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Introduction The mandible constitutes one of the skull's largest and strongest bones. Growth spurts can influence it, and it has a variety of dimorphic traits that can be used to identify sex. In addition to observing, comparing, and evaluating the potential for mandibular ramus flexure and bigonial breadth to discriminate between sexes using digital orthopantomograms (OPG), a retrospective study was conducted to examine the validity of this method for sex estimation in the Indian population. Aim and objective This study aims to quantify sexual dimorphism by analyzing two mandibular parameters, the ramus flexure and the bigonial width, using orthopantomography (OPG). The objective is to determine the accuracy of sex determination using the ramus flexure and bigonial width. Materials and methods A total of 500 OPG images (250 males and 250 females) were analyzed using the Planmeca software (Helsinki, Finland). The ramus flexure was measured as the angle formed between the tangent to the inferior border of the mandible and the tangent to the posterior border of the ramus. The bigonial width was measured as the distance between the left and right gonion points. A statistical analysis was performed to assess sexual dimorphism and determine the accuracy of sex determination using these parameters. The study employed descriptive statistics, such as means and standard deviations, and an independent t-test to determine the significance of the characteristics in relation to males and females. Results The mean bigonial width for females was 193.3068 mm (SD = 13.51669 mm) and for males was 217.6308 mm (SD = 10.87453 mm), with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.000). The 95% confidence interval for the difference in the bigonial width between males and females was between -49.97173 mm and -43.93787 mm. For the ramus flexure, the mean was 0.0000 for both males and females (SD = 0.00000), with a significant difference between males and females (p = 0.003). The 95% confidence interval for the difference in the ramus flexure between males and females was between -0.59543 and -0.12457. Conclusion The results indicated significant sexual dimorphism in both the ramus flexure and bigonial width. This study demonstrated that the ramus flexure and bigonial width, measured using orthopantomography (OPG), exhibited significant sexual dimorphism. The analysis of these mandibular parameters provided valuable information for sex determination in forensic and anthropological contexts.

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Aim: In our study, we evaluated the gender dimorphism among dental measurements of selected people in a South Indian district. Methodology: In our research, 500 participants between 17 and 25 years of age were included after taking their maxillary arch impressions. Utilizing Korkhaus compass and digital caliper, depth of palatal area as well as maxillary arch as a whole was done. T-test was done to initiate the comparative analysis between the palatal arch and complete maxillary arch depths where P < 0.05 was denoted significant statistically. Results: It was recorded that complete maxillary arch depth measurements were increased in case of men as compared to women, whereas the measurements related to depth of the palatal arch were not statistically significant. Conclusion: In our research, we found that complete maxillary arch depth can be utilized for gender segregation accompanied with other auxiliary methods. The mean value for both these measurements can be utilized as a standard measurement for advance research.

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From an early age, people are exposed to risk factors that can lead to musculoskeletal disorders like low back pain, neck pain and scoliosis. Medical screenings at an early age might minimize their incidence. The study intends to improve a software that processes images of patients, using specific anatomical sites to obtain risk indicators for possible musculoskeletal problems. This project was divided into four phases. First, markers and body metrics were selected for the postural assessment. Second, the software's capacity to detect the markers and run optimization tests was evaluated. Third, data were acquired from a population to validate the results using clinical software. Fourth, the classifiers' performance with the acquired data was analyzed. Green markers with diameters of 20 mm were used to optimize the software. The postural assessment using different types of cameras was conducted via the blob detection method. In the optimization tests, the angle parameters were the most influenced parameters. The data acquired showed that the postural analysis results were statistically equivalent. For the classifiers, the study population had 16 subjects with no evidence of postural problems, 25 with mild evidence and 16 with moderate-to-severe evidence. In general, using a binary classification with the train/test split validation method provided better results.

