Radoslav Beňuš

Facial soft tissue thicknesses of the mid-face for Slovak population

Forensic facial approximation is used as a tool for recreating the antemortem appearance of unknown dead and thus facilitates their identification. Several approaches to facial approximation are based on data on facial soft tissue thicknesses (FSTTs). The availability of sex-, age- and population-specific data contributes to the accuracy of the resulting facial approximation model. In this paper, first data set on FSTTs for a Central European population are presented. Soft tissue thicknesses of the mid-face were measured on 160 head CT-scans of 80 males and 80 females aged from 18 to 87 years. These CT-scans were made available after being a part of the diagnostic procedure concerning the paranasal sinuses of the patients. Basic descriptive statistics (i.e. mean, SD, median, range) for the FSTTs at 14 facial landmarks is reported separately by sex and age. Such information allows the forensic artist to choose the most suitable values for the FSTT considering the previous physiological and osteological analysis of the human remains.

Estimation of stature using hand and foot dimensions in Slovak adults.

Hand and foot dimensions used for stature estimation help to formulate a biological profile in the process of personal identification. Morphological variability of hands and feet shows the importance of generating population-specific equations to estimate stature. The stature, hand length, hand breadth, foot length and foot breadth of 250 young Slovak males and females, aged 18-24 years, were measured according to standard anthropometric procedures. The data were statistically analyzed using independent t-test for sex and bilateral differences. Pearson correlation coefficient was used for assessing relationship between stature and hand/foot parameters, and subsequently linear regression analysis was used to estimate stature. The results revealed significant sex differences in hand and foot dimensions as well as in stature (p<0.05). There was a positive and statistically significant correlation between stature and all measurements in both sexes (p<0.01). The highest correlation coefficient was found for foot length in males (r=0.71) as well as in females (r=0.63). Regression equations were computed separately for each sex. The accuracy of stature prediction ranged from ±4.6 to ±6.1cm. The results of this study indicate that hand and foot dimension can be used to estimate stature for Slovak for the purpose of forensic field. The regression equations can be of use for stature estimation particularly in cases of dismembered bodies.

Stature estimation from various foot dimensions among Slovak population.

The foot measurements are important in forensic field as they can be used as body height predictors for an individual. The morphology of human feet shows the variations and therefore the aim of this study was to find the relation between stature and foot measurements and to generate population‐specific equations. We measured the stature and bilateral foot measurements of 71 volunteers ranging in age between 18 and 27 years using standard measurements technique. The results revealed nonsignificant bilateral differences in all sex groups (p < 0.05). Sex differences were found to be significant in all foot measurements (p < 0.001). The highest significant and positive correlation coefficients with stature were observed for foot length in males (r = 0.759), in females (r = 0.722), and in the sex‐mixed group (r = 0.865). According to the nonsignificant sex effects on the relation between stature and foot dimensions, the regression equations were computed only for the pooled mixed‐sex group. Our study provides equations that can help to estimate stature from foot measurements among Slovaks.

Demographic, temporal and environmental effects on the frequency of cribra orbitalia in three Early Medieval populations from western Slovakia

The frequency of cribra orbitalia was examined in Early Medieval skeletal samples from Devín and Borovce (Slovakia). The effects of environmental and socio-economic factors on the distribution of orbital lesions are explored and discussed. The frequency of cribra orbitalia was lowest in Devín-Hrad (11th-12th c. A.D.), followed by Devín-Za kostolom (9th c. A.D.) and Borovce (8th-beginning of 12th c. A.D.). The increased frequency of cribra orbitalia at Borovce can be attributed to inadequate sanitation and increased pathogen load at this rural site compared to urban Devín. Borovce (BO) sub-adults displayed orbital lesions significantly more frequently than BO adults and sub-adults in the Devín-Za kostolom (FR) and Devín-Hrad (DH) samples. Although the total mortality of sub-adults did not differ between the sites, BO sub-adults with cribra orbitalia showed a considerably higher mortality. Their counterparts from FR and DH showed similar mortality patterns irrespective of the presence of orbital lesions. As in most reference samples, no significant sex differences in the frequency of cribra orbitalia were observed in BO, DH and FR. However, a considerably increased mortality was observed in young males from Devín-Hrad irrespective of the presence of orbital lesions. This finding can be attributed to their involvement in violent conflicts. Reference data from Medieval Central European skeletal samples suggest that an increased occurrence of cribra orbitalia was associated with crop failures, migration and interpersonal conflicts. These factors favour the spread of and vulnerability to infectious diseases, which are considered to be the major cause of iron deficiency anaemia.

