The Estimation of Stature from the Tarsals: Enhancing the Disaster Victim Identification Process in Thailand Using the Calcaneus and the Talus

Abstract

ii ACKNOWLEGMENTS This thesis could not have been completed without the support and copious contributions of numerous people and institutions. The quality of this research was significantly enhanced by the kindly contributions of my thesis committee. First and foremost, I express gratitude to my thesis committee supervisor, Dr. Tanya Peckmann for her direction, supervision, devotion, and patience (during the countless hours spent reading and revising my work). As a teacher and an advisor, you have provided invaluable experiences and opportunities that have helped to shape my career, and I have grown so much as a scholar, teacher, and a professional under your tutelage. I also wish to thank the supporting members of my thesis committee, Dr. Michelle Patriquin and Dr. Claudia Garrido-Varas for their expertise and feedback. During my time at Saint Mary's University, Michelle has become both a mentor and a friend. So often I pushed forward with revived motivation after our impromptu discussions; you have been a valuable and positive resource throughout my degree. Thank you is also extended to Dr. Claudia Garrido-Varas, who was able to provide unique insight into this research based on her practical experience as a forensic advisor in Thailand during the 2004 'Boxing Day' tsunami. Thank you, Claudia, for agreeing to serve on my committee, and for taking the time to review my work while abroad. generous with her time over the years, guiding me through statistical analyses and interpretation on more than one occasion, and patiently answering my constant barrage of questions. Susan, your assistance has immeasurably enriched my research. Finally, thank you to my family and friends for their unwavering support, encouragement, and willingness to lend an ear or share a drink.

Stature estimation using the sacrum in a Thai population

“…The correlation coefficient, the R 2 , and the SEE of our models were not as high as the stature estimation using the long bone and non-long bone dimensions such as calcaneus and talus [ 9 ], vertebral column [ 8 ], sternum [ 29 ], skull [ 10 , 11 ], and lumbar vertebral [ 12 ] of a previous study in the Thai population. However, the accuracy of stature estimation using the sacrum was superior to that using skull and lumbar vertebrae images in the Thai population ( Table 9 ).…”

“…However, the accuracy of stature estimation using the sacrum was superior to that using skull and lumbar vertebrae images in the Thai population ( Table 9 ). The highest correlation coefficients of the stature estimation model using the calcaneus and talus in males and females were 0.71 and 0.66, and the lowest SEE was 5.70 and 5.68 cm [ 9 ]. The highest correlation coefficient of stature estimation using the vertebral column was 0.79, and the lowest SEE was 5.80 cm [ 28 ], whereas the stature estimation using the skull and mandible dimensions was 0.72, and the lowest SEE was 7.05 cm [ 12 ].…”

Stature estimation using the sacrum in a Thai population

“…The correlation coefficient, the R 2 , and the SEE of our models were not as high as the stature estimation using the long bone and non-long bone dimensions such as calcaneus and talus [ 9 ], vertebral column [ 8 ], sternum [ 29 ], skull [ 10 , 11 ], and lumbar vertebral [ 12 ] of a previous study in the Thai population. However, the accuracy of stature estimation using the sacrum was superior to that using skull and lumbar vertebrae images in the Thai population ( Table 9 ).…”

“…However, the accuracy of stature estimation using the sacrum was superior to that using skull and lumbar vertebrae images in the Thai population ( Table 9 ). The highest correlation coefficients of the stature estimation model using the calcaneus and talus in males and females were 0.71 and 0.66, and the lowest SEE was 5.70 and 5.68 cm [ 9 ]. The highest correlation coefficient of stature estimation using the vertebral column was 0.79, and the lowest SEE was 5.80 cm [ 28 ], whereas the stature estimation using the skull and mandible dimensions was 0.72, and the lowest SEE was 7.05 cm [ 12 ].…”

Stature estimation using the sternum in a Thai population

“…Even though the accuracy of stature estimation using sternal dimension in a Thai population of our study was inferior to those of long bones which can be estimated the stature with highest R of 0.783 and 0.785, and lowest SEE was 4.95 cm and 5.10 cm, for males and females respectively [ 5 ]. However, when comparing with the stature estimation model using non-long bones in the Thai population, stature estimation using the sternum was better than those of the skull and mandible but inferior to those of vertebral columns, calcaneus, and talus [ 25 - 27 ]. The stature estimation using vertebral column showed best R was 0.725 and lowest SEE was 5.796 cm [ 25 ], the calcaneus and talus showed highest R in male and female was 0.63 and 0.54 and lowest SEE was 5.95 and 3.06 cm, respectively [ 26 ], whereas the stature estimation using the skull and mandible dimension indicated the highest R was 0.403 and 0.709 and the lowest SEE was 7.319 cm and 6.216 cm, for males and females, respectively.…”

Distal Humerus Morphological Variation and Sex Estimation in Modern Thai Individuals,

“…Further, archaeologically derived Native American remains have historically served as representatives for modern Asian populations due to the lack of Asian individuals represented in North American skeletal collections. Recently, however, efforts to explore skeletal biology in Asian groups have resulted in population‐specific advancements in sex , age‐at‐death , ancestry , and stature estimations. These studies have largely demonstrated that the biological profile methods developed on non‐Asian groups can produce significant error if applied to individuals from Asia.…”

