Browsing by Author "Ferreira, Maria Teresa"
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- All that glitters is not gold: X-ray fluorescence analysis of a fixed dental prosthesis from Colecção de Esqueletos Identificados Século XXI, Portugal (CEI/XXI)Publication . Oliveira-Santos, Inês; Gomes, Ricardo A.M.P.; Coelho, Catarina; Gil, Francisco; Cunha, Eugénia; Baptista, Isabel Poiares; Ferreira, Maria TeresaAccess to better health care anticipates that more medical devices can be found alongside skeletal remains. Those employed in oral rehabilitation, with available brands or batch/series, can prove useful in the identification process. A previous study in the Colecção de Esqueletos Identificados Século XXI described macroscopically the dental prostheses. An unusual case of a dental device with chromatic alterations demonstrated to require a more detailed analysis. The individual, a 53-year-old male, exhibited, at both arches, a fixed tooth-supported rehabilitation, with gold colouring classified initially as a gold-palladium alloy. Simultaneously, a green pigmentation deposit was observable in bone and prosthesis. This investigation aimed to verify the elemental composition of the dental prosthesis alloy. Elemental analysis was performed by X-ray fluorescence in two regions (labial surface of the prosthetic crown and the root surface of the lower right lateral incisor). Both the spectra and the qualitative results found higher levels of copper and aluminium, followed by nickel, iron, zinc, and manganese. No gold or palladium was detected. The most probable assumption is that a copper-aluminium alloy was used, as its elemental concentration corresponds to those measured in similar devices. Dental prostheses of copper-aluminium alloys have been made popular since the 1980s, particularly in the USA, Japan, and Eastern Europe. Apart from the biographical information, it was also known that the individual's place of birth was an Eastern European country, which highlighted the usefulness of this type of information when dealing with missing people cases.
- An Assessment of Intra- and Interobserver Error in Luminol Chemiluminescence as a Presumptive Test for Postmortem Interval EstimationPublication . Ermida, Catarina; Rosa, Joana; Cunha, Eugénia; Ferreira, Maria TeresaPostmortem interval (PMI) estimation constitutes a challenge for forensic anthropologists.The application of the luminol technique as a preliminary test for PMI estimation is considered easy to use and inexpensive. The objective of our study is to validate luminol chemiluminescence testing through the assessment of intra- and interobserver error. Our sample included 266 human clavicles, with known PMIs ranging between 2655 days and 450 years. After sample preparation, luminol was applied, and the results were observed by two different observers. The intensity of the reaction was measured using a binary scale and a 5-level scale, according to the increasing degree of chemiluminescence. The Kappa statistic was used for the assessment of the intra- and interobserver agreement. The obtained results showed total interobserver error agreement regarding the binary scale and a K = 0.98 (95% CI: 0.97–0.99) regarding the 5-level scale. Additionally, Observer 1 and Observer 2 obtained a 100% agreement concerning the binary scale and a K = 1 (95%CI 0.99–1) and K = 0.99 (95% CI 0.99–1), respectively, concerning the 5-level scale. According to our research, it is possible to conclude that luminol chemiluminescence testing is suitable as a rapid diagnostic test, revealing this method as practically independent of observation error
- Cranial surgical approaches in the 21st Century Identified Skeletal CollectionPublication . Ferreira, Maria Teresa; Coelho, Catarina; Gaspar, Rosa Ramos; de Matos, Daniela P.; Pereira, Ricardo; Cunha, Eugénia; Oliveira-Santos, InêsIn Forensic Anthropology, identification is comparing information from a person whose fate and whereabouts are unknown with data from a person who is present but whose identity is unknown. The rarer and more distinctive the characteristics observed during the anthropological investigation, the greater the probability of reaching an identification. Taking this into account, cranial surgeries can be considered good individualization factors. The cases of skulls with lesions compatible with surgical procedures from the 21st Century Identified Skeletal Collection are presented, and their identification potential is discussed. This collection comprises 302 adult individuals, of which four females (aged 55 to 94 years) and four males (aged 67 to 92 years) present cranial lesions of surgical origin. The results of the macroscopic and imaging analyses (conventional x-rays and CTs) are presented, along with a detailed description and location of each lesion. In five cases there is clear evidence of bone remodelling. This research, which combines anthropological analysis with imaging and neurosurgical insights, demonstrates the importance of correctly interpreting these lesions, illustrating how important is a complete and interdisciplinary analysis for forensic expertise
- Dating deathPublication . Ermida, Catarina; Cunha, Eugénia; Ferreira, Maria TeresaThe estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI), particularly the late time since death, is a crucial issue when dealing with human remains. Its establishment is an important task for forensic scientists since it has important legal implications such as identifying a victim or prosecuting an offender. However, dating death is a very complex and challenging task due to the amount of intrinsic and extrinsic factors, that may influence the rate and nature of body decomposition. Many methods have been used to estimate PMI, from classical decomposition methods to entomological and botanical methods or more recently physics and biochemical methods. This paper reviews current forensic dating methods, focusing especially on forensic anthropological techniques. Nevertheless, the existing literature is insufficient, denoting a lack of effective methods to achieve an accurate and reliable PMI estimation and further investigation is required. A holistic approach, where every element must be considered, is the key to achieving a reliable estimation of PMI. Interdisciplinarity is thus mandatory, allied with the capacity of forensic anthropologists to denote
- Luminol and the postmortem interval estimation — influence of taphonomic factorsPublication . Ermida, Catarina; Cunha, Eugénia; Ferreira, Maria TeresaThe estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI) is one of the key challenges for forensic anthropologists. Although there are several methods referenced for this purpose, none is sufficiently effective. One of the main reasons justifying the complexity of this task is the influence of several taphonomic factors.The study of the Luminol technique has stood out as a promising method for estimating PMI, complementing the existing methods, since it is an economic, easy and reproducible method that operates as a presumptive test. However, it is not known which taphonomic factors can influence the results obtained by this technique.The aim of this study is to test the influence of taphonomic factors, such as temperature, humidity, soil type and pH, on the estimation of the PMI by the Luminol technique.In order to test the influence of the referred factors, a sample consisting of 30 clavicles, with known and similar PMI, collected from autopsies, was distributed as evenly as possible by six vases and buried with different decomposition conditions for a period of 12 months. After the exhumation and sample preparation, the Luminol technique was applied.It was possible to clearly observe differences in the results. Thus, according to our research, it is possible to conclude that the results obtained by the application of Luminol are influenced by taphonomic factors. Therefore, the context in which a body is found should always be considered for applying this technique.
