In this study we tested classification performance of a sex estimation method from the mandible originally developed by Sella-Tunis et al. (2017) on a heterogeneous Israeli population. Mandibular linear dimensions were measured on 60 CT scans derived from the Czech living population. Classification performance of Israeli discriminant functions (DFs-IL) was analyzed in comparison with calculated Czech discriminant functions (DFs-CZ) while different posterior probability thresholds (currently discussed in the forensic literature) were employed. Our results comprehensively illustrate sensitivity of different discriminant functions to population differences in body size and degree of sexual dimorphism. We demonstrate that the error rate may be biased when presented per posterior probability threshold. DF-IL 1 showed least sensitivity to population origin and fulfilled criteria of sufficient classification performance when applied on the Czech sample with a minimum posterior probability threshold of 0.88 reaching overall accuracy ≥ 95%, zero sex bias, and 80% of classified individuals. The last parameter was higher in DF-CZ 1 which was the main difference between those two DFs suggesting relatively low dependance on population origin. As the use of population-specific methods is often prevented by complicated assessment of population origin, DF-IL 1 is a candidate for a sufficiently robust method that could be reliably applied outside the reference sample, and thus, its classification performance deserves further testing on more population samples.

• Klíčová slova
• Czech population, Logistic regression, Mandible, Population specificity, Posterior probability, Sex estimation,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

An increasing number of software tools can be used in forensic anthropology to estimate a biological profile, but further studies in other populations are required for more robust validation. The present study aimed to evaluate the validity of MorphoPASSE software for sex estimation from sexually dimorphic cranial traits recorded on 3D CT models (n = 180) from three populations samples (Czech, French, and Egyptian). Two independent observers performed scoring of 4 cranial traits (2 of them bilateral) in each population sample of 30 males and 30 females. The accuracy of sex estimation using traditional posterior probability threshold (pp = 0.5) ranged from 85.6% to 88.3% and overall classification error from 14.4% to 11.7% for both observers, and corresponds to the previously published values of the method. The MorphoPASSE method is also affected by the subjectivity of the observers, as both observers show agreement in sex assignment in 83.9% of cases, regardless of the accuracy of the estimates. Applying a higher posterior probability threshold (pp 0.95) provided classification accuracy of 97.9% and 93.3% of individuals (for observer A and B respectively), minimizing the risk of error to 2.1% and 6.7%, respectively. However, sex estimation can only be applied to 54% and 66% of individuals, respectively. Our results demonstrate the validity of the MorphoPASSE software for cranial sex estimation outside the reference population. However, the achieved classification success is accompanied by a high risk of errors, the reduction of which is only possible by increasing the posterior probability threshold.

• Klíčová slova
• Forensic anthropology, MorphoPASSE software, Posterior probability threshold, Risk of error, Sex estimation,
• MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lebka * anatomie a histologie   diagnostické zobrazování   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• počítačová rentgenová tomografie MeSH
• pravděpodobnost MeSH
• reprodukovatelnost výsledků MeSH
• software * MeSH
• soudní antropologie * metody   MeSH
• určení pohlaví podle kostry * metody   MeSH
• zobrazování trojrozměrné MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• validační studie MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Egypt MeSH
• Francie MeSH

PURPOSE: To report atypical anatomical variation of an osseous suprascapular canal, and to elaborate on its clinical significance as a potential anatomical factor that could obscure a direct posterior surgical approach and suprascapular nerve block. METHODS: Osteological observational study of the scapula with emphasis on the suprascapular space. The pool of investigated sample size was collectively 768 specimens composed of 529 adult dry scapulae (240 paired, 289 un-paired), 54 children dry scapulae, 135 wet scapulae observed during cadaveric dissections, 47 retrospective 3D CT reconstructions, and 3 retrospective full sequence shoulder MRI. The two reported cases came from the 240 (120 skeleton) observed paired scapulae. Furthermore, the osseous suprascapular canal was examined by X-rays and its internal path was exposed by CT sections. A narrative review was conducted to investigate any relevant reports on the subject matter. RESULTS: Two left dry bone scapulae with unilateral osseous suprascapular canal were found. The incidence of this atypical morphology of an osseous canal is probably five cases reported in three studies including this cases study. CONCLUSIONS: The reported cases aid in explaining additional possible anatomical factors that could lead to below threshold anesthetic effect in posterior suprascapular nerve block procedures. Therefore, it is more practical to visualize the suprascapular canal by some imaging method before attempting to blindly access the suprascapular nerve in nerve block or posterior surgical approach due to the rare potential existence of an ossified barrier hindering the procedure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: V Basic Science Research.

