title: Post-mortem interval estimation of human skeletal remains by micro-computed tomography, mid-infrared microscopic imaging and energy dispersive X-ray mapping.
abstract: In this study different state-of-the-art visualization methods such as micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), mid-infrared (MIR) microscopic imaging and energy dispersive X-ray (EDS) mapping were evaluated to study human skeletal remains for the determination of the post-mortem interval (PMI). PMI specific features were identified and visualized by overlaying molecular imaging data and morphological tissue structures generated by radiological techniques and microscopic images gained from confocal microscopy (Infinite Focus (IFM)). In this way, a more distinct picture concerning processes during the PMI as well as a more realistic approximation of the PMI were achieved. It could be demonstrated that the gained result in combination with multivariate data analysis can be used to predict the Ca/C ratio and bone volume (BV) over total volume (TV) for PMI estimation. Statistical limitation of this study is the small sample size, and future work will be based on more specimens to develop a screening tool for PMI based on the outcome of this multidimensional approach.
authors: Institute of Legal Medicine , Medical University of Innsbruck , Müllerstraße 44 , 6020 Innsbruck , Austria . Email: Johannes.Pallua@i-med.ac.at.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Longato
authors: Institute of Legal Medicine , Medical University of Innsbruck , Müllerstraße 44 , 6020 Innsbruck , Austria . Email: Johannes.Pallua@i-med.ac.at.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Wöss
authors: Institute of Legal Medicine , Medical University of Innsbruck , Müllerstraße 44 , 6020 Innsbruck , Austria . Email: Johannes.Pallua@i-med.ac.at.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Hatzer-Grubwieser
authors: Institute of Legal Medicine , Medical University of Innsbruck , Müllerstraße 44 , 6020 Innsbruck , Austria . Email: Johannes.Pallua@i-med.ac.at ; Department of Internal Medicine IV (Nephrology and Hypertension) , Medical University of Innsbruck , Anichstraße 35 , 6020 Innsbruck , Austria.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Bauer
authors: Institute of Legal Medicine , Medical University of Innsbruck , Müllerstraße 44 , 6020 Innsbruck , Austria . Email: Johannes.Pallua@i-med.ac.at ; Penn State Eberly College of Science , University Park , PA , USA.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Parson
authors: Material-Technology , Leopold-Franzens University Innsbruck , Technikerstraße 13 , 6020 Innsbruck , Austria.
authors: S H
authors: SH
authors: Unterberger
authors: Department of Traumatology , Medical University of Innsbruck , Anichstraße 35 , 6020 Innsbruck , Austria.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Kuhn
authors: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology , Institute of Pharmacy , Leopold Franzens University of Innsbruck , Innrain 52c , 6020 Innsbruck , Austria.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Pemberger
authors: Former Institute for Computed Tomography-Neuro CT , Medical University of Innsbruck , Anichstraße 35 , 6020 Innsbruck , Austria.
authors: Anton K
authors: AK
authors: Pallua
authors: Department of Radiology , Medical University of Innsbruck , Anichstraße 35 , 6020 Innsbruck , Austria.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Recheis
authors: Material-Technology , Leopold-Franzens University Innsbruck , Technikerstraße 13 , 6020 Innsbruck , Austria.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Lackner
authors: Institute of Mineralogy and Petrography , Leopold-Franzens University Innsbruck , Innrain 52 , 6020 Innsbruck , Austria.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Stalder
authors: Institute of Legal Medicine , Medical University of Innsbruck , Müllerstraße 44 , 6020 Innsbruck , Austria . Email: Johannes.Pallua@i-med.ac.at.
authors: J D
authors: JD
authors: Pallua