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D H Ubelaker

Publications and source records attributed to D H Ubelaker.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Differences in osteon banding between human and nonhuman bone.

The objective of this paper is to compare patterns of osteon organization in human and nonhuman bone. A linear organization of Haversian systems in nonhuman bone, where osteons line up in rows, has been reported but has not been quantified. The present research provides a quantitative examination of this observation through a comparative analysis of the femoral midshaft from human and nonhuman bone. Femoral midshaft thin sections from 60 humans were compared to femoral midshaft sections from nine sheep and six miniature swine. The presence or absence of osteon banding was recorded and, if present, described. Results indicate that 2 out of 60 human sections and 5 out of 15 nonhuman sections exhibit osteon banding (chi2 = 9.46; p < 0.01). Further, the type of banding present in the human and nonhuman samples is easily distinguished, indicating that human and nonhuman bone can be distinguished where handing is present in this study.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Examination of variation in sternal rib end morphology relevant to age assessment.

The morphology of the sternal end of the right fourth rib has been proffered as an accurate age assessor in skeletonized individuals of both sexes. This technique was tested for its applicability on left and right II, III, V-IX. Tests were performed between phase scores obtained from right and left ribs; right rib IV phase scores and scores obtained from the others in the right rib series; and between right rib IV scores and a composite score composed of the average of an individual's phase scores (omitting rib IV). Left ribs IV-IX were found not to vary significantly from their right counterparts. Although only right rib II was found to vary significantly from rib IV, use of the other ribs in the series should be undertaken with caution due to questions concerning their statistical significance. A composite score is therefore recommended for use instead.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Contributions of Ellis R. Kerley to forensic anthropology.

Ellis R. Kerley (1924 to 1998) represents an important figure in the history of American forensic anthropology. In research, he is best known for pioneering the microscopic approach to the estimation of age at death from human bone. A university professor for 22 years. Kerley also served as Scientific Director of the Army identification laboratory in Hawaii and worked on many forensic cases. He was a leader in the formation of the Physical Anthropology section of the AAFS and the American Board of Forensic Anthropology and held many offices within the AAFS, including President from 1990 to 1991.

Forensic Anthropology↗
PubMed2001

Publications of Ellis R. Kerley (1924-1998).

Ellis R. Kerley (1924-1998) published at least 40 works between the years 1957 and 1988. These include four reviews, 10 abstracts, 23 articles and book chapters, and three monographic works.

Forensic Anthropology↗
PubMed2001

Artificial radiocarbon as an indicator of recent origin of organic remains in forensic cases.

From 1950 to 1963 atmospheric testing of thermonuclear devices produced elevated levels of artificial carbon-14 in the atmosphere. Terrestrial organic material from that time period displays carbon-14 activity nearly twice the pre-1950 levels. Measurement of the carbon-14 activity within organic specimens from forensic cases can reveal if the material dates before or after about 1955. Such information can prove important in some cases in determining if the material is sufficiently recent to be of forensic concern. Application of this technique to an unidentified human skeleton from the American southwest is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

In vivo facial tissue depth measurements for children and adults.

This study reports results of a facial tissue depth measurements project conducted over a two-year period on a modern sample of children and adults of both sexes and varying ages and races. The purpose of this research was to increase available tissue depth data for children and update facial tissue depth measurements for American adults. Most volunteers for this project were patients or visitors to the pediatric clinic at the Louisiana State University Medical Center, School of Dentistry, in New Orleans. Using state of-the-art ultrasound technology, we scanned 551 children and 256 adults at 19 points across the face. Thirteen of the scanned points were traditional landmarks while six others were areas not measured by previous researchers or were points for which very little data exist for both children and adults. For this presentation, we analyzed data for 515 children and 197 adults. Results of Pearson's correlations, analysis of variance, and paired t-tests indicate that age, sex, and race are significant factors when considering tissue depth means for different measurement locations across the human face. These new standards are compared to the work of other researchers. Our results provide valuable assistance in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional facial reproductions and superimpositions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

The forensic anthropology legacy of T. Dale Stewart (1901-1997).