Stature estimation using the sacrum in a Thai population

“…The correlation coefficient, the R 2 , and the SEE of our models were not as high as the stature estimation using the long bone and non-long bone dimensions such as calcaneus and talus [ 9 ], vertebral column [ 8 ], sternum [ 29 ], skull [ 10 , 11 ], and lumbar vertebral [ 12 ] of a previous study in the Thai population. However, the accuracy of stature estimation using the sacrum was superior to that using skull and lumbar vertebrae images in the Thai population ( Table 9 ).…”

“…However, the accuracy of stature estimation using the sacrum was superior to that using skull and lumbar vertebrae images in the Thai population ( Table 9 ). The highest correlation coefficients of the stature estimation model using the calcaneus and talus in males and females were 0.71 and 0.66, and the lowest SEE was 5.70 and 5.68 cm [ 9 ]. The highest correlation coefficient of stature estimation using the vertebral column was 0.79, and the lowest SEE was 5.80 cm [ 28 ], whereas the stature estimation using the skull and mandible dimensions was 0.72, and the lowest SEE was 7.05 cm [ 12 ].…”

Stature estimation using the sternum in a Thai population

“…Even though the accuracy of stature estimation using sternal dimension in a Thai population of our study was inferior to those of long bones which can be estimated the stature with highest R of 0.783 and 0.785, and lowest SEE was 4.95 cm and 5.10 cm, for males and females respectively [ 5 ]. However, when comparing with the stature estimation model using non-long bones in the Thai population, stature estimation using the sternum was better than those of the skull and mandible but inferior to those of vertebral columns, calcaneus, and talus [ 25 - 27 ]. The stature estimation using vertebral column showed best R was 0.725 and lowest SEE was 5.796 cm [ 25 ], the calcaneus and talus showed highest R in male and female was 0.63 and 0.54 and lowest SEE was 5.95 and 3.06 cm, respectively [ 26 ], whereas the stature estimation using the skull and mandible dimension indicated the highest R was 0.403 and 0.709 and the lowest SEE was 7.319 cm and 6.216 cm, for males and females, respectively.…”

Distal Humerus Morphological Variation and Sex Estimation in Modern Thai Individuals,

“…Further, archaeologically derived Native American remains have historically served as representatives for modern Asian populations due to the lack of Asian individuals represented in North American skeletal collections. Recently, however, efforts to explore skeletal biology in Asian groups have resulted in population‐specific advancements in sex , age‐at‐death , ancestry , and stature estimations. These studies have largely demonstrated that the biological profile methods developed on non‐Asian groups can produce significant error if applied to individuals from Asia.…”

Stature estimation using the sacrum in a Thai population

“…The correlation coefficient, the R 2 , and the SEE of our models were not as high as the stature estimation using the long bone and non-long bone dimensions such as calcaneus and talus [ 9 ], vertebral column [ 8 ], sternum [ 29 ], skull [ 10 , 11 ], and lumbar vertebral [ 12 ] of a previous study in the Thai population. However, the accuracy of stature estimation using the sacrum was superior to that using skull and lumbar vertebrae images in the Thai population ( Table 9 ).…”

“…However, the accuracy of stature estimation using the sacrum was superior to that using skull and lumbar vertebrae images in the Thai population ( Table 9 ). The highest correlation coefficients of the stature estimation model using the calcaneus and talus in males and females were 0.71 and 0.66, and the lowest SEE was 5.70 and 5.68 cm [ 9 ]. The highest correlation coefficient of stature estimation using the vertebral column was 0.79, and the lowest SEE was 5.80 cm [ 28 ], whereas the stature estimation using the skull and mandible dimensions was 0.72, and the lowest SEE was 7.05 cm [ 12 ].…”

Stature estimation using the sternum in a Thai population

“…Even though the accuracy of stature estimation using sternal dimension in a Thai population of our study was inferior to those of long bones which can be estimated the stature with highest R of 0.783 and 0.785, and lowest SEE was 4.95 cm and 5.10 cm, for males and females respectively [ 5 ]. However, when comparing with the stature estimation model using non-long bones in the Thai population, stature estimation using the sternum was better than those of the skull and mandible but inferior to those of vertebral columns, calcaneus, and talus [ 25 - 27 ]. The stature estimation using vertebral column showed best R was 0.725 and lowest SEE was 5.796 cm [ 25 ], the calcaneus and talus showed highest R in male and female was 0.63 and 0.54 and lowest SEE was 5.95 and 3.06 cm, respectively [ 26 ], whereas the stature estimation using the skull and mandible dimension indicated the highest R was 0.403 and 0.709 and the lowest SEE was 7.319 cm and 6.216 cm, for males and females, respectively.…”

Distal Humerus Morphological Variation and Sex Estimation in Modern Thai Individuals,

“…Further, archaeologically derived Native American remains have historically served as representatives for modern Asian populations due to the lack of Asian individuals represented in North American skeletal collections. Recently, however, efforts to explore skeletal biology in Asian groups have resulted in population‐specific advancements in sex , age‐at‐death , ancestry , and stature estimations. These studies have largely demonstrated that the biological profile methods developed on non‐Asian groups can produce significant error if applied to individuals from Asia.…”