Calil Makhoul

Neutron vibrational spectroscopy is applied to the study of burned human skeletal remains, as an innovative way of tackling heat-induced changes in human bone, which will have a significant impact in forensic, bioanthropological and archaeological contexts. The results, coupled to Raman and FTIR data, will lead to an improved understanding of the changes undergone by bone upon burning events, allowing a reliable assessment of the subsequent changes and ultimately relating burned to pre-burned parameters. A quantitative relationship between spectroscopic parameters, macroscopic dimensional variations in burned bones and specific burning conditions (e.g. temperature and duration) is sought. This work follows two experiments on MAPS (RB1520001 and 1620027), which constitute the first studies of human burned bones by neutron techniques. Our first results were recently published [1].

OBJECTIVES Heat exposure can lead to apparently random osteometric changes that hinder the application of metric methods used for biological profiling. The impracticality of using objective and burn-specific osteometric methods reduces the chances of establishing the biological profiles of unknown individuals based on their skeletal remains. We investigated the potential of chemometry analysis based on infrared spectroscopy to predict the amount of heat-induced osteometric changes and how this reflected into sex estimation. MATERIAL AND METHODS Bones from 41 identified adult skeletons (24 females and 17 males with ages between 62 and 90 years old) were experimentally burnt to maximum temperatures ranging from 450°C to 1,100°C (attained after 65 to 240 min). Measurements were taken both before and after each experiment and powder samples were analyzed through FTIR-ATR. Correlations among heat-induced metric changes and chemometric indices (crystallinity index; B-type carbonates; carbonate [A + B] to carbonate B ratio; hydroxyl to phosphate ratio; 630 cm-1 , 1450 cm-1 , 3572 cm-1 , and 3642 cm-1 ) were tested. Significant variables were used to build regression models to predict heat-induced metric change which were then tested on an independent set of samples. Agreement in sex estimation between the pre- and post-burnt samples was also evaluated. RESULTS All indices were significantly correlated to heat-induced metric changes (α = .01) and the highest correlations were obtained for the 630 cm-1 , 3572 cm-1 , and crystallinity index. We confirmed that regression models based on chemometrics obtained from infrared spectra through FTIR-ATR are better at estimating heat-induced metric changes affecting bone and at sexing remains than other osteometric methods such as those based on correction factors or on metric references specific to calcined bones. DISCUSSION Regression models avoid the subjectivity associated with the application of other methods. While the latter can be applied only to calcined bones, which is difficult to assess sometimes, regression models can be applied to all bones regardless of their condition. Also, regression models have the advantage of allowing to infer about heat-induced metric change on a case-by-case basis.

Complete and accurate human skeletal inventory is seldom possible in archaeological and forensic cases involving severe fragmentation. In such cases, skeletal mass comparisons with published references may be used as an alternative to assess skeletal completeness but they are too general for a case-by-case routine analysis. The objective is to solve this issue by creating linear regression equations to estimate the total mass of a skeleton based on the mass of individual bones. Total adult skeletal mass and individual mass of the clavicle, humerus, femur, patella, carpal, metacarpal, tarsal, and metatarsal bones were recorded in a sample of 60 skeletons from the 21st century identified skeletal collection (University of Coimbra). The sample included 32 females and 28 males with ages ranging from 31 to 96 years (mean = 76.4; sd = 14.8). Skeletal mass linear regression equations were calculated based on this sample. The mass of individual bones was successfully used to predict the app...

Forensic entomology studies insects in relation to court cases. It is probably the only accurate method of determining the Post Mortem Interval (PMI) when more than two days after death have passed. In order to investigate the entomofaunal colonization and pattern of decomposition of a pig’s carrion, an entomological based experiment was carried out on an open field in Bedghan (Aley district, Mount Lebanon Governorate, Lebanon). Stages of decomposition and the insects that mark them were investigated. Diptera imagoes were the first to arrive to the corpse in the fresh stage and their larvae especially those of Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819) have dominated the active decay. Simultaneously and during the decay process, different fly and beetle species fed on the carcass until the stage of remains. Upon the sequence of their colonization, different taxa were collected. Three Calliphoridae species were recorded; Chrysomya albiceps, Lucilia sericata (Meigen, 1826) and Calliphora vo...

The close association between insects and corpses and the use of insects in medico-criminal investigations is the subject of Forensic Entomology. In Lebanon, Forensic Entomology is yet in its early stages. Our study aims at monitoring pig carrion decomposition and insect succession patterns during end of summer and autumn season. The sequence and composition of the local carrion visiting fauna, as well as, the rate of decomposition of the carrion and their determinant climatic factors is measured. The complete decomposition of the carrion lasts for 60 days. Five stages of decomposition of the cadaver namely the fresh, bloated, active decay, advanced decay and dry remains are observed. Many species belonging to the order Diptera and Coleoptera are associated with decomposing bodies. The succession patterns are typical for the seasonal periods and provide data on baseline fauna important for estimating postmortem interval in cases of human death. The study was conducted in the Fanar, ...

