[Morphology of sternum for formation of the biological profile of unidentified individual]. / Morfologiya grudiny dlya formirovaniya biologicheskogo profilya neopoznannogo individa.

Identification of a person by general group characteristics does not lose its relevance over a long period. An analysis of publications (2000-2023) devoted to the possibilities of using the sternum to determine gender and age showed a fairly large amount of work on this topic, with very promising results. The trend in the development of this area is the use of modern methods of medical imaging. This becomes the starting point for conducting such studies on the territory of the Russian Federation and developing a methodology that includes the Russian population, taking into account their population characteristics.

[Review of age assessment methods of children and adolescents by teeth X-rays]. / Obzor metodov otsenki vozrasta detei i podrostkov po rentgenogrammam zubov.

Interest in the topic of age assessment for forensic medical identification of personality has not decreased for over the past decade. Establishing an exact age have a critical importance for law enforcement authorities, for example in case of wrongdoing by illegal migrants without identity documents. The search and systemic analysis of published researches devoted to age assessment by dental status in children and adolescents with subsequent updating of the directions of development in this scientific subject theme and the possibility of their realization in practice in the Russian Federation were carried out in order to have an objective concept of used methods of dental status assessment in the world practice.

[Mechanical asphyxia in the structure of violent death in the Russian Federation from 2013 to 2022 years]. / Mekhanicheskaya asfiksiya v strukture nasil'stvennoi smerti v Rossiiskoi Federatsii s 2013 po 2022 g.

The objective of the study is to examine the death incidence from mechanical asphyxia in the Russian Federation in the period from 2013 to 2022 yr., to determine the dynamics of changes in indicators of its main types and to reveal territorial specificity. The results obtained with the use of medical statistics methods can be applied to implement measures for health protection, prevent risk factors of fatal outcome among population, to improve the training of forensic medical experts.

[Investigation of regularities of scientific and practical development of forensic medical personality identification using elements of scientometric analysis]. / Issledovanie zakonomernostei nauchno-prakticheskogo razvitiya sudebno-meditsinskoi identifikatsii lichnosti s ispol'zovaniem elementov naukometricheskogo analiza.

The article presents the results of scientometric analysis of theses, defended in the period from 1800 to 2020 yrs. on the «Forensic medicine¼ specialty, which are devoted to personality identification. Based on the analysis of defended theses for a significant period of time, a change of scientific directions was established and their dynamics, main tendencies and prospects were revealed. This allowed to determine the potential vector of research development on the forensic medical identification of personality. The conducted research can be used as a scientific and theoretical basis for predicting the relevance of future scientific investigations.

[Forensic medical examination of the age of living persons in Russia: problematic aspects and solutions]. / Sudebno-meditsinskaya ekspertiza po ustanovleniyu vozrasta zhivykh lits v Rossii: problemnye aspekty i puti resheniya.

The article presents the results of the study of quantitative indicators and analytical compilation of forensic medical expert practice data in terms of the age of living persons in Russia examination as a whole and in individual federal districts and subjects of Russia in the period from 2003 to 2021. It has been established that against the background of the rather low number of expert examinations, performed to determine the living persons age, there has been an increase in this indicator since 2018, mainly due to the Central Federal District. Regional differences in the studied indicators were identified. A systematic survey study of literature (electronic search of publications in PubMed, Science Direct Scopus and eLIBRARY databases) was conducted on the issue of forensic medical assessment of living persons' age, including the methodical support of this examination type, to form an idea of existing scientific clusters. Search modes allowed to form an array of 184 publications indexed in the database Scopus, PubMed, and 8 publications presented in Russian Science Citation Index. The study results were used as a predictor of the efficacy of the package of measures to modernize this type of expert study. The proposed set of measures to improve the scientific and methodical support of forensic medical examination for age establishment will optimize practical activities and increase the evidential efficacy of expert opinions.

[Research and development of Sechenov University forensic medicine department within the program «Priority-2030¼ implementation]. / Nauchno-issledovatel'skaya rabota kafedry sudebnoi meditsiny Sechenovskogo Universiteta v ramkakh realizatsii programmy «Prioritet-2030¼.

A comprehensive analysis of research and development results of Sechenov University forensic medicine department for the last 5 years (from 2018 to 2022) was performed. The thematic structure and citation indices of scientific publications were presented. The most promising directions of the department's research activities were identified.

[Age assessment using CT of knee joint and neural network technologies]. / Otsenka vozrasta s ispol'zovaniem KT kolennogo sustava i neirosetevykh tekhnologii.