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Precise identification of exotic whiteflies is a prerequisite to curb the invasive potential on to a new geographical location and to evolve effective management strategies. Conventionally, whitefly taxonomy is based on the description of the fourth-instar nymph or puparium, however, in the current investigation egg to adult morphology along with morphometrics of rugose spiraling whitefly (RSW), Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin was critically analyzed and various morphological characteristics were illustrated. The morphometric analysis revealed that in the immature life stages of the pest, the length: width ratio decreased with each successive life stage, such as the egg, first, second, third, and fourth instar (2.472 ± 0.071, 1.913 ± 0.020, 1.550 ± 0.045, 1.297 ± 0.034, and 1.174 ± 0.058 mm), respectively. Across different nymphal instars, the shape of lingula was greatly modified from tongue-like to triangle-shaped. The number and distribution of compound pores also vary among the different nymphal stages. The ultra-structures of the antenna through electron-microscopy depicted finer details of sensory cones. The modulation in the shape and the structural arrangement of microtrichia on the plate was illustrated. The study indicated accurate diagnosis of various stages of RSW for effective interception of goods at quarantine stations and thus preventing the entry of exotic pests into the country. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Microscopy-based (light and scanning electron microscopy) morphological characterization of rugose spiraling whitefly, (Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin).

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The potential of quantifying the variations in IR active bands was explored while using the chemometric analysis of FTIR spectra for selecting orthopedic biomaterial of industrial scale i.e., ultra-high molecular weight PE (UHMWPE). The nano composites UHMWPE with multi-walled carbon nano-tubes (MWCNTs) and Mg-silicate were prepared and irradiated with 25 kGy and 50 kGy of gamma dose. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that first three principal components (PCs) are responsible for explaining the >99% of variance in FTIR data of UHMWPE on addition of fillers and/or irradiation. The factor loadings plots revealed that PC-1 was responsible for explaining the variance in polyethylene characteristics bands and the IR active region induced by fillers i.e., 440 cm−1, 456 cm−1, from 900−1200 cm−1, 1210 cm−1, 1596 cm−1, PC-2 was responsible for explaining the variance in spectra due to radiation-induced oxidation and cross linking, while the PC-3 is responsible for explaining the variance induced because of IR active bands of MWCNTs. Hierarchy cluster analysis (HCA) was employed to classify the samples into four clusters with respect to similarity in their IR active bands which is further confirmed by PCA. According to multi attribute analysis with PCA and HCA, 65 kGy irradiated sample is optimum choice from the existing alternatives in the group of irradiated pristine UHMWPE, UHMWPE/Mg-silicate irradiated with 25 kGy of gamma dose was the optimum choice for UHWMPE/Mg-silicate nano composites, and UHMWPE/γMWCNTs composites containing 1.0% dof γ MWCNTs for UHMWPE/MWCNTs nanocomposites, respectively. The results show the effectiveness of quantifying the variance for decision as far as optimization of biomaterials in orthopedic industrial applications is concerned.

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Bibliometric analysis is a standard method for evaluating the quality and quantity of published articles. AYUSH research portal (ARP) is meant for the dissemination of research findings in the domains of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-rigpa, and Homoeopathy and allied faculties. The study attempts to understand the trend of published Ayurveda clinical trial-based articles in terms of quality and quantity. Three perspectives of research output assessed in this study are productivity in the field of Ayurveda, evidence from articles, and its involvement with the body system where disease or malfunctions are induced. Based on the study, it is observed that the highest number of articles have been published under the musculoskeletal, endocrine/metabolic/nutritional categories, and skin. Further, it is observed that only 4.50% of articles are categorized under the evidence of Grade "A" (randomized controlled trials [RCTs]) as per the World Health Organization's traditional medicine research guidelines. Out of the top 20 journals which publish Ayurveda-based research works, only five journals are indexed in reputed indexing platforms viz., PubMed and Scopus. The findings indicate that, Ayurveda clinical trials have to be planned meticulously and carried out as per the RCT guidelines for producing quality evidence so that the abysmal percentage of grade-A category articles will increase in ARP. Further, the journals, which are not yet indexed in standard indexing platforms, must strive to secure a place in them to ensure access to appropriate peers and effective dissemination of findings.