- Postmortem interval estimation of human skeletonized remains through luminol chemiluminescencePublication . Ermida, Catarina; Rosa, Joana; Cunha, Eugénia; Ferreira, Maria TeresaPostmortem interval (PMI) estimation represents a significant challenge in the forensic sciences, particularly when dealing with human skeletal remains. A screening protocol for distinguishing possible remains of forensic interest is a crucial tool for judicial purposes. In this context, luminol chemiluminescence emerges as a promising method, with low overall costs and required time. This method is primarily used as a presumptive test, based on the understanding that the intensity of the chemiluminescence reactions decreases with an increase in the postmortem interval, thus underlining its practical implications. This research aims to expand previous research on the potential of luminol chemiluminescence, evaluating its usefulness in estimating PMI. Our sample comprised 239 human clavicles, with known PMI. The luminol solution was sprayed on each powder bone sample in a dark room, observed by the naked eye and photographed. The intensity of the chemiluminescence reaction was measured using a binary and a 5-level scale. The present results reveal that this method is a suitable tool for PMI estimation as a presumptive test, reducing time and costs in criminal investigations. The findings underscore the high sensitivity of luminol chemiluminescence for detecting recent PMI but also highlight a notable incidence of false positives. Thus, our results confirm luminol chemiluminescence as a powerful tool for dating time of death, particularly for identifying forensic relevant remains. Still, the relatively low specificity indicates that it should be complemented with additional tests for further confirmation and scientific validation of the remains’ forensic relevance.
- Technical Note: The Forensic Anthropology Society of Europe (FASE) Map of Identified Osteological CollectionsPublication . Petaros, Anja; Caplova, Zuzana; Verna, Emeline; Adalian, Pascal; Baccino, Eric; de Boer, Hans H.; Cunha, E; Ekizoglu, Oguzhan; Ferreira, Maria Teresa; Fracasso, Tony; Kranioti, Elena F.; Lefevre, Philippe; Lynnerup, Niels; Ross, Ann; Steyn, Maryna; Obertova, Zuzana; Cattaneo, CristinaIdentified (documented) osteological collections represent an important resource in the development of forensic anthropology standards and methods as well as a precious tool for learning and training of practitioners. Even though the number of papers presenting identified collections worldwide increases, many of the collections have still not been divulged to the scientific community in sufficient detail to ascertain their exact number. The Forensic Anthropology Society of Europe (FASE) therefore developed a tool that goes beyond sporadic publications: the FASE Map of Identified Osteological Collections, which is freely accessible and continuously updated and revised. The online map is available at http://forensicanthropology.eu/osteological-collections/. The map of skeletal collections was created in 2017 and currently displays information on 153 identified osteological collections (43 of them categorized as contemporary) located in 41 different countries. This article offers a short analysis of the type, geographical location and content of the collections included in the map. The aim of this article and the map as such is to provide a useful resource to facilitate research planning and teaching in forensic anthropology and related disciplines.
- The unidentified skeletal collection of Capuchos Cemetery (Santarém) housed at the University of CoimbraPublication . José, Andreia; Tomé, Laura; Coelho, Catarina; Cunha, E; Umbelino, Cláudia; Ferreira, Maria TeresaThe aim of this article is to present to the scientific and academic community a new osteological collection housed at the Department of Life Sciences from the University of Coimbra (Portugal), the Unidentified Skeletal Collection of the Capuchos Cemetery. The skeletons were collected from the same cemetery as those of the 21st Century Identified Skeletal Collection, however their identity is unknown. The collection is comprised of 73 individuals, of which 68 are adults of both sexes (34 females, 33 males, and one individual of unknown sex) and five are non-adult individuals. It is estimated that the majority of adult individuals have a European ancestry (n = 52; 76.47%). The skeletons are reasonably preserved, although several are incomplete (n = 8; 10.96%) as result of both taphonomic changes occurred during the burial, and also due to experimental researches performed (some of which destructive). Regarding the osteopathology, it was observed that the majority of adult individuals have pathological changes (n = 67; 98.53%), with degenerative pathology being the most frequent in the sample. In addition, 13 individuals (17.81%) exhibit medical devices and/or signs of surgical procedures.The Unidentified Skeletal Collection of the Capuchos Cemetery is an osteological collection that, although not containing individual biographical data, has contributed to teaching, research and development of new methods for Biological and Forensic Anthropology in subjects such as osteology, morphology, biological profile, paleopathology, and cremains
- Vale de Mouro, Coriscada, Meda. Estudo de Análise AntropológicaPublication . Furtado, Marta; Ferreira, Maria Teresa