T. Dale Stewart (1901-1997) began his Smithsonian career as a temporary aide to Ales Hrdlicka (1869-1943) in 1924. At the time of his death in 1997, he was regarded world-wide as an authority who led the professional development of American forensic anthropology. He was a prodigious researcher, best known for his meticulous attention to detail, balanced scientific judgment, keen sense of research design, and ability for synthesis. Stewart's publications, extensive casework for the FBI and others, his court testimony, publications, professional contacts, and organizational activity merit him a prominent place in the history of American forensic anthropology.

Forensic Anthropology↗
PubMed2000

T. Dale Stewart's perspective on his career as a forensic anthropologist at the Smithsonian.

T. D. Stewart (1901-1997) is internationally recognized as an early leader in forensic anthropology. In a series of taped interviews in 1975 and in 1986, Stewart discusses his professional development. The interviews document his early education in Delta, Pennsylvania, his long career at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC and aspects of his many contributions to forensic anthropology. His well-known careful editorial work and exhaustive, problem-oriented research approach may have been influenced by his early training in his hometown bank and his many years of apprenticeship under Ales Hrdlicka (1869-1943). Stewart describes aspects of the difficulties of working for Hrdlicka, yet credits the work ethic established by him as a formative factor in his own prodigious productivity.

Ethics, Professional↗
PubMed2000

Publications of T. Dale Stewart (1901-1997).

T. D. Stewart (1901-1997) published at least 394 works between the years 1929 and 1992. These include 118 reviews, 40 abstracts, 227 articles or book chapters, five edited volumes, and four books or monographs.

Forensic Anthropology↗
PubMed1999

Evaluation of seven methods of estimating age at death from mature human skeletal remains.

Different approaches to the estimation of age at death in mature human skeletal remains were evaluated utilizing samples from 19 recent French autopsy individuals of known age at death. Methods of estimating age at death from single-rooted teeth, the sternal ends of the fourth ribs, the symphyseal face of the pubis and femoral cortical remodeling were evaluated by two independent observers (three observers for the teeth). Comparison included ages estimated from three more comprehensive approaches utilizing data from the application of two or more of the individual methods. The results indicate that the comprehensive approaches are superior to the individual ones and the success of the latter reflects not only the morphological expression of the aging process, but also the technique complexity and the experience of the investigator. Of the individual techniques, the "Lamendin" dental technique was most effective for individuals of ages greater than 25 years.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Comparison of macroscopic cranial methods of age estimation applied to skeletons from the Terry Collection.

A total of 963 skeletons (408 Whites and 555 Blacks) from the Terry Collection were studied to examine macroscopic cranial methods of age estimation. The methods of Acsádi and Nemeskéri, Masset, Baker and Meindl and Lovejoy were applied to every skull. The results indicate that the most accurate techniques in this application were those that consider endocranial suture closure. The methods of Acsádi and Nemeskéri and Masset were the most accurate in all the subsamples (by population, sex, sex within population and in total), although the relative accuracy could vary in application to other populations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Forensic significance of the polymorphism of hyoid bone shape.

The reasons why some hyoids fracture in strangulation and others do not may relate to anatomic features of the hyoid bone. On this basis, we studied the dimensions and shape of hyoid bones (n = 100) originating from the Terry collection, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. The hyoid bones were extensively polymorphic in both dimensions studied, the span or breadth, and the length of the cornua. There was no linear relationship between the breadth and length dimensions of the bone. Based on qualitative assessment, hyoid bones could be classed as either hyperbolic (55%) or parabolic (45%) in shape. Hyperbolic hyoid bones could be distinguished from hyoid bones with a parabolic configuration on the basis of the metric data although there was considerable overlap in the dimensions of hyoid bones of both configurations. Female hyoid bones tended to be smaller in both dimensions than male hyoid bones. The metric parameters of fractured hyoid bones from 10 cases (8 female, 2 male) of strangulation were compared with the dimensions of hyoid bones in this study. The metric features of the fractured hyoid bones were attributable to the predominance of females in the group of fractured hyoid bones studied, an observation that is anticipated because the majority of strangulations involve female decedents. On this basis, we conclude that variables other than the shape and dimensions of the hyoid bone are more relevant in determining if hyoid fracture occurs during strangulation.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Sex estimation from the metatarsals.

