Diagnostic models to predict nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA recovery from incinerated teeth.

Teeth are frequently used for human identification from burnt remains, as the structure of a tooth is resilient against heat exposure. The intricate composition of hydroxyapatite (HA) mineral and collagen in teeth favours DNA preservation compared to soft tissues. Regardless of the durability, the integrity of the DNA structure in teeth can still be disrupted when exposed to heat. Poor DNA quality can negatively affect the success of DNA analysis towards human identification. The process of isolating DNA from biological samples is arduous and costly. Thus, an informative pre-screening method that could aid in selecting samples that can potentially yield amplifiable DNA would be of excellent value. A multiple linear regression model to predict the DNA content in incinerated pig teeth was developed based on the colourimetry, HA crystallite size and quantified nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. The chromaticity a* was found to be a significant predictor of the regression model. This study outlines a method to predict the viability of extracting nuclear and mitochondrial DNA from pig teeth that were exposed to a wide range of temperatures (27 to 1000 °C) with high accuracy (99.5-99.7%).

The development of a tool to predict temperature-exposure of incinerated teeth using colourimetric and hydroxyapatite crystal size data.

This study presents a novel tool to predict temperature-exposure of incinerated pig teeth as a proxy for understanding impacts of fire on human teeth. Previous studies on the estimation of temperature-exposure of skeletal elements have been limited to that of heat-exposed bone. This predictive tool was developed using a multinomial regression model of colourimetric and hydroxyapatite crystal size variables using data obtained from unheated pig teeth and teeth incinerated at 300 °C, 600 °C, 800 °C and 1000 °C. An additional variable based on the observed appearance of the tooth was included in the tool. This enables the tooth to be classified as definitely burnt (600 °C-1000 °C) or uncertain (27 °C/300 °C). As a result, the model predicting the temperature-exposure of the incinerated teeth had an accuracy of 95%. This tool is a holistic, robust and reliable approach to estimate temperature of heat-exposed pig teeth, with high accuracy, and may act as a valuable proxy to estimate heat exposure for human teeth in forensic casework.

Integrating spectrophotometric and XRD analyses in the investigation of burned dental remains.

Heat alters colour and crystallinity of teeth by destruction of the organic content and inducing hydroxyapatite crystal growth. The colour and crystallite changes can be quantified using spectrophotometric and x-ray diffraction analyses, however these analyses are not commonly used in combination to evaluate burned dental remains. In this study, thirty-nine teeth were incinerated at 300-1000 °C for 15 and 30 min and then measured using a spectrophotometer and an x-ray diffractometer. Response variables used were lightness, L*, and chromaticity a* and b* and luminance (whiteness and yellowness) for colour, and crystal size for crystallinity. Statistical analysis to determine the attribution of these variables revealed yellowness and crystal size were significantly affected by temperature (p < 0.05), whilst duration of heat-exposure showed no significant effect. This study suggests the inclusion of both spectrophotometric and x-ray diffraction in investigating thermal-heated teeth is useful to accurately estimate the temperature teeth are exposed to.

Scanning electron microscope and micro-CT evaluation of cranial sutures in health and disease.

Current knowledge of suture biology has been ascertained as a result of morphological studies of normal cranial sutures (and rarely those undergoing craniosynostosis). These were initially undertaken often using histological investigations, or more recently using CT scans, as investigative tools, but have often used animal models. However, recent technological advances have provided the potential to refine our understanding of the ultrastructure by the use of new advanced scanning technology, which offers the possibility of more detailed resolution. Our aim was to undertake detailed scans of normal, fusing and fused sutures from patients with craniosynosotosis affecting different sutures, to study the detailed structure at different stages of the fusion process using a modern micro-CT scanner and a microanalytical scanning electron microscope. We wished to include in our study all the human sutures because previous studies have mostly been undertaken using the sagittal suture. Ten sutures from seven patients have revealed a complex ultra-structural arrangement. The different patterns of bone ridging seen on the ectocranial and endocranial surfaces of the fused sagittal suture were not repeated on closer inspection of either fused coronal or lambdoid sutures. Elemental analysis confirmed that the amount of calcium increased and the amount of carbon decreased as sampled areas moved away from the suture margin. We conclude that scanning allowed detailed assessment and revealed the complex arrangement of the structure of the human cranial sutures and those undergoing the process of craniosynostosis, with some differences in final structure depending on the affected suture.

Effects of chemical functional groups on the polymer adsorption behavior onto titania pigment particles.

The effects of functional groups on polymer adsorption onto titania pigment particles have been investigated as a function of pH and ionic strength using polyacrylic acid and modified polyacrylamides. The polyacrylamides include the homopolymer, an anionic copolymer with hydroxyl and carboxylate group substitution, and a nonionic copolymer with hydroxyl group substitution. Adsorption isotherms and infrared spectroscopy were used to examine the polymer-pigment interactions. The adsorption of the polyacrylic acid and anionic polyacrylamide on titania pigment is greatest when electrostatic repulsion is absent or reduced. At low pH values, below the pigment isoelectric point (IEP), or at high ionic strength, the adsorption density of the anionic polymers on titania pigment is high, while at higher pH values above the pigment IEP, the adsorption density decreases. But the adsorption of nonionic polymers on titania pigment is not influenced by either ionic strength or pH. Acrylamide groups were found to hydrogen bond with the titania pigment surface, independent of pH. With the inclusion of hydroxyl functional groups into the polyacrylamide chain, the polymer adsorption density increased without increased adsorption affinity. Carboxylate functional groups in the anionic polymers strongly interact with the pigment surface, producing the highest adsorption density at low pH values. All polymers exhibit Langmuir adsorption behavior with hydrogen bonding found as the dominant mechanism of adsorption in addition to electrostatic interaction occurring for the anionic polymers.

Kinetics of adsorption of high molecular weight anionic polyacrylamide onto kaolinite: the flocculation process.

The adsorption kinetics of anionic polyacrylamide flocculant onto kaolinite clay are examined as a function of flocculant dosage and pH. Special attention has been given to the flocculation effect during the adsorption process and the resulting inhibition of further adsorption. At pH 8.5 the adsorption capacity of anionic polyacrylamide on kaolinite is low while at pH 4.5, the adsorption capacity increases. Flocculant adsorption has been shown to be related to the amount of available surface area, pH, flocculant dosage, and the resulting floc strength, which controls the rate of new surface area exposure and hence the continuation of further adsorption. At both pH 4.5 and pH 8.5, complete adsorption is achieved at low flocculant dosages and adsorption equilibrium is achieved at high flocculant dosages after 1 day. In contrast, at intermediate flocculant dosages adsorption equilibrium is not reached over a 7-day period, due to a continuously increasing surface area.