Estimation of sex and stature using anthropometry of the upper extremity in an Australian population

Demonstrating the empirical effect of population specificity of anthropological standards in a contemporary Australian population

The ability to differentiate individuals based on their biological sex is essential for the creation of an accurate anthropological assessment; it is therefore crucial that the standards that facilitate this are likewise accurate. Given the relative paucity of population-specific anthropological standards formulated specifically for application in the contemporary Australian population, forensic anthropological assessments have historically relied on the application of established methods developed using population geographically and/or temporally disparate. The aim of the present paper is, therefore, to assess the accuracy and reliability of established cranial sex estimation methods, developed from geographically distinct populations, as applied to the contemporary Australian population. Comparison between the original stated accuracy and sex bias values (where applicable) and those achieved after application to the Australian population provides insight into the importance of having anthropological standards optimised for application in specific jurisdictions. The sample analysed comprised computed tomographic (CT) cranial scans of 771 (385 female and 386 male) individuals collected from five Australian states/territories. Cranial CT scans were visualised as three-dimensional volume-rendered reconstructions using OsiriX®. On each cranium, 76 cranial landmarks were acquired, and 36 linear inter-landmark measurements were calculated using MorphDB. A total of 35 predictive models taken from Giles and Elliot (1963), Iscan et al. (1995), Ogawa et al. (2013), Steyn and İşcan (1998) and Kranioti et al. (2008) were tested. Application to the Australian population resulted in an average decrease in accuracy of 21.2%, with an associated sex bias range between - 64.0 and 99.7% (average sex bias value of 29.6%), relative to the original studies. The present investigation has highlighted the inherent inaccuracies of applying models derived from geographically and/or temporally disparate populations. It is, therefore, imperative that statistical models developed from a population consistent with the decedent be used for the estimation of sex in forensic casework.

The impact of age on sex bias in models for height and sex estimation based on hand and foot dimensions the impact of age on sex bias

There are sex differences in age-related bone modifications after puberty. Androgens stimulate radial bone expansion in males, while estrogen stimulates endosteal apposition but limits periosteal expansion in females. The potential effect of age on observed sex biases in height and sex estimation models is most significantly relevant for forensic or bioarchaeological research that relies, at least in part, on hand and foot bone measurements of living or skeletal remains for purposes of identification or demographic reconstruction. This study sought to determine whether age affects sex biases in models for height and sex estimation which are based on hand and foot dimensions. The study was cross-sectional between January and June 2021 at the University for Development Studies. The study included 379 participants (male = 161 and female = 218) between 20 and 29 years. The hand length (HL), hand width (HW), foot length (FL) and foot width (FW) were measured twice from the left side using computer-assisted analysis. Univariable and multivariable discriminant and linear regression models were formulated for sex and height estimation respectively. Females were better classified than males with sex biases (male-female) ranging from -1.3% to -22.6% for all models. Models for height estimation were more precise in males (bias: 0.0-0.3 cm) than in females (bias: 0.3-1.4 cm). However, age did not have an impact on the observed sex biases. Height and sex estimation from foot and height dimensions may not need adjustment for age. This may, however, be limited to a given population and age group.

Stature estimation for Saudi men based on different combinations of upper limb part dimensions

Estimating stature based on body/limb parts can help define the characteristics of unidentified bodies. The most studied upper limb part is the hand, although few studies have examined whether stature can be estimated using fingers plus other hand dimensions. Moreover, there is paucity in anthropometric studies that determined whether bilateral whole limb parts (e.g., arms, forearms, and hands) are related to stature among the living subjects.This prospective cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the relationship between different upper limb measurements and the stature of Saudi men. Furthermore, I assessed whether upper limb asymmetry was present, and developed regression models to estimate stature based on different available measurements. Stature and 13 upper limb parameters were measured for 100 right-handed Saudi men who were 18 to 24 years old.All measurements were positively correlated with stature (P < .001), and the best single predictor was the bilateral ulnar length. Asymmetry was more pronounced in the hand measurements. A multiparameter model provided reasonable predictive accuracy (±3.77-5.68 cm) and was more accurate than single-parameter models. Inclusion of the right-side fingers improved the model's accuracy.This study developed potential models for estimating stature during the identification of bodies of Saudi men.