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SUMMARY: Sex estimation from fragmentary bone remain is still challenge for forensic pathologist. Ulna has been reported useful for sex estimation by metric analysis. This study generated sex estimation function for fragment and complete of ulnar bone in a Thai population. The function was generated from 200 pairs of ulnar bone, and others 20 pair of ulnar bone were used for test the accuracy of the functions. Olecranon width was the best single variable for sex predicting of proximal part of ulna, which right olecranon width could be classified the sex 90.5 %. While distal end width of ulna was the variable for predicting the sex of distal part, which left distal end width could be classified the sex with 83.0 %. Stepwise discriminant function analysis was applied to proximal part. For proximal part of right ulna 4 measurements were selected (inferior-medial trochlear notch length, olecranon width, olecranon-coronoid process length, and maximum proximal ulnar width), while the left side, superior trochlear notch width, olecranon width, and maximum proximal ulnar width were chosen, and their functions could be predicted the sex with 91.0 % and 90.0 %, respectively. Our results indicated the ulnar bone had high ability for estimating the sex in a Thai population.

RESUMEN: La estimación del sexo a partir de restos óseos fragmentarios sigue siendo un desafío para el patólogo forense. Se ha informado de la utilidad de la ulna para la estimación del sexo mediante análisis métrico. En este estudio se analizó la estimación del sexo para un fragmento y de la ulna completa en una población tailandesa. La función se generó a partir de 200 pares de ulnas y se utilizaron otras 20 pares de ulnas estimando la precisión de las funciones. El ancho del olécranon fue la mejor variable individual para predecir el sexo en la parte proximal de la ulna (90, 5 %). Si bien el ancho del extremo distal de la ulna fue la variable para predecir el sexo, el ancho del extremo distal izquierdo podría clasificarse por sexo con un 83,0 % de certeza. Se aplicó un análisis de función discriminante escalonada a la parte proximal. Para la parte proximal de la ulna derecha se seleccionaron 4 medidas (longitud de la incisura troclear inferior-medial, ancho del olécranon, longitud del proceso olecraneano-proceso coronoides y ancho ulnar proximal máximo), mientras que en el lado izquierdo, fue determinado el ancho de la incisura superior troclear, ancho del olécranon y ancho ulnar proximal máximo. Se eligió el ancho, y se pudo predecir el sexo en el 91,0 % y 90,0 % de los casos, respectivamente. Nuestros resultados indicaron que la ulna tenía una alta capacidad para estimar el sexo en una población tailandesa.

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Additive manufacturing technology has benefited many sectors, and its use in forensic sciences has opened up a variety of new opportunities for analysing and exhibiting forensic materials. However, to perform analytical procedures on 3D printed bones and teeth in forensic odontology, the metric and morphological precision of the printed replicas must first be validated. To address this, the present study was undertaken using 12 extracted human teeth that were 3D printed using five different techniques. Manual measurements and a digital mesh comparison were used to evaluate the metric precision of all samples. The findings showed that the printed replicas were accurate to within 0.5 mm of the actual teeth. It was suggested that Digital Light Processing (DLP) prints be used for potential forensic odontology applications based on measurements, digital comparison, and ease of use.

