The aim of this study was to establish whether the asymmetry of bilateral elements of the skeleton is useful for the reassociation of paired elements in the analysis of commingled skeletal remains; particularly addressing the forensic scenario of Chilean Human Rights cases. The asymmetry of the appendicular skeleton of the modern adult Chilean population was investigated in its morphological aspect, using both traditional anthropometry and geometric morphometrics. The sample was selected from the Colección Subactual de Santiago, housed in the University of Chile, Santiago, Chile, with N= 131 (69 males and 62 females). The traditional metric analysis of size and the geometric morphometric analysis of shape showed that there was a significant difference between sides in both sexes with a strong component of directional asymmetry. Mean metrics and ranges of asymmetry were established, contributing to the characterization of this population. A method to pair match elements from commingled settings, which is a combination of metric ranges of asymmetry and principal component analysis of shape variables, was created resulting in 95% accuracy when pair matching the humerus, radius, femur and tibia. This constitutes an important contribution to the analysis of shape in forensic contexts due to its strong mathematical component, objectivity and repeatability.

No / This paper provides the results of re-evaluation of a young adult individual from the Romano-British cemetery of 76 Kingsholm, Gloucester with club foot defomity by (Roberts et al 2004). Our reanalysis revealed an extensive bilateral asymmetry involving the lower and upper limb, spine and cranium and a right scoliosis, indicating more than the lower limb was affected. Consideration of the position and shape of the articulated club foot indicated a positional rather than a developmental condition, probably due to unilateral paralysis. Differential diagnosis considered congenital and acquired neuromuscular conditions; we argue that poliomyelitis is the most likely cause. Poliomyelitis is secondary to the infection with poliovirus that can affect the motor neurons from the spinal cord, causing a flaccid paralysis without sensory affection. Because the virus affects individual nerves, the paralysis is muscle-specific causing muscle imbalances and poor posture which can result in deformities and muscle disuse atrophy. Shortening of the leg is the most characteristic sign, however other typical deformations are in the lower limbs are external rotation of the knee, knee hyperestension, ankle and foot deformities (all observed in K131). The evaluation of K131’s entheses and bone structure suggests that, in life, this individual showed physical deformities consisting of a possibly visible atrophy of the left arm and leg, asymmetric gait, clubfoot and slight scoliosis which would have affected not only his appearance but also his ability to move and perform certain tasks. K131’s burial treatment is entirely normative for the period and the wider cemetery context. This could suggest that despite their impairment, this individual was not necessarily marginalised within their social context. However, historical sources account for extensive marginalisation and cruel treatment of the disabled and deformed in this period. So, whilst K131 was buried in a normative manner, it is difficult to reach definitive conclusions regarding how this individual was treated by their contemporaries.

1 Abstract The purpose of this study was to describe the degree of bilateral asymmetry of lower limbs' muscle activity in the dance movement Cha-cha-cha and to determine the cause of bilateral asymmetries of lower limbs' muscle activity. Differences in muscle activity of contralateral lower limbs might be caused by the factor of bilaterally asymmetrical movement patterns, the factor of neural pathways or the factor of training. We hypotetize that comparing the direction of bilateral asymmetry in muscle activity between asymmetrical dance movement and its mirror alternative can determine the cause of bilateral asymmetry in muscle activity of lower limbs within the movement. We studied 14 volunteers (7 men, 7 women), all were actively dancing at competitive level. We tested the muscle activity of musculus vastus lateralis (VL), musculus biceps femoris (BF), musculus tibialis anterior (TA) a musculus gastrocnemius lateralis (GL) using surface electromyography. The dance movement Cha-cha-cha was bilaterally asymmetrical in the muscle activity of VL, TA and GL. Direction of lower limbs' muscle activity indicates, that TA, being a muscle responsible for foot movement, might be affected by the factor of neural pathways and brain laterality, while VL and GL might be more affected by the factor of training. Key...