Age assessment of living persons plays an important role in clinical and sports medicine, as well as in law practice. Traditional methods have a number of problems: age restrictions, technical difficulties of visualization, low reproducibility and subjectivity of estimation. The proposed approach, which implies the use of multispiral computed tomography (MSCT) and database mining, will eliminate these drawbacks and improve the estimation of age. The aim of the study was to investigate the use of deep learning algorithms to classify the age groups (with a threshold level of 18 years) for CT images of knee joint. The study included 455 MSCT images of the knee joint of male and female subjects aged from 13 to 24. The method included score assessment of the distal femur's epiphyseal synostosis stages, tibia and fibula proximal epiphyses and a preliminary statistical analysis of correlations between age and stages of synostosis. The challenge of binary classification of target age groups with the use of convolutional neural networks was implemented at the second phase of the trial. Various architectures of convolutional neural networks and their ensembles were tested. The result of the study showed that the total score of epiphyseal synostosis has the highest correlation with the age (r=0.88). The proposed method of chronological age assessment on the basis of the knee area CT images research using deep learning algorithms demonstrated a good result. The classification accuracy (threshold level of 18 years) was 0.86.

[Forensic medical diagnostics of age by the Cameriere method]. / Sudebno-meditsinskaya diagnostika vozrasta po metodu Cameriere.

THE AIM OF THE STUDY: Was to conduct the comparative analysis of the age groups' separation accuracy (<18 years old; ≥18 years old) by orthopantomogram depending on the examination's side in Russian population sample. The number of orthopantomograms equal 600 (190 of male and 410 of female) aged from 14 to 23 were investigated. Index value of third molar (Im3) was calculated by the R. Cameriere method, in female and male, on the right and left sides. Index of third molar on the right and left sides shows a high correlation. In the male sample the result specificity was 0.97 on the left and 1.0 on the right, the sensitivity was 0.96 on the left and 0.94 on the right. In the female sample the values were as follows: the specificity was 0.96 on the left and 0.98 on the right, the sensitivity was 0.92 on the left and 0.94 on the right. The results showed the possibility of Im3 (0.08) use to determine the target age group for Russian citizens of both sexes regardless of examination side.

[Age determination by microstructural features of human cricoid cartilage]. / Opredelenie vozrasta po mikrostrukturnym parametram perstnevidnogo khryashcha cheloveka.

THE AIM OF THE STUDY: Was to develop the age determination's technology by the morphometric features of the human cricoid cartilage using a regression analysis method. Cricoid cartilages of 65 variously-aged males were examined. The number of histomorphometric parameters equal 16 for each sample were determined and measured on the histological sections. A descriptive statistical processing of data using the regression analysis method was done, as a result of which the model of age determination was developed. This model has a high predictive accuracy, where the prediction error was less than 5 years in 64.62% of cases. The practical use of this model may be limited by the morphometric parameters' number translating complication to calculate the formula. The developed method can be improved while increasing the sample and conducting further statistical processing, and in the future it can be used in the age determination in forensic medical examination.

[Establishment and initial stage of forensic anthropology's development at Moscow University]. / Stanovlenie i nachal'nyi etap razvitiya sudebno-meditsinskoi antropologii v Moskovskom universitete.

A historical and medical study of preconditions and circumstances of the forensic anthropology establishment is presented. Official demographic statistics and P.A. Minakov's scientific publication on anthropology and forensic medicine were used. The circumstances of forensic anthropology occurrence (a new scientific direction in forensic medicine) were studied. The precondition of its appearance was a strong migration process, with a prevalent concentration of population in large industrial cities. The fact that studied occurrence took place in Moscow can be explained by the high level of development of the anthropological school at Moscow University, and by the fact that one of its leaders, P.A. Minakov, simultaneously headed the university's department of forensic medicine. The idea of anthropology scientific integration into forensic medicine, which was successfully implemented at the Forensic Medicine Department of the Moscow University, belonged to him.

[Histomorphometric characteristics of age-related changes in cricoid cartilage.]

The paper presents the results of a histomorphometric study of age-related changes in hyaline cartilage tissue by the example of studying cricoid cartilage from 88 corpses of males of various ages. A comparative assessment of the parameters between the groups was carried out and the dynamics of age-related changes in the main ones was studied. As a result of the studies, the greatest correlation with age was recorded in the following indicators: length (r=0,88) and width (r=0,89) of the ossification zone, the area of bone (r=0,87), adipose (r=0,77) and reticular tissue (r=0,86), the number of chondroblasts (r=-0,7). It was found that the transformations of cricoid cartilage occurring with age are characterized by a decrease in the area of cartilage tissue, the average number of chondrocytes and chondroblasts also tends to decrease steadily with increasing age. Age-related bone tissue transformations are characterized by an increase in the area of bone tissue and the transformation of the tissue structure itself: the number of bone beams and their dimensional characteristics (length and width) change. The results of the study allow us to evaluate the age dynamics of quantitative markers of involution processes of hyaline cartilage tissue in men by the example of studying cricoid cartilage and supplement the existing ideas about the pathogenesis of age-associated cartilage diseases.