Within the forensic sphere, the burned skeletal human remains are recovered from several and diversified contexts. Although the forensic context may vary considerably, all cases benefit from the application of comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the effect of heat-induced changes in human remains. The investigation of these changes will take advantage of the compilation of partially burned skeletons stemming from the new CEI/XXI identified collection that is being assembled at the Department of Life Sciences of the University of Coimbra. Here, we present our protocol for the preparation and examination of skeletons. The collection is mostly composed by skeletons from individuals who died during the 21st century of both sexes with ages-at-death between 29 and 99 years old. Some of the skeletons are being partially burned under laboratorial conditions, which varies in duration (75 min to 195 min) and maximum temperature (400oC to 900 oC) thus constituting the first collection...

Completely skeletonised burned human remains are often found in forensic contexts. Their importance for investigations like the ones related with mass disasters is unquestionable as can be seen from the Victorian bush fires in 2009 that caused numerous victims. However, forensic anthropologists have problems working with this kind of remains due to heat-induced changes that interfere negatively with the application and reliability of bioanthropological methods. This problem has been lately at the centre of the investigation carried out by a team of researchers at Coimbra. The objective of this presentation is therefore to describe our most recent efforts regarding this topic and to discuss possible future research pathways. The investigation carried out in Coimbra benefits from the compilation of partially burned skeletons stemming from the new CEI/XXI identified collection that is being assembled at the Department of Life Sciences. The latter is mostly composed of skeletons from in...

Mamede AP, Vassalo AR, Makhoul C, Goncalves D, Almeida M, Cunha E, Parker SF, Kockelman W, Marques MPM, Batista de Carvalho LAE. 2018d Widening the frontiers in Forensic Identification: probing burned human bones with neutron techniques. 6-7th November. Molecular Spectroscopy Science Meeting, University College London, London, UK.

The analysis of burned remains is a highly complex process, and a better insight can be gained with advanced technologies. The main goal of this paper is to apply X-ray diffraction, partially supported by infrared attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy to determine changes in burned human bones and teeth in terms of mineral phase transformations. Samples of 36 bones and 12 teeth were heated at 1050°C and afterwards subjected to XRD and ATR-IR. The crystallinity index was calculated for every sample. A quantitative evaluation of phases was documented by using the Rietveld approach. In addition to bioapatite, the following mineralogical phases were found in the bone: β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) (Ca3(PO4)2), lime (CaO), portlandite (Ca(OH)2), calcite (CaCO3), and buchwaldite (NaCaPO4). In the case of bone, besides bioapatite, only the first two mineralogical phases and magnesium oxide were present. We also observed that the formation of β-TCP affects the phosphate peaks used for ...

The analysis of burned remains is a highly complex process, and a better insight can be gained with advanced technologies. The main goal of this paper is to apply X-ray diffraction, partially supported by infrared attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy to determine changes in burned human bones and teeth in terms of mineral phase transformations. Samples of 36 bones and 12 teeth were heated at 1050°C and afterwards subjected to XRD and ATR-IR. The crystallinity index was calculated for every sample. A quantitative evaluation of phases was documented by using the Rietveld approach. In addition to bioapatite, the following mineralogical phases were found in the bone: β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) (Ca3(PO4)2), lime (CaO), portlandite (Ca(OH)2), calcite (CaCO3), and buchwaldite (NaCaPO4). In the case of bone, besides bioapatite, only the first two mineralogical phases and magnesium oxide were present. We also observed that the formation of β-TCP affects the phosphate peaks used for ...

The skeletal remains of seven individuals (five non-adults and two adults) were recovered during an archeological intervention in the township of Carnide (Lisbon, Portugal). Funerary anthropology strongly suggests that the sample is from the Medieval Islamic period (8th - 12th centuries AD). This report presents a case of chronic osteomyelitis in a non-adult individual. The diagnostic is substantiated by the presence of pathognomonic signs of osteomyelitis, including the presence of cloacae and a sequestrum in the left tibia. The bone infection is discussed in the context of inadequate socioeconomic conditions. This case from a relatively unfamiliar chronology and cultural context supplements the uncommon paleopathological descriptions of osteomyelitis in non-adults from historical populations.

Objectives Complete and accurate human skeletal inventory is seldom possible in archaeological and forensic cases involving severe fragmentation. In such cases, skeletal mass comparisons with published references may be used as an alternative to assess skeletal completeness but they are too general for a case-by-case routine analysis. The objective is to solve this issue by creating linear regression equations to estimate the total mass of a skeleton based on the mass of individual bones. Materials and Methods Total adult skeletal mass and individual mass of the clavicle, humerus, femur, patella, carpal, metacarpal, tarsal, and metatarsal bones were recorded in a sample of 60 skeletons from the 21st century identified skeletal collection (University of Coimbra). The sample included 32 females and 28 males with ages ranging from 31 to 96 years (mean = 76.4; sd = 14.8). Skeletal mass linear regression equations were calculated based on this sample. Results The mass of individual bones...