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OBJECTIVE: Despite a long history of ECG-based monitoring of acute ischemia quantified by several widely used clinical markers, the diagnostic performance of these metrics is not yet satisfactory, motivating a data-driven approach to leverage underutilized information in the electrograms. This study introduces a novel metric for acute ischemia, created using a machine learning technique known as Laplacian eigenmaps (LE), and compares the diagnostic and temporal performance of the LE metric against traditional metrics. METHODS: The LE technique uses dimensionality reduction of simultaneously recorded time signals to map them into an abstract space in a manner that highlights the underlying signal behavior. To evaluate the performance of an electrogram-based LE metric compared to current standard approaches, we induced episodes of transient, acute ischemia in large animals and captured the electrocardiographic response using up to 600 electrodes within the intramural and epicardial domains. RESULTS: The LE metric generally detected ischemia earlier than all other approaches and with greater accuracy. Unlike other metrics derived from specific features of parts of the signals, the LE approach uses the entire signal and provides a data-driven strategy to identify features that reflect ischemia. CONCLUSION: The superior performance of the LE metric suggests there are underutilized features of electrograms that can be leveraged to detect the presence of acute myocardial ischemia earlier and more robustly than current methods. SIGNIFICANCE: The earlier detection capabilities of the LE metric on the epicardial surface provide compelling motivation to apply the same approach to ECGs recorded from the body surface.

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OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of chant training both on the morphologic structure of the lateral thyrohyoid ligament (LTL) and on the acoustic characteristics of the voice. METHODS: Three groups of people participated in the study. Group I was new to chant training, group II had completed or was still continuing chant training, and group III, the control group, did not have any chant training. For all participants, laryngeal cervical magnetic resonance imaging was performed to measure the right and the left LTLs. Additionally, vocal acoustic analyses were performed and compared with the anatomic morphometric measurements. Appropriate statistical assessments were performed to evaluate the measurements. RESULTS: The length of the LTL was greater in men, and this finding supports the gender-specific differences in laryngeal structures. Anatomic differences between groups showed that 8 months of training was not sufficient to trigger morphologic changes. The left and right LTLs were asymmetric, but this finding was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Analyses revealed that vocal training causes morphologic changes in anatomic structures, which affect vocal quality.

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The greater sciatic notch is an effective indicator for sexual estimation, which is the initial process to identify unknown skeleton. Visual assessment is the mainstream of analysis methods; however, the subjectivity of researchers is also questioned. Metric method using three-dimensional models reconstructed from radiographic images can ensure reproducible and stable measurement of the greater sciatic notch. In this study, the greater sciatic notch was analyzed in various manners, including distances, angles, and dimensions, with the aid of an automatic measurement program and a landmark verification system. Among 28 items, 15 measurements showed more than 85% accuracy. Measurements related to the posterior part of the greater sciatic notch near the posterior inferior iliac spine particularly showed higher accuracy (93.1%). To test this observation, "arithmetic posterior angle of the greater sciatic notch", a generalized form of partial angle of the greater sciatic notch, was designed. It showed more than 90% accuracy. When the results of the three-dimensional measurements were applied to classify dry bones, it proved to be valid in contemporary Korean population. The method and results of this study can be referenced in wider use of the greater sciatic notch analysis.

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This research explores the best univariate and multivariate indicators for sex estimation using 51 standard osteometric measurements of all six major postcranial long bones, bones of the shoulder girdle, pelvic girdle, and the calcaneus from a modern, Colombian skeletal collection. The hypotheses being tested are (1) that postcrania will yield accurate sex classification rates and (2) the shoulder girdle will demonstrate the highest discrimination, based on results from previous research. The sample consists of 134 individuals (50 females, 84 males) between the ages of 19 and 93 with a mean age of 47 years. The sample is from the Colombian Skeletal Collection, consisting of skeletons from cemeteries in Bogotá, with recent years of death. The methods include univariate and multivariate discriminant function analysis (DFA). The results for this sample indicate the same general pattern of univariate classification effectiveness as found in research on North Americans; however, here the humerus performs better than the distal femur and proximal tibia as demonstrated in some North American samples. The cross-validated percent correct univariate classification for the postcranial elements ranges from 64.8% to 86.1% (p<0.05). The highest univariate classification rates were for the scapular height (86.1%) and the humeral head diameter (86.0%). The highest multivariate classification rates are with the scapula (93.5%), os coxa (92.0%), clavicle (89.9%), humerus (89.1%), and ulna (89.1%). This study provides sectioning points to easily estimate sex using Colombian population-specific formulae. This research aids in forensic individuation, as the long bones of the postcranial elements are relatively resistant to taphonomic processes. Furthermore, the ability to achieve such a high degree of success from a single bone is preferable for the fast-paced forensic anthropology laboratories in Colombia that process hundreds to thousands of cases each year. This research plays an important role in the development of population standards in Colombia and South America and provides a robust method that can withstand courtroom scrutiny.