[Statistical analysis of performance indicators of medical forensic departments of the FME bureaux in the Russian Federation]. / Statisticheskii analiz pokazatelei mediko-kriminalisticheskikh podrazdelenii byuro SME v Rossiiskoi Federatsii.

This article presents the results of the study of the quantitative performance indicators of medical forensic departments of state forensic medical expert institutions in Russia as a whole and in individual federal districts from 2009 to 2018. Medical statistics methods were used. We analyzed absolute and intensive indicators, their percentages, and correlation relationships. Trends and patterns were studied to identify causal relationships and assess the effect of various factors. A steady trend of reducing the total number of expert examinations performed in the medical forensic departments was shown. However, their share of the total number of violent death cases is increasing. The labor intensity of medical forensic examinations and the number of examination methods used are increasing. Regional differences in the studied indicators are revealed. The presented metadata can be used to improve the workflow management of forensic medical departments and monitor the effectiveness of improvements. The findings confirm the need to modernize and adapt the regulatory and procedural framework of the expert work.

Age Classification in Forensic Medicine Using Machine Learning Techniques.

The aim of the study was to assess the capabilities of age determination (age group) at death using classification techniques by histomorphometric characteristics of osseous and cartilaginous tissue aging. Materials and Methods: The study material was a database containing the findings of morphometric researches of osseous and cartilaginous tissue histologic specimens from 294 categorized male corpses aged 10-93 years. For data analysis and classification we used modern machine learning methods: k-NN, SVM, logistic regression, CatBoost, SGD, naive Bayes, random forest, nonlinear dimensionality reduction methods (t-SNE and uMAP), and recursive feature elimination for feature selection. Results: The used techniques (algorithms) provided effective representation of a complex data set (76 histomorphometric features), allowing to reveal the cluster structure inside the low dimensional feature space, thus fitting the classifier becomes even more reasonable. During feature selection, we estimated their importance for age group classification and studied the relationship between classification quality and the number of features inside the feature space. Data pre-processing made it possible to get rid of noise and keep most informative features, thereby accelerating a learning process and improving the classification quality. Data projection showed more well-defined cluster structure in the space of selected features. The accuracy of establishing certain groups was equal to 90%. It proves high efficiency of machine learning techniques used for forensic age diagnostics based on histomorphometric findings.

Age-related changes in cationic compositions of human cranial base bone apatite measured by X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) coupled with scanning electron microscope (SEM).

One of the most common scientific methods to study the chemical composition of bone matter is energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). However, interpretation of the data obtained can be quite complicated and require a thorough understanding of bone structure. This is especially important when evaluating subtle changes of chemical composition, including the age-related ones. The aim of current study is to create a method of processing the obtained data that can be utilized in clinical medicine and use it to evaluate the age evolution of bone chemical composition. To achieve this goal, an elemental composition of 62 samples of cadaver compact bone, taken from the skull base (age: Me = 57.5; 21/91(min/max); Q1 = 39.5, Q3 = 73.75), was studied with EDS. We used the original method to estimate the amount of Mg2+ cations. We detected and confirmed an increase of Mg2+ cation formula amount in the bone apatite, which characterizes age-related resorption rate. Analysis of cation estimated ratio in a normative bone hydroxylapatite showed an increase of Mg2+ amount (R = 0.43, p = 0.0005). Also, Ca weight fraction was shown to decrease with age (R = - 0.43, p = 0.0005), which in turn confirmed the age-dependent bone decalcification. In addition, electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) were performed. EDS data confirmed the EPMA results (R = 0.76, p = 0.001). In conclusion, the proposed method can be used in forensic medicine and provide additional data to the known trends of decalcification and change of density and crystallinity of mineral bone matter.

Forensic diagnostics of the range of rifled firearm calculated by back spatter over clothing.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have been conducted by using sophisticated methodologies for the deduction of range in cases of firearm injuries. However, the stark dearth of literature for similar purpose by just simple analysis of blood traces on items of clothing is astonishing. PURPOSE: This study was done to determine the relationship between range of a rifled firearm and blood traces on the clothing of victims in firearm injuries. METHODOLOGY: Simulation experiments were performed by firing test shots in closed shooting range by using a Glock 17 pistol (9 mm luger) into pieces of clothing soaked with sheep blood. A total of 132 shots were fired. The morphologies and amount of blood spatter formed over a range varying from 5 cm to 100 cm (shooting angle-90°) were studied. RESULTS: An inverse relationship was found to exist between morphology of blood traces produced on the target and the distance of the shot fired. The misting and micro-blood spatters were recorded at a range of 5-60 cm. The distance from which shots were fired carried significant impact on the appearance and density of the spray and the blood spatter. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide a scientifically determined, statistically valid and simple equation formula in the most cost effective and easy manner for the deduction of range by mere examination of clothing in cases of firearm injuries. The requirements of the sacrifice of animals, and/or extrapolation of the results to humans by conducting experiments using hypothetical targets were also obviated in this study.