Childhood bone tuberculosis from Roman Pécs, Hungary

A child from a Roman necropolis in Pécs, Hungary (4th century CE) was initially diagnosed with severe spinal osteomyelitis. The post-cranial skeleton displayed bone alterations in the lower thoracic and upper lumbar segments, including vertebral body destruction, collapse and sharp kyphosis, and additional multiple rib lesions, suggesting a most likely diagnosis of pulmonary and spinal tuberculosis. This study discusses a number of selected diagnoses in the context of our pathological findings, complementing the macroscopic examination with radiological and biomolecular analyses.

Estimation of stature and body weight in Slovak adults using static footprints: A preliminary study

The stature and the body weight as part of the biological profile can aid the personal identification. The dimensions of the human foot, as well as the footprint, can be used for the prediction due to the existence of its positive correlation with the stature and body weight. Five diagonal axes and ball breadth of bilateral static footprints of 132 young Slovak adults were obtained. All diameters were larger in a male group than female group. No bilateral differences were found except the first diagonal axis and ball breadth. A positive correlations between the selected footprint diameters with the stature (r = 0.37-0.64) and the body weight (r = 0.29-0.71) were confirmed. The linear and multiple regression prediction equations were developed. A stature prediction equation using the most lateral diameters (the fourth and fifth diagonal axis) exhibited the highest accuracy ranging from 4 to 7.5 cm. Similar results were found for the body weight estimation of the male and mixed group. In the female group, the most medial axis (first and second) exhibited the highest accuracy. The body weight estimation accuracy ranges from 9.09 to 11.09 kg. The real and predicted stature and body weight were compared and found differences were lower than calculated SEEs. Thresholds and prediction trend of under- or overestimation was identified. The results of the present study show that selected measurements of static footprints could be used to predict stature and body weight but should be applied only for Slovaks due to population specificity.

Molecular detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in the 8th century skeletal remains from the territory of Slovakia

Abstract DNA was extracted using a Silica Bead Extraction kit from bone samples taken from a Slavonic-Avar individual found at the archaeological site of Cífer-Pác. The analysed skeletal remains from the grave number 62/79 belong to a young adult male (20–30 years at death) and are dated to the 8th–9th century anno Domini. The isolated ancient DNA (aDNA) was amplified by a targeted PCR with a primer pair designed to recognize the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex insertion sequence IS6110. The aim of this molecular approach was to test and optimize a methodology for aDNA M. tuberculosis complex extraction from bone samples with osteological evidence of tuberculosis. Despite of the currently biased authenticity of the mentioned fragment, in this case study we prove that macroscopic evidence for tuberculosis additionally supported by a positive result of molecular testing can be considered authentic enough to be the proof of a tuberculosis infection caused by MTBC (Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex) bacteria when additional skeletal trauma and changes potentially caused by MOTT (mycobacteria other than tuberculosis) bacteria can be excluded. Positivity was confirmed in all of the three samples (thoracic vertebrae, lumbar vertebrae and right femur). Our results confirmed the diagnosis of tuberculosis of the spine and right hip joint. This is the first molecular evidence for the occurrence of tuberculosis on the territory of Slovakia. Through this bio-molecular approach we wish to provide a basis for aDNA examinations on other skeletal collections and provide epidemiological data concerning historical populations living on the territory of Slovakia.