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BACKGROUND: A comparison of oral/inhaled opium addicts with a healthy control group was investigated. Using the graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GF-AAS) followed by chemometric analysis, sub-to-low µg L-1 concentrations of blood lead level (BLL) was detected in both the addict and the control groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, BLL of 78 subjects (Iranian volunteers) in two opium-addicted (patient group) and healthy control groups was evaluated. All the volunteers were men. The patient group was comprised of 39 patients who used opium orally or by inhalation with a mean age of 48.6 ± 7.3 years. The patient group was selected through systematic incidental sampling from 150 orally or by inhalation opium-addicted patients referred to Shariati Hospital located in Tehran .The control group (39 subjects) was matched with the patient group with regard to age and sex and with a mean age of 44.8 ± 5.6 years. RESULTS: The mean concentration of lead was found to be significantly lower (P = 0.0001) in control group (16.70 ± 12.51 µg/dL) compared to addicts (57.04 ± 46.03 µg/dL). When the addicts were divided into various age groups, there appeared to be a significant difference (p= 0.0451) in blood lead concentration as a function of age, however when the control group was considered, no difference was observed (P = 0.51). Also, a tendency (P = 0.048) towards increasing BLL with respect to BMI was observed due to drug consumption, but there was no significant variation between BLL concentration and BMI when the control group was considered (P = 0.35). CONCLUSIONS: It was observed that the BLL in opium-addicts was significantly higher than that of the healthy control group. The mean difference of both groups was statistically significant.

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The present study was undertaken to assess the accuracy, precision and validity of hydrophilic Vinyl Poly Siloxane [VPS] impression material for bite mark documentation and analysis. Medium body VPS impressions of maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth among thirty subjects were taken and dental stone casts prepared. Hollow volume overlays were made and metric analysis was done using advanced imaging software like Adobe Photoshop - 9 and Image J. These values were compared to the measurements taken from bite mark impressions of the same 30 individuals on wax wafers using light body VPS material. The mean differences in the parameters measured by the different techniques were compared using Intra Class Correlation Coefficients [ICCC]. Additionally validity parameters such as sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value were computed.

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Metric and morphological techniques employed by forensic anthropologists for determination of race are reviewed. Included are several studies which examine cranial morphological techniques such as presence of the oval window of the inner ear, which occurs more frequently in Whites than in Native Americans; or the shape of the alveolar region which distinguishes between Asian, African, and North American Indian groups. A table of common cranial morphologic traits is presented. Metric techniques have also been used to determine race from the skull. Regression equations derived from measurements of the cranial base indicate a 70-90% accuracy for classifying Blacks and Whites, while multivariate discriminant functions for discriminating Blacks, Whites, and Native Americans correctly classify 82.6% of the males and 88.1% of the females. FORDISC, a computer program developed at the University of Tennessee, is another metric technique reviewed that not only distinguishes Whites, Blacks, and Native Americans but also male Hispanics, Chinese, and Vietnamese. Platycnemia, femoral curvature and other morphological attributes of the post-cranial skeleton may be used in support of a racial determination; however, several investigators have turned to post-cranial elements not only to use in support of cranial findings but for use when cranial information is not available. As a result, several discriminant functions from measurements of the pelvis, femur, tibia or combinations of these elements have been developed. Accuracy for these techniques varies from 57% to 95%, depending on the sample and technique used. Other aspects of the femur, such as the diameter of the neck, height of the intercondylar notch and femoral curvature, have been measured for assessment of race. Also included is a brief historical survey of race and current thoughts on the concept of race.