[Feasibility study of the 3D-microscopic modeling method during the course of medical and forensic examinations of gunshot wounds]. / Vozmozhnosti primeneniia metoda 3D-mikroskopicheskogo modelirovaniia v khode proizvodstva mediko-kriminalisticheskikh ékspertiz ognestrel'noi travmy.

Presents the possibilities, as well as an example of the practical application, of the 3D-microscopic modeling method in forensic medicine when conducting medical forensic studies of a patch of skin with a bullet hole wound.

[The molecular genetic analysis of chromosomal DNA in burned bones]. / Molekulyarno-geneticheskii analiz khromosomnoi DNK v obozhzhennykh kostyakh: mif ili real'nost'?

The objective of the present study was a demonstrative consideration of the debatable problem concerning the possibility of obtaining reliable genetic information by the investigation of burned bones. The bone fragments with the identifiable external features of different degree of ignition (i.e. in the carbonized, grey- and white-burnt states) were placed in the muffle furnace for the controlled thermal treatment. The analytical suitability of these burned bone objects for genotyping was estimated with the use of standard chromosomal STR-loci multiplex genotyping panels. The results of the study cast serious doubts as regards the possibility of genotyping of chromosomal DNA extracted from the burned bones. It was shown that the exposure of the bone tissue to a temperature of 150 degrees Celsius during 2 hours can turn it into a material absolutely unsuitable for genotyping due to the loss of all individual genotypic traits. Characteristically the burned bone objects are externally indistinguishable from the native bone. At the same time, the material with the signs of the high-temperature impact visible by the unaided eye (e.g. in the carbonized, pronounced black as well as grey and white-burnt states) is altogether unsuitable for the reliable identification of the genetic profile of chromosomal DNA.

[Spatial position of the cranium in craniofacial establishment of identity].

A total of 90 images of male cranes from different groups of horizontal profiling (120 +/- 10 degrees, 140 +/- 10 degrees, 160 +/- 10 degrees) were studied in experiment with the coordinate-controlled complex for turning angle (from the position full face to the right and left by 14 degrees with spacing 2 degrees). Each image was marked according to the system of 18 control points. Precision of the angle fixation was 0.1 degrees. Calculation of the angles of horizontal profiling and turning of the crane were made according to a specially devised program INPUTTING. Statistic processing of the computer data base made it possible to calculate precision rates of marking points and regression equation describing the pattern of cranial control points in turning. It is shown that presicion of the turning angle estimation with reference to horizontal profiling is much higher than without it. Basing on the data obtained a method of zeroing of coordinates of the control points (placing in position for correct scaling of the objects of craniofacial identification) was devised. The method allows greater reliability of the results of personal craniofacial identification.

[Study of the skeleton of Admiral F. F. Ushakov]. / Issledovanie skeleta Admirala F. F. Ushakova.

Reports the results of examination of the skeleton of Admiral F. F. Ushakov, carried out in connection with canonization in the Russian Orthodox Church. Heretofore unknown data on the somatic characteristics of F. F. Ushakov and his diseases are presented. Special attention is paid to uneven age involution of the skeleton and the hypoergic aging velocity. A detailed morphological similarity between the skulls of F. F. Ushakov and monk Feodor (Admiral's uncle, I. I. Ushakov) evidenced common features inherited through the masculine line. Modern computer technologies showed that the appearance of F. F. Ushakov, determined by the skull and postcranial skeleton, agree with his appearance on the life-time portrait, in spite of Professor M. M. Gerasimov's opinion (1949). In this connection, the possibility of repeated reconstruction of Admiral Ushakov's appearance is proven.

[Geometric method for determining the skull-portrait aspect in craniofacial identification of the body]. / Geometricheskii sposob opredeleniia rakursnogo polozheniia cherep-portret pri kraniofatsial'noi identifikatsii lichnosti.

Correspondence of the reference graphic images by the aspect is an important condition of craniofacial personality identification. The authors propose methods of determining the skull-portrait aspect by X and Y axes simultaneously. This allows 2 potentialities of comparing the photograph and the skull picture: 1) positioning the skull in a strictly determined aspect estimated by analysis of coordinates of reference points on the photoportrait and 2) positioning the skull and re-estimation of the photoportrait coordinates into the "zero" aspect (zero turning, inclination, and lateral deviation). Hence, all coordinates of the reference points of examined graphic images in the database can be estimated for the zero position and the same scale, which helps automate the search for analogs.

[Computer-aided personality identification by skull and life-time photography by POSKID 1.1 method]. / Komp'iuternaia identifikatsiia lichnosti po cherepu i prizhiznennoi fotografii metodom POSKID 1.1.

An improved method for computer-aided personality identification by the skull, based on the POSKID 1.1 software, consists in investigation of enlarged images of the skull and life-time photograph of the probable individual by coordinates of 49 anatomical points; independent quantitative evaluation of the aspect of each of the compared objects by the X, Y, and Z axes; formal evaluation of the results of comparative study of the skull-portrait by multidimensional discriminant analysis models. The proposed version differs from the POSKID 1.0 software in the method for evaluating the spatial position of the head on the portrait and adequate orientation of the skull in space, which necessitates the utilization of coordinate-regulated holder POSKID 1.1 method is based on multidimensional discriminant analysis and suggests a virtually reliable solution in 76.13-80.65% cases, a probable solution (positive and negative) in 11.61-18.06% cases, and motivated refusal from solution in 5.81-7.74% cases. In case of a probable or indefinite solution further investigations are recommended making use of life-time photographs with different aspects.

[Computer analysis of face and skull size by "quantitative verbal portrait" method]. / Komp'iuternoe issledovanie cherepno-litsevykh razmerov s pomoshch'iu metodiki "kolichestvennogo slovesnogo portreta".

The aim of this study was to develop a "quantitative verbal portrait" method on the basis of universal measured signs of the face and skull. The database includes 90 cases with expert evaluation of photocompatibility with proven identity. Four groups of signs were investigated: DX and DY--the width and height between accurately fixed concrete craniometrical (facial) points and the so-called RX and RY indices--the ratio between distances within the framework of the same direction. The proposed scheme of evaluation helps compare the photograph of a live human and the skull. For evaluating the degree of identity, one should have a summary characterization of all selected signs for the skull and compare it with the sum on the photograph; sometimes it is possible to rule out the identity of the photograph and the skull by the absolute size, e.g., a very large skull cannot belong to a human with a very little face. The score for each group of signs is used for analysis of the information for detecting the similarities. Accumulation and comparative analysis of two information flows are possible: database on portraits of lost subjects and database on graphic images of the skulls of unidentified corpses.

[The medical anthropological study of the bone remains from the Yekaterinburg burial]. / Mediko-antropologicheskoe issledovanie kostnykh ostankov iz Ekaterinburgskogo zakhoroneniia.

Results of medical anthropological expert studies of bone remains of Emperor Nicholas II, his family members, and persons in their attendance are presented. Craniological (including computer photoblending), odontological, osteometric, and spectral methods were sued. Numerous photographs, Imperial Family clothes from museums, soil specimens from Tsarskoe Selo and place of burial were used. Expert studies confirmed previous conclusions on personal identification of skeletons as Nicholas II and four Imperial Family members. Additional proofs of identification of skeleton No. 6 as Great Princess Anastasia Nikolaevna are presented. No remains which could be identified as Cesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich and Great Princess Maria Nikolaevna were found. The so-called "adolescent teeth" are upper teeth of a subject aged 17-18. Rare odontoglyphic characteristics of these teeth permit referring them only to skull No. 6 (Great Princess Anastasia Nikolaevna) but not to an adolescent, specifically, to Cesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich.