Centre for Forensic Research, School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, Canada.
Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, Canada.
J Forensic Sci. 2020 Jul;65(4):1247-1259. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.14305. Epub 2020 Feb 24.
Aging adult skeletal material is a crucial component of building the biological profile of unknown skeletal remains, but many macro- and microscopic methods have challenges regarding accuracy, precision, and replicability. This study developed a volumetric method to visualize and quantify histological remodeling events in three dimensions, using a two-dimensional serialized approach that applied circular polarizing microscopy and geographic information systems protocols. This approach was designed as a tool to extend current histological aging methodologies. Three serial transverse sections were obtained from a human femoral midshaft. A total sample size of 6847 complete osteons from the three sections was identified; 1229 osteons connected between all sections. The volume of all connected osteons was interpolated using ArcGIS area calculations and truncated cone geometric functions. Each section was divided into octants, and two random samples of 100 and of 30 connected osteons from each octant were generated. Osteon volume was compared between the octants for each random sample using ANOVA. Results indicated that the medial aspect had relative uniformity in osteon volume, whereas the lateral aspect showed high variability. The anterolateral-lateral octant had significantly smaller osteon volume, whereas the posterior-posterolateral octant had significantly larger osteon volume. Results also indicated that a minimum of 100 osteons is statistically more robust and more representative of normal osteon distribution and volume; the use of 30 osteons is insufficient. This research has demonstrated that osteon volume can be interpolated using spatial geometry and GIS applications and may be a tool to incorporate into adult age-at-death estimation techniques.
成人骨骼材料是构建未知骨骼遗骸生物学特征的重要组成部分，但许多宏观和微观方法在准确性、精度和可重复性方面都存在挑战。本研究开发了一种体积方法，使用二维序列化方法应用圆偏光显微镜和地理信息系统协议，从三个维度可视化和量化组织学重塑事件。该方法旨在作为扩展当前组织学年龄测定方法的工具。从人类股骨中段获得三个连续的横向切片。从三个切片中总共确定了 6847 个完整的骨单位，其中 1229 个骨单位连接所有切片。所有连接骨单位的体积使用 ArcGIS 区域计算和截头圆锥几何函数进行内插。每个切片被分成八角形，从每个八角形中生成两个随机的 100 个和 30 个连接骨单位的样本。使用 ANOVA 比较每个随机样本中八角形之间的骨单位体积。结果表明，内侧具有相对均匀的骨单位体积，而外侧则显示出高度的可变性。前外侧-外侧八角形的骨单位体积明显较小，而后外侧-后外侧八角形的骨单位体积明显较大。结果还表明，至少 100 个骨单位在统计学上更健壮，更能代表正常骨单位的分布和体积；使用 30 个骨单位是不够的。本研究表明，骨单位体积可以使用空间几何和 GIS 应用进行内插，并且可能成为纳入成人死亡年龄估计技术的工具。
