carcasses 15.1–30 kg, medium/large carcasses 35–50 kg, large carcasses 55–70 kg) and two levels of carcass clothing (clothed and unclothed). Pig carcasses (N = 24) were grouped into three blocks, which were separated in time. Generally, carcass mass revealed significant and frequently large effects in almost all analyses, whereas carcass clothing had only minor influence on some phenomena related to the advanced decay. Carcass mass differently affected particular gross processes in decomposition. Putrefaction was more efficient in larger carcasses, which manifested itself through earlier onset and longer duration of bloating. On the other hand, active decay was less efficient in these carcasses, with relatively low average rate, resulting in slower mass loss and later onset of advanced decay. The average rate of active decay showed a significant, logarithmic increase with an increase in carcass mass, but only in these carcasses on which active decay was driven solely by larval blowflies. If a blowfly-driven active decay was followed by active decay driven by larval Necrodes littoralis (Coleoptera: Silphidae), which was regularly found in medium/large and large carcasses, the average rate showed only a slight and insignificant increase with an increase in carcass mass. These results indicate that lower efficiency of active decay in larger carcasses is a consequence of a multi-guild and competition-related pattern of this process. Pattern of mass loss in large and medium/large carcasses was not sigmoidal, but rather exponential. The overall rate of decomposition was strongly, but not linearly, related to carcass mass. In a range of low mass decomposition rate increased with an increase in mass, then at about 30 kg, there was a distinct decrease in rate, and again at about 50 kg, the rate slightly increased. Until about 100 accumulated degree-days larger carcasses gained higher total body scores than smaller carcasses. Afterwards, the pattern was reversed; moreover, differences between classes of carcasses enlarged with the progress of decomposition. In conclusion, current results demonstrate that cadaver mass is a factor of key importance for decomposition, and as such, it should be taken into account by decomposition-related methods for post-mortem interval estimation.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of body mass and clothing on decomposition of pig carcasses

et al. 2014

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“…These three scores were then added to give an overall total body score (TBS) for a particular body. The TBS scores were then used in further calculations and have also since been used in various other studies in several regions of the world (16,18,(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31). Most of these studies were, however, conducted on pig or rabbit remains, and no systematic review, analysis, or validations of the Megyesi et al TBS scoring system on pig remains has been performed since their original study.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Scoring of Decomposition: A Proposed Amendment to the Method When Using a Pig Model for Human Studies

Keough

Myburgh

Steyn

2016

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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Decomposition studies often use pigs as proxies for human cadavers. However, differences in decomposition sequences/rates relative to humans have not been scientifically examined. Descriptions of five main decomposition stages (humans) were developed and refined by Galloway and later by Megyesi. However, whether these changes/processes are alike in pigs is unclear. Any differences can have significant effects when pig models are used for human PMI estimation. This study compared human decomposition models to the changes observed in pigs. Twenty pigs (50-90 kg) were decomposed over five months and decompositional features recorded. Total body scores (TBS) were calculated. Significant differences were observed during early decomposition between pigs and humans. An amended scoring system to be used in future studies was developed. Standards for PMI estimation derived from porcine models may not directly apply to humans and may need adjustment. Porcine models, however, remain valuable to study variables influencing decomposition.

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“…The motivation for this varies and is linked to each study's objectives. Studies seeking to determine the effects of specific variables on the decay process need to control for as many variables as possible, and excluding scavenging is the easiest way to control for it [39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52]. Scavenging is not a uniform occurrence in decomposition scenarios, so some researchers exclude it when establishing baseline data.…”

Section: Forensic Realismmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of experimental design in forensic taphonomy: moving towards forensic realism

Miles

Finaughty

Gibbon

2020

Forensic Sciences Research

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Forensic taphonomy as a discipline requires standardization to satisfy Daubert criteria for scientific data to be admissible in court. In response, there has been a shift towards quantification of methodology and estimating the post-mortem interval. Despite these advances, there are still biases and limitations within the discipline not explicitly addressed in the early stages of experimental design nor in final published works. In this article, unresolved debates with respect to the conductance and reporting of forensic taphonomic research are reviewed, beginning with the nature of experimental cadavers, human or animal analogues and their body size, and second, the forensic realism of experimental setups, specifically with respect to caging, clothing and number of carcases. Pigs, albeit imperfect, are a good model to gain a general idea of the trends that may be seen in humans in subsequent validation studies in facilities where human donors are available. To date, there is no consensus among taphonomists on the extent of the effect that body mass has on decomposition progression. More research is required with both human cadavers and non-human analogues that builds on our current knowledge of forensic taphonomy to answer these nagging questions. This will enable the discipline to make the reliable assumption that pigs and donor decomposition data can be applied to homicide cases. A suite of experimental design aspects is suggested to ensure systematic and standardized data collection across different biogeoclimatic circumstances to identify and quantify the effects of potential confounding variables. Such studies in multiple, varied biogeographic circumstances with standardized protocols, equipment and carrion will facilitate independent global validation of patterns. These factors are reviewed to show the need for adjustments in experimental design to ensure relevance and applicability of data within locally realistic forensic situations. The initiation of a global decomposition data network for forensic taphonomists is recommended. KEY POINTS Pigs are a valuable, albeit imperfect, proxy for human decomposition studies. There are few or conflicting data on effects of carcase size, carrion ecology, exclusion cages and scavengers. We recommend single, clothed, uncaged carcases for baseline research to reflect regionally specific forensic casework.

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The Effects of Sharp‐Force Thoracic Trauma on the Rate and Pattern of Decomposition

Cited by 17 publications

References 19 publications

Effect of body mass and clothing on decomposition of pig carcasses

Effect of body mass and clothing on decomposition of pig carcasses

Scoring of Decomposition: A Proposed Amendment to the Method When Using a Pig Model for Human Studies

A review of experimental design in forensic taphonomy: moving towards forensic realism

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