Micro-CT for saw mark analysis on human bone

Norman, D; Baier, Waltraud; Watson, Derrick G.; Burnett, Brian; Painter, Michelle; Williams, Mark A.

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.10.027

Cited by 28 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…It is possible in many cases to distinguish marks created by serrated blades from those of non‐serrated blades. Serrated blades (e.g., bread and table knives) typically impart shallower cut marks, with asymmetrical profiles and flatter, wider floors along with regularly spaced striations along kerf walls, than do smooth blades (e.g., scalpels, pocket knives), which tend to produce deeper cut marks with symmetrical, V‐shaped profiles and irregular, haphazard, or no striations (Crowder, Rainwater, & Fridie, 2011, 2013; Greenfield, 1999; Norman et al, 2018; Tegtmeyer, 2012). Stabbing motions aimed perpendicularly to the bone surface also result in distinctive plan view morphologies between blade types (Thompson & Inglis, 2009).…”

Section: Classes Of Bone Surface Modifications and Their Identificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A good deal of actualistic work focuses on saw marks, especially those generated by the toothed blades of saws, in order to aid tool identification in cases of postmortem dismemberment (Bailey, Wang, van de Goot, & Gerretsen, 2011; Berger, Pokines, & Moore, 2018; Cerutti et al, 2016; Greer, 2018; Love, Derrick, & Wiersema, 2013; Love, Derrick, Wiersema, & Peters, 2015; Nogueira, Alunni, Bernardi, & Quatrehomme, 2018; Nogueira, Quatrehomme, Rallon, Adalian, & Alunni, 2016; Norman et al, 2018; Pelletti et al, 2017; Saville, Hainsworth, & Rutty, 2007; Symes et al, 2010; Williams & Davis, 2017). As with cut marks, the widths of saw mark kerfs correlate positively with the functional width of saw blades and are, thus, indicative of saw types (although we note that overlap in kerf width exists across these implements as well).…”

Section: Classes Of Bone Surface Modifications and Their Identificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cruel traces: Bone surface modifications and their relevance to forensic science

Egeland

Pickering

2020

WIREs Forensic Science

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The reconstruction of perimortem and postmortem events is of critical importance to criminal investigations. In many cases, the information required for these reconstructions can be accessed through the analysis of skeletal remains. One particular class of skeletal data—trauma to the surfaces of bones, or bone surface modifications (BSMs)—can reveal much about the perimortem and postmortem intervals. While the study of BSMs originated within the fields of paleontology and archeology and was only later integrated into forensic science, a fruitful interdisciplinary exchange of data and methods is now commonplace. BSMs from thermal alteration, sharp‐force trauma, terrestrial and aquatic scavengers and predators, bacteria and fungi, insects, weathering, and sediment abrasion can supply investigators with valuable information about the agents and events of a corpse's deposition, including weapon type, local environmental conditions, the postmortem interval, and the presence, temperature(s), and/or length(s) of thermal exposure. Based on a review of this rich body of literature, we argue that (a) all associations between a BSM and its alleged source must rest on observational cause‐and‐effect studies; (b) secure identifications of BSMs should rely both on the intrinsic features of the modifications themselves and relevant contextual data; (c) the scientific validity of BSM research depends, ultimately, on rigorous blind‐testing and the establishment of error rates; and (d) researchers need to make a concerted effort to enhance interanalyst correspondence through objective definitions, measurements, and/or codes of BSM features. The most promising path forward lies in the combination of digital image analysis and multivariate predictive modeling. This article is categorized under: Forensic Anthropology > Trauma Analysis Forensic Anthropology > Taphonomic Changes and the Environment Forensic Anthropology > Time Since Death Estimation

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Section: Classes Of Bone Surface Modifications and Their Identificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Classes Of Bone Surface Modifications and Their Identificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cruel traces: Bone surface modifications and their relevance to forensic science

Egeland

Pickering

2020

WIREs Forensic Science

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“…Two more recent studies detailed the use of Micro-CT scanning in the determination of different blades on human bones. The first by Pellettia et al [14] using four different hand saws to determine which saw had caused the different marks on the bones, while the second study by Norman et al [15] used a mixture of power saws, hand powered saws, and knives, to leave marks on long bones. All these studies illustrate the usefulness of Micro-CT scanning as a tool in the investigation and identification of bone damage caused by different tools and weapons.…”

Section: Micro-ct Scannermentioning

confidence: 99%

Preliminary investigation into the use of Micro-CT scanning on impact damage to fabric, tissue and bone caused by both round and flat nosed bullets

et al. 2020

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This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.

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“…One of the methods allowing the quantification of the geometry and structure of the diagenetically altered bone is a high‐resolution computed microtomography (micro‐CT) (Beck et al, 2012; Hayashi et al, 2011; Robson Brown et al, 2011). As a nondestructive method, micro‐CT has found extensive application in bone research (Beaucage et al, 2016; Dobrzyński et al, 2018; Linden et al, 2006; Norman et al, 2018; Rutty et al, 2013). Contrary to the classical histological techniques based on microscopic two‐dimensional (2D) evaluation of the cross‐sections, micro‐CT allows evaluation of the bone structure, taking into consideration its 3D structure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of a standardized experimental environment on early diagenetic changes to animal bone

Lacel¹,

Wojtków

Tomanik

et al. 2021

Geoarchaeology

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We evaluated the dynamics of the diagenetic changes to pig bones incubated for 4, 10, and 31 months in a controlled environment (soil type, moisture and pH, air humidity, and temperature). The criteria for the assessment were as follows: physical parameters (bone weight), biomechanical parameters (compressive strength), bone microstructure (using micro‐computed tomography), and phosphorus and calcium content in the surrounding soil. It was shown that the bone weight decreased the most after 4 months of incubation, whereas the biggest change in the compressive strength was not observed until after 31 months of incubation. Also, the main changes to the bone microstructure were observed in the initial period of degeneration. After 4 months of the experiment, a major drop in the percentage of the thinnest bone trabeculae was noted, whereas a reverse trend was observed for the thickest trabeculae. Moreover, the most significant decrease in the Ca/P ratio in the surrounding soil was observed after the experiment's first 4 months. We conclude that the bioerosion of collagen observed after the initial experimental period was followed by hydroxyapatite chemical decomposition. These results indicate the usefulness of the applied analyses and the feasibility of ensuring a standardized environment for diagenetic research.

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Micro-CT for saw mark analysis on human bone

Abstract: Please refer to published version for the most recent bibliographic citation information. If a published version is known of, the repository item page linked to above, will contain details on accessing it.

Cited by 28 publications

References 23 publications

Cruel traces: Bone surface modifications and their relevance to forensic science

Cruel traces: Bone surface modifications and their relevance to forensic science

Preliminary investigation into the use of Micro-CT scanning on impact damage to fabric, tissue and bone caused by both round and flat nosed bullets

The influence of a standardized experimental environment on early diagenetic changes to animal bone

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