Anthropology
Descriptive analysis of blunt force trauma from variations of hammers on bovine bones Shawn Cleaver, Timothy L. Campbell In this study we assess if different types of hammers leave behind distinct trauma markers and develop novel descriptions that can be used to identify what tool was used. These descriptions are then tested using student participants to determine their accuracy. In forensic cases, determining the instrument responsible for a death is an important part of an investigation. For this study, three distinct types of hammers with unique head shapes were used to create trauma marks: a claw hammer, a tack hammer, and a rock hammer. Marks were standardized using a single individual applying similar force to three bovine long bones per hammer. Descriptions were formed by examining patterns of layered breakage, flaking, and crushed margins near the impact zone. Student participants then used the descriptions to match each cow bone to the associating hammer. The data from participants was then evaluated in order to determine the accuracy of each description. Similar studies involving blunt force trauma found some difficulty ascribing unique characteristics to differentiate blunt force instruments. This study, however, examines whether a beginning model can be created to accurately characterize different marks left by variations of hammers. Further research could build upon this study by including a wider range of instruments capable of generating blunt force trauma.
Observable Effects of Water Salinity on Bone Tammy Wake, Katie Binetti, Ph.D.
Biology
Analysis of breast cancer profiles in TCGA by TNBC subgrouping reveals a novel microRNA-specific cluster distinguishing tumor subtypes Rebecca Modisette, Joseph H. Taube, Ph.D. Breast cancers are diverse diseases comprising specific sub-types with unique characteristics and individual treatments. Patients with tumors that possess hormone receptors—estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR)—or elevated human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) respond to treatments targeted at these proteins. If tumors lack these markers, they are termed
Scientia 2020 | 59
URSA Award Winners
An experiment was conducted in 2018 to explore the effects of water salinity on bone. At the time there was, and continues to be, limited research on the subject with most studies focused on soft tissue decomposition in aquatic environments. For the first experiment, five pieces of bone of approximately the same size were cut from a single bone sample. Four pieces were placed into tanks of water of differing salinity levels while the fifth was left as a dry control. Observable changes were noted throughout the tenweek experiment. These experiments produced unexpected results in the bone structure and appearance. The current study attempts to replicate the original experiment with the goal of reproducing the observed structural and morphological changes. Minor modifications were made to handling procedures during the second experiment and the study has covered a longer observation period, however, these modifications were not expected to change the outcome dramatically. I expected that the bones would react similarly in the second experiment as they did in the first, but perhaps with more pronounced changes due to the increased submersion time over an extended observation period (6 months versus 10 weeks). The methodologies of both experiments, as well as the subsequent results, are compared and contrasted in this paper. The results of this study may have implications for paleoanthropology, archaeology and forensic science.