Analysis of changes of mental state caused by psychological stress during match in football referees

A rank correlation between component of anxious expectations and fears before the match and component of depression after the match in the personality of football referees was statistically proven in the past. We presume that there is a possibility that this relationship is in fact qualified by the temperament of referees. We evaluated subjective psychological experiences and states of 26 football referees through standardized questionnaire SUPSO. The questionnaire had been always administrated twice: directly before the match and immediately after its finish. Using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient and partial correlation coefficient, we searched for a causal link among the values of the component of anxious expectations and fears before the match, the values of the component of depression after the match, and the referee’s temperament. Results suggest that the direct bond between the two components stay significant even after exclusion of the influence of referee’s temperament.

Natural Scientific Analyses at the Archaeological Excavations in Budmerice: Methods, Results, and Perspectives

The article presents the employment of several natural scientific methods which were used at the systematic excavations of a Maďarovce culture fortified settlement from the Early Bronze Age in Budmerice. The paper is focused on site description, excavation methods and both the used and planned interdisciplinary methods for processing the archaeological data and finds. The aim of the excavations was to collect new data and present new results which will contribute to research on Maďarovce culture which is currently a subject of increased attention. IANSA 2013 ● IV/1 ● 39–61 Pavol Jelínek, Jana Hlavatá, Július Vavák, Radoslav Beňuš, Eva Jamrichovád: Natural Scientific Analyses at the Archaeological Excavations in Budmerice: Methods, Results, and Perspectives 40 palynological and archaeobotanical analysis. The preliminary results of the analysis of the additional materials were not known by the time of the publication article and will be consequently published on another occasion. Out of the other planned analyses, the malacozoological, archaeozoological, archaeometric and petroarchaeologial analysis of pottery and stone tools, and the pedological analyses of the site shall be mentioned. We would also like to place an emphasis on the methods of absolute dating (dendrochronology, 14C analysis of various organic materials). Regarding the interesting finding situations, such as the finding of a skeleton in the settlement feature (a pit originally for storage), the partial aim of the anthropological analyses for the first seasons was to determine the available anthropological and palaeopathological information which would contribute to an interpretation of this kind of postmortem manipulation. For the palynology, the aim of the analysis was to determine the season when the features were filled in, as well as to reconstruct the vegetation in the surrounding area. Above all, the objective of the archaeobotanical, as well as of the entire environmental research on the site, is the systematic collecting of data which can also be used for statistical analysis in order that the results be as representative for the given site as possible. Apart from basic botanical identification and determination of plant assortment (both cultivated and gathered), we intend to define the site from the economic (palaeoeconomic) point of view. The taphonomic analyses and the ecology of the wild plant species should help accomplish this objective. The current text is a preliminary example of the planned outputs and presents a number of the used methods and their results. We chose those which broadened our knowledge concerning the people living at the settlement, about their environment and about how they adapted to it. We do not, of course, consider these results to be final. 1.1 History of the research on the site The site is situated in south-west Slovakia. Its cultural affiliation, based on a find of a complete vessel set and other objects from a disturbed feature, has been known since the 1950s (Točík 1962; Novotný, Fuhrherr 1971, 9). Since the site is situated on the frontiers of the territory of the Budmerice and Jablonec, it is introduced in the literature under the place names Budmerice, Budmerice/Jablonec or Jablonec. The name of the location varies, as well: Farárova roľa, Predné pole, Sušička. In our texts we have a preference for the name Budmerice-Sušička. The site is located near the watercourse of the Gidra which flows through the south-eastern part of the Trnava downs. The valley is formed by Holocene alluvial deposits – sheet washes. Pleistocene loesses and loess clays of polygenetic origin can be found in the surroundings. Neogene clay and marl formations covered by loess with a thickness of up to several metres are typical for the Budmerice and Jablonec region. In terms of the relief type, the site lies in the area of lowland downs. Brown earths are particularly typical for the Budmerice region (Fodor 1997). The first finds were discovered in the 1950s and over the following decades only rescue excavations of a smaller Figure 1. Budmerice. Map of magnetic anomalies on the site after J. Tirpák (2008), with additional marking of trench I position (black) and rescue excavation of I. Kuzma (white).