[Epidemiological analysis of violent death and cases of not established death cases in Russian Federation (2009-2018)]. / Epidemiologicheskii analiz pokazatelei nasil'stvennoi smerti i sluchaev neustanovleniya prichiny smerti po Rossiiskoi Federatsii (po materialam 2009­2018 gg.).

The paper presents the results of an epidemiological analysis of statistical data on the number of deaths from violent deaths, which cause has not been established; unidentified and unclaimed corpses in forensic medical expertise in Russia as a whole and in individual federal districts for the period from 2009 to 2018. Percentage indicators and share values of the circumstances due to which the death cause was not established are given. It was found that on the basis of a steady decreasing trend in number of violent deaths, the number of corpses with an unknown death cause is growing, mainly due to putrefactive changes in corpses of adults and due to the burning of children corpses. The presence of a strong correlation between the number of unclaimed and unidentified corpses with the number of forensic medical expertise, when the cause of death was not established, was shown. Based on the analysis results at the macro level (federal districts), some interregional differences in the structure of the analyzed indicators were revealed. The results obtained make it possible to confirm the relevance of existing clusters of scientific research and to form new ones, to place accents in the directions of the postgraduate education of specialists.

[The possibilities for gender determination based on the specific anatomical features of the human cricoid cartilage]. / Vozmozhnost' ustanovleniya pola po antropometricheskim parametram perstnevidnogo khryashcha cheloveka.

THE AIM OF THE STUDY: Is to establish the morphometric features of the human cricoid cartilage structure using anthropometric research. Cricoid cartilage was examined from 37 men and 30 women. Using an electronic caliper and scales, 17 metric parameters and the mass of the cricoid cartilage were established, and a statistical analysis of the results obtained was carried out. It was found that the greatest relationship with the gender had the following dimensions: the distance from the upper outer edge of the plate to the outer edge of the arch and the height of the cricoid cartilage plate, the distance between the arytenoid articular surfaces, and the mass of cricoid cartilage. The data obtained confirmed the gender dimorphism of the cricoid cartilage. The data of this study can be used in expert practice for forensic medical identification of a person.

[Methodological basis for determining a person's age]. / Metodologicheskie osnovy opredeleniya vozrasta cheloveka.

This paper presents a review of modern fundamental research studies investigating the age-related changes of connective, cartilage, nervous and bone tissues. A methodological and mathematical basis for the analysis of the obtained results is proposed. The conducted analysis enabled the formulation of a new scientific direction - the forensic medical determination of age in the identification of individuals in emergency situations with mass casualties. A scientifically grounded theory of digital forensic diagnostics of age, general regularities of development and some differences of age adaptation of connective, cartilage, nervous and bone tissues, including the phenomena of heterochronicity, heterotopy and heterogeneity resulted. The results of this research determine the direction of further research by improving the methods of quantitative age morphology, molecular autopsy, digital technologies and the formation of a technologically based concept for the registration of identifying biological features.

[Variants for conducting situational studies and expertises in forensic medical practice]. / Varianty provedeniya situatsionnykh issledovanii i ekspertiz v sudebno-meditsinskoi praktike.

The aim of the study is to analyze the features of commissioning and conducting the forensic situational studies and expertises and to consider variants for their practical implementation. The importance of a situational analysis when conducting various types of forensic medical expertises is considered. The variants for conducting situational studies and situational expertises in practical work are proposed.

[Analysis of the publications of the journal «Forensic medical examination¼ on the problem of identification from 1980 to 2018]. / Analiz publikatsii zhurnala «Sudebno-meditsinskaya ekspertiza¼ v oblasti issledovanii «identifikatsiya lichnosti¼ za period s 1980 po 2018 g.

The analysis of the publications of the journal "Forensic medical examination" in the field of research «identification¼ for the period from 1980 to 2018 is carried out. Using the scientometric method, we studied the dynamics of publications on the study of the development of the scientific direction in order to objectively evaluate its relevance and possible prospects. The results of the analytical study demonstrated a wide range of objects and research methods. The leading scientific development trends in the field of forensic medical identification of the person are established.