• Klíčová slova
• Nerve block, Posterior surgical approach, Suprascapular canal, Suprascapular nerve, Suprascapular nerve entrapment, Suprascapular notch,
• MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lopatka anatomie a histologie   MeSH
• nervová blokáda * škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• pozorovací studie jako téma MeSH
• rameno anatomie a histologie   MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• úžinové syndromy * etiologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Vertebral measurements have been shown to provide accurate classification of sex. However, the use of vertebral discriminant functions (DFs) in forensic anthropology and bioarchaeology is limited due to the unknown degree of their population specificity. Additionally, the performance of vertebral DFs has not yet been assessed at higher posterior probability thresholds. In this study, we tested the performance of previously published DFs for sex classification from Th12 and L1 vertebrae within a range of 0.5-0.95 posterior probabilities in a model of geographically distant population based on an autopsy Central European (CE) sample (Czech Republic; n=72) from the 1930s. Further, we derived new pooled DFs from a sample representing ecogeographically diverse populations, new DFs derived from the autopsy CE sample, and new Medieval CE DFs derived from the Pohansko sample (n=129) and evaluated their performance at our testing autopsy CE sample. Most vertebral measurements showed population specificity in sex assessment. However, we identified two Th12 measurements (anteroposterior body diameter and mediolateral body diameter) usable for sex estimation across populations. We showed that the accuracy of vertebral DFs can be increased to 95% of correctly classified individuals in up to 64% of the studied sample by setting a higher posterior probability threshold. Finally, we showed that even the DFs derived from relatively small subsamples (30% of the population size) can provide accurate sex classification. This finding highlights the applicability of the hybrid approach in sex classification from vertebrae. To facilitate sex classification from vertebrae, we provide a software tool for sex classification from any vertebral measurement and reference samples tested in this study including the previously published DFs.

• Klíčová slova
• Central Europe, Discriminant function analysis, Forensic anthropology population data, Posterior probability, Sex classification, Sexual dimorphism,
• MeSH
• bederní obratle anatomie a histologie   MeSH
• diskriminační analýza MeSH
• hrudní obratle anatomie a histologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• soudní antropologie MeSH
• určení pohlaví podle kostry metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

The olfactory bulb was stimulated by trains of electrical pulses in freely moving rats. Evoked responses resembling damped oscillations at the gamma frequency of 30-60 Hz were recorded in the anterior and posterior piriform cortex. Different types of unconditioned sniffing were induced by stimulation of the olfactory bulb. They were similar to those evoked by an odorant (amylacetate) but differed from the behavioral patterns evoked by non-olfactory (auditory) stimulation. Rats were trained to avoid foot-shocks following electrical pulses into the olfactory bulb as conditioned stimulus in a two way shuttle-box paradigm. Threshold electrical intensities for inducing evoked responses in piriform cortex, unconditioned behavior, and learned avoidance were compared. Thresholds for unconditioned and conditioned behavior were significantly higher in comparison with those for evoking gamma discharges in anterior and posterior piriform cortex. The results suggest that fast time-locked synchronization in the gamma range in the piriform cortex induced by synaptic input from theolfactory bulb is not sufficient for inducing corresponding behavior. Thus behavioral detection and probably also olfactory recognition do not seem to be direct consequences of this fast time-locked neural synchronization. Additional neuronal processes that are connected with further elevation of stimulation intensity seem to be necessary for that.

