Age-at-death estimation in adults using three forensic methodologies: A Lamendin's technique approach for Latin American context and the extension of a forensic international dental database.

In forensic science, the information that teeth provide to the age estimation process is very important. In adults, one of the most widely used indicators of skeletal age is the Root Dentin Translucency (RDT), mainly through the Lamendin technique, which is used in various Latin American contexts. Recently, Parra et al. (2020) have developed a Bayesian regression model using the Lamendin technique to establish standardized criteria for estimating age-at-death in adults in various forensic contexts. In this study, we evaluate the applicability of this proposal together with the proposal by Lamendin et al. (1992) and Prince and Ubelaker (2002) in Latin American contexts. A sample of single-rooted teeth belonging to 805 individuals from six Latin American countries was used. The results of the three proposals considered were analyzed taking into account factors such as age, sex, origin, and the tooth surface on which the variables were surveyed. Of the factors that would affect the estimates, it was found that the age of the individuals had the greatest influence. However, it was confirmed that the sex and surface of the teeth on which the measurements were taken did not influence the final result. On the other hand, as we expected, the application of the analyzed proposals would also be possible in other forensic contexts, as shown by the results obtained according to the origin. This research expands the FIDB with more information on Latino contexts.

Root Dentin Translucency and Forensic International Dental Database: Methodology for estimation age-at-death in adults using single-rooted teeth.

Estimation of the age-at-death in adults is essential when the identification of deceased persons with unknown identity is required in both humanitarian and judicial contexts. However, the methodologies and the results obtained can be questioned. Various efforts have been developed to adjust procedures to specific populations, always seeking the precision and accuracy of the methodologies. It is known that the estimation of the age-at-death in adults coexists with wide margins of error, due to several reasons, including but not limited to statistical problems, the size of the sample or the physiological process of aging. This research focuses on a degenerative indicator of the dentin (Root Dentin Translucency) and its combination with Periodontal Height (PH) following the Lamendin's technique for estimation of the age-at-death in adults. The main objective of this research was to demonstrate the applicability of a Bayesian model based on a Forensic International Dental Database (FIDB) that include Root Translucency Height (RTH) and PH as a method to age-at-death in adults. The conclusion of this research was that the combined both indicators become a generalizable age-at-death in adults model for all human populations, where the Bayesian method would offer optimal results in any population. In this way, those populations that do not have had the possibility of validating a specific procedure, now have the opportunity to apply a valid method for estimating age-at-death in adults to global scope.

Dimorfismo sexual a través del análisis morfométrico de bóvedas palatinas en una población peruana / Sexual Dimorphism Via Palatal Vault Morphometric Analysis on A Sample Peruvian Population

Resumen: Objetivo: Determinar la precisión del dimorfismo sexual a través del análisis morfométrico de bóvedas palatinas en cráneos procedentes del Laboratorio de Investigación Forense del Equipo Forense Especializado (EFE) de Ayacucho del Ministerio Público - Perú. Materiales y métodos: Diseño transversal, constituido con una muestra de 43 cráneos con sexo biológico preestablecido, (24=masculino y 19=femenino). La estimación del dimorfismo sexual se estableció a través del método propuesto por Meera Jacob y cols., basado en las mediciones de la longitud y ancho palatino, posteriormente se calculó el índice palatino, estableciéndose la precisión y exactitud del método. El análisis inferencial se realizó con un nivel de significancia del 5% a través de la prueba T student, Shapiro Wilk y el coeficiente de Pearson. Resultados: Se estableció que el ancho palatino presenta una media de 3,43 (+0,31) cm. para el sexo masculino y 3,62 (+0,25) cm. para el femenino, en la longitud palatina la media fue de 5,07 (+0,44) cm. para masculino y 4,79 (+0,41) cm. en el femenino; en el índice palatino, el 100% de los cráneos de sexo masculino corresponden al paladar duro estrecho y en el femenino un 73,7% al estrecho, un 21% al intermedio y un 5,3% al ancho. Además, se determinó que existió diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los parámetros del ancho y longitud de la bóveda palatina entre ambos sexos y se planteó una fórmula de análisis discriminante. Conclusión: El análisis morfométrico de bóvedas palatinas establece una precisión de 83.72% en la estimación del dimorfismo sexual.

Abstracts: Objective: Determine sexual dimorphism precision via palatal vault morphometric analysis in craniums sourced from the Laboratorio de Investigación Forense del Equipo Forense Especializado (EFE) de Ayacucho del Ministerio Público- Perú. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional design consisting of a sample of 43 skulls with pre-established biological gender, (24 males and 19 females). Sexual dimorphism was established by means of the method proposed by Meera Jacob and co., based on palatal width and length measurements, after which the palatal index was calculated, establishing the method's precision and accuracy. The inferential analysis was made with a level of significance of 5% through the T student test, Shapiro Wilk and Pearson's coefficient. Results: Palatal width had a mean of 3.43 (+0.31cm) for males and 3.62 (+0.25) for females and in palatal length a mean of 5.07 (+0.44) cm. for males and 4.79 (+0.41) cm. for females is established; on palatal index, 100% of the male skulls correspond to hard narrow palate and on females 73.7% to narrow, 21% to intermediate and 5.3% to wide. Furthermore, it was determined that there were statistically significant differences between width and length of palatal vault for both genders, and a discriminating analysis formula was proposed. Conclusion: Morphometric analyses of palatal vaults establish an 83.72% precision on the estimation of sexual dimorphism.