Validation of the Total Body Score/Accumulated Degree-Day Model at Three Human Decomposition Facilities
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 5398928 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Daniel J Wescott (0000-0002-4536-8525, Texas State University, corresponding author), Dawnie Wolfe Steadman (0000-0003-0812-0739, University of Tennessee at Knoxville), Nichole Miller, Nichole E Miller (Sam Houston State University), Kelly Sauerwein (0000-0001-9855-3030, University of Tennessee at Knoxville), Chaunesey M J Clemmons (Texas State University), Devora S Gleiber, Devora Gleiber (Texas State University), Chloe Mcdaneld, Chloe P McDaneld (Texas State University), Lauren A Meckel (0009-0007-8256-0886, Texas State University), Lauren Meckel, Joan A Bytheway (Sam Houston State University) |
| Year | 2018 |
| Volume | 1 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Publication date | 2018-06-26 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Forensic Anthropology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2573-5020 • E-ISSN: 2573-5039 |
| Publisher | University Press of Florida (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.5744/fa.2018.0015 |
| OpenAlex | W2800088763 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
A few studies have examined the accuracy of the Megyesi et al. (2005) total body score/accumulated degree-day (TBS/ADD) method; however, no study has investigated the validity of the method using human remains at known ADD intervals. The current study validates the TBS method for human cadavers placed in three different human decomposition facilities in the United States. Twenty-eight donated cadavers, with known ADD and dates of death, in the first (fresh) stage of decomposition, were placed in sun and shade environments four times per year. The validity of the method was examined by conducting an interobserver error test of the TBS and analyzing the accuracy of the equation at predicting ADD. Nine individuals, experienced with the TBS method, participated in the interobserver error test. The results of the interclass correlation coefficient show that there was no statistically significant difference between observers for any of the body sections (trunk = 0.975, head = 0.959, limbs = 0.940, p < 0.001). Using the TBS regression equation, mean ADD with error ranges was calculated for all subjects and compared to actual ADDs of 100, 300, 500, and 1,000. Results show that mean ADD estimates do not correlate well with actual ADD for any of the actual ADDs (100, 300, 500, and 1,000). The accuracy of the TBS equation is insufficient in estimating mean ADD and error is largely unpredictable, other than it increases with postmortem time.KEYWORDS: forensic anthropology, taphonomy, total body score, accumulated degree-days
Biology · Correlation coefficient · Degree (music · Forensic anthropology · Geography · Physics · Statistics · Trunk · Autopsy Techniques and Outcomes · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Forensic Entomology and Diptera Studies · Mathematics · Medicine · Ecology · Orthodontics
| Citations per year | 0.38 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2018 - 2026 (9) |
| Highly cited | No |