Discriminant-function analysis of osteometric data from the metatarsals of 200 individuals in the Terry Collection provides a reliable method for estimating sex. Functions derived from individual metatarsals and from complete sets of metatarsals are tested on the sample used to generate the functions and on two independent samples: one comprising 25 additional individuals from the Terry Collection and the other comprising 12 cadavers donated to the University of Missouri, Functions based on race-specific samples (blacks and whites) and on the pooled-race sample correctly classify 83 to 100% of each sample (including a jackknifed study sample), with a few exceptions. These results are similar to sex-estimation methods from other regions of the appendicular skeleton.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

The remains of Dr. Carl Austin Weiss: anthropological analysis.

Anthropological analysis of the remains of Dr. Carl Austin Weiss revealed biological information consistent with his known characteristics. Postmortem changes included decomposition of amalgam dental restorations, likely releasing mercury that stained the anterior dentition, deposition of sulphur compounds on much of the skeleton, and the formation of numerous small bone fractures. Analysis revealed extensive perimortem trauma, indicating multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body. Trajectory analysis of the bony trauma suggested that at least 20 projectiles penetrated Dr. Weiss's body. They originated from many different directions, but mostly from the posterior. No bony changes associated with perimortem trauma of the hands were noted.

Bone and Bones↗
PubMed1995

Status and diet in precontact highland Ecuador.

Excavation at the Ecuadorian highland site of La Florida in suburban Quito revealed six deep shaft tombs yielding high-status individuals (n = 9) as well as apparent sacrifices and other low-status individuals (n = 23). Determination of sex and age at death of the recovered skeletal remains resulted in a sample of 32 individuals aged from approximately 7 to 50 years of age. The sample of 18 individuals over the age of 18 years included 14 females and 4 males. Temporally, the remains are assigned to the Chaupicruz Phase (circa 100 to 450 AD) of the Regional Developmental Period. In this study, we analyze stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen from human bone in order to compare the diets of the high- and low-status individuals. Stable carbon isotope analyses were carried out on preserved protein and biological apatite (bioapatite), and stable nitrogen isotope analyses were carried out on preserved protein. There is a statistically significant difference in delta 13C between the two groups for both protein and mineral sources of carbon with evidence for the greater consumption of maize in the high-status group. There is no significant difference in delta 15N between the two groups, nor is there a significant difference in the spacing between protein and mineral delta 13C values between the two groups. Ethnohistorical evidence for the 16th century AD provides the expectation that the only dietary difference was the higher consumption of animal protein by the elite. There is no evidence for this based on the bone chemistry data from La Florida.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

The role of forensic anthropology in the recovery and analysis of Branch Davidian Compound victims: recovery procedures and characteristics of the victims.

Anthropological contributions to the investigation of the events at the Branch Davidian Compound near Waco, Texas in early 1993, were of two major types: the recovery of human remains from the site and the analysis of most of those individuals at the Medical Examiner's Office in Fort Worth, Texas. This paper describes the role of forensic anthropology in the recovery and analysis of Branch Davidian Compound victims and the recovery procedures and characteristics of the victims.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

The role of forensic anthropology in the recovery and analysis of Branch Davidian Compound victims: techniques of analysis.

The recovery and analysis of human remains from the Branch Davidian Compound, Mount Carmel, Texas, was a multidisciplinary team effort. This presentation deals with one aspect of the forensic anthropological contribution to this collaborative endeavor--the examination and inventory of human skeletal remains and the interpretation of these osteological data. Briefly described first are the content and format of the skeletal inventory and the examination procedures used for data collection. Two subsequent sections illustrate the use of these data to determine (a) age, sex, ancestry, stature, and other distinguishing characteristics, and (b) the presence and nature of any premortem, perimortem, and postmortem trauma. The next section shows how these findings assist in establishing positive identification through, for example, comparison with medical, dental, and other background records, especially comparison of premortem and postmortem radiographs of bones or dentition. In this context, we consider also the sorting of commingled remains, which includes preliminary assessment of rapidly decomposing remains prior to autopsy to preserve information crucial to identification.

Adolescent↗