• MeSH
• bulbus olfactorius fyziologie   MeSH
• chování zvířat fyziologie   MeSH
• elektrická stimulace MeSH
• evokované potenciály fyziologie   MeSH
• inbrední kmeny potkanů MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• mozková kůra fyziologie   MeSH
• senzorické prahy fyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

OBJECTIVES: A new tool for skeletal sex estimation based on measurements of the human os coxae is presented using skeletons from a metapopulation of identified adult individuals from twelve independent population samples. For reliable sex estimation, a posterior probability greater than 0.95 was considered to be the classification threshold: below this value, estimates are considered indeterminate. By providing free software, we aim to develop an even more disseminated method for sex estimation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten metric variables collected from 2,040 ossa coxa of adult subjects of known sex were recorded between 1986 and 2002 (reference sample). To test both the validity and reliability, a target sample consisting of two series of adult ossa coxa of known sex (n = 623) was used. The DSP2 software (Diagnose Sexuelle Probabiliste v2) is based on Linear Discriminant Analysis, and the posterior probabilities are calculated using an R script. RESULTS: For the reference sample, any combination of four dimensions provides a correct sex estimate in at least 99% of cases. The percentage of individuals for whom sex can be estimated depends on the number of dimensions; for all ten variables it is higher than 90%. Those results are confirmed in the target sample. DISCUSSION: Our posterior probability threshold of 0.95 for sex estimate corresponds to the traditional sectioning point used in osteological studies. DSP2 software is replacing the former version that should not be used anymore. DSP2 is a robust and reliable technique for sexing adult os coxae, and is also user friendly.

• Klíčová slova
• bone dimensions, diagnose sexuelle probabiliste, os coxae, population nonspecific standards, sexing,
• MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pánevní kosti anatomie a histologie   MeSH
• software MeSH
• soudní antropologie metody   MeSH
• určení pohlaví podle kostry metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

The hip bone is considered to be one of the most reliable indicators in sex determination. The aim of this study was to test the reliability of the DSP method for the hip bone proposed by Murail et al. (Bull Mem Soc Anthropol Paris, 17, 2005, 167) on a sample from a present-day population in France (52 males and 54 females). Ten linear measurements were collected from three-dimensional models derived from computed tomography images (CTI). To quantify the proportions of correct sex determinations, a more rigorous posterior probability threshold of 0.95 was applied. Using all 10 measurements, 92.3% of males and 97.2% of females were sexed correctly. The percentage of undetermined specimens varied depending on the used combination of measurements; however, all sexes were assigned with a 100% accuracy. This study proves that DSP is an appropriate and reliable tool for sex determination, based on dimensions obtained from CTI.

• Klíčová slova
• computed tomography, forensic anthropology, forensic science, os coxae, reliability, sex determination, virtual morphometric,
• MeSH
• diskriminační analýza * MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• pánevní kosti anatomie a histologie   diagnostické zobrazování   MeSH
• počítačová rentgenová tomografie MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• soudní antropologie MeSH
• určení pohlaví podle kostry metody   MeSH
• zobrazování trojrozměrné MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Francie MeSH

Accuracy of identification tools in forensic anthropology primarily rely upon the variations inherent in the data upon which they are built. Sex determination methods based on craniometrics are widely used and known to be specific to several factors (e.g. sample distribution, population, age, secular trends, measurement technique, etc.). The goal of this study is to discuss the potential variations linked to the statistical treatment of the data. Traditional craniometrics of four samples extracted from documented osteological collections (from Portugal, France, the U.S.A., and Thailand) were used to test three different classification methods: linear discriminant analysis (LDA), logistic regression (LR), and support vector machines (SVM). The Portuguese sample was set as a training model on which the other samples were applied in order to assess the validity and reliability of the different models. The tests were performed using different parameters: some included the selection of the best predictors; some included a strict decision threshold (sex assessed only if the related posterior probability was high, including the notion of indeterminate result); and some used an unbalanced sex-ratio. Results indicated that LR tends to perform slightly better than the other techniques and offers a better selection of predictors. Also, the use of a decision threshold (i.e. p>0.95) is essential to ensure an acceptable reliability of sex determination methods based on craniometrics. Although the Portuguese, French, and American samples share a similar sexual dimorphism, application of Western models on the Thai sample (that displayed a lower degree of dimorphism) was unsuccessful.

• Klíčová slova
• Accuracy, Forensic anthropology population data, Population, Reliability, Sex estimation, Statistics,
• MeSH
• diskriminační analýza MeSH
• kefalometrie * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• logistické modely MeSH
• rasové skupiny MeSH
• reprodukovatelnost výsledků MeSH
• soudní antropologie MeSH
• support vector machine MeSH
• určení pohlaví podle kostry metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH