IU Indianapolis ScholarWorks :: Browsing by Author "Ward, Richard E."

Browsing by Author "Ward, Richard E."

Now showing 1 - 10 of 15

3D CBCT analysis of the frontal sinus and its relationship to forensic identification
(2014) Krus, Bianaca S.; Wilson, Jeremy John; Starbuck, John M.; Ward, Richard E.
The positive identification of human remains that are decomposed, burnt, or otherwise disfigured can prove especially challenging in forensic anthropology, resulting in the need for specialized methods of analysis. Due to the unique morphological characteristics of the frontal sinus, a positive identification can be made in cases of unknown human remains, even when remains are highly cremated or decomposed. This study retrospectively reviews 3D CBCT images of a total of 43 Caucasian patients between the ages of 20-38 from the Indiana University School of Dentistry to quantify frontal sinus differences between adult males and females and investigate the usefulness of frontal sinus morphology for forensic identification. Digit codes with six sections and eleven-digit numbers were created to classify each individual sinus. It was shown that 3D CBCT images of the frontal sinus could be used to make a positive forensic identification. Metric measurements displayed a high degree of variability between sinuses and no two digit codes were identical. However, it was also shown that there were almost no quantifiable and significant sexually dimorphic differences between male and female frontal sinuses. This study confirms that sex determination should not be a primary goal of frontal sinus analysis and highlights the importance of creating a standard method of frontal sinus evaluation based on metric measurements.
A Cephalometric Study of Non-Cleft Parents of Children with Cleft Lip, Cleft Lip and Palate, and Cleft Palate : Evidence to Support a Different Etiology for Isolated Cleft Palate Versus Cleft Lip?
(1993) Sadler, Charles A., Jr.; Ward, Richard E.; Bixler, David; Hathaway, Ronald R.; Shanks, James C.; Roberts, W. Eugene
Cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CLI P) and isolated cleft palate (CP) have been shown to be separate epidemiologic and embryologic entities. Furthermore, it has been proposed that noncleft biologic parents of children with facial clefts may demonstrate craniofacial differences genetically predisposing them to pass on the cleft phenotype to their offspring. With these two hypotheses in mind, the objective of the present study was to determine if differences exist in the craniofacial morphology between parents of CL/P children and parents of CP children. Twenty-seven measurements were obtained from anterior-posterior (AP) cephalograms on 127 biologic parents of sporadic CL/P and CP children. Each measurement was compared with sex and age-matched normals, and Z-scores were determined. The mean Z-scores for each group were tested for significant differences from normal and from each other. In agreement with past literature, the craniofacial morphology of parents of cleft children was generally found to have greater facial widths and shorter facial heights. Differences between the findings of the present study and the past literature are discussed. Although CL/P and CP are thought to be separate entities, differences between the parents of CL/P and CP children were not statistically evident.
A Comparison of Radiographic, Photographic and Anthropometric Assessments of Craniofacial Asymmetry
(2002) Reese, Steven A.; Hartsfield, James K., Jr.; Everett, Eric T.; Hohlt, William F.; Shanks, James; Ward, Richard E.
A series of 56 orthodontic patients from the ages of 9 to 48 were involved in a prospective study on craniofacial asymmetry at Indiana University Department of Oral Facial Development. Each of the 56 individuals had fourteen bilateral anthropometric facial measurements made which were used to quantify asymmetry based on the anthropometric technique. Standard orthodontic records were taken and routine clinical exams were performed. Fourteen bilateral landmarks similar to the anthropometric landmarks were identified and measured from posterior-anterior cephalometric radiographs. Asymmetry scores for each individual were calculated using the same mathematical method as with the anthropometric data. The correlation of the two methods was calculated statistically using Pearson Product Correlation Coefficient. In addition, 26 clinicians evaluated the same patients from frontal photographs and gave each individual an overall score based on his or her apparent asymmetry. These average scores from the examiners were compared statistically to the total asymmetry scores from both the radiographic and the anthropometric data. The hypothesis was that the anthropometric data and the radiographic data would be more closely correlated with each other than either would be with the photographic data (examiner's scores). Data in this study support the hypothesis. Although some significant correlations exist between radiographic and anthropometric methods, the correlation is not high. Neither of the methods shows a correlation with the photographic data. Different measurement techniques measure different aspects of asymmetry with different errors associated with it, and clinical decisions based only on one method must be interpreted with caution.
A Study of Craniofacial Asymmetry in Monozygotic and Dizygotic Twins Using Posteroanterior Radiographs
(2002) Russell, Jennifer A.; Hartsfield, James K., Jr.; Everett, Eric T.; Roberts, W. Eugene; Shanks, James C.; Ward, Richard E.
This project investigated craniofacial asymmetry in a prospective study among monozygotic (identical) versus dizygotic (fraternal) twins and sibling pairs. Posteroanterior radiographs that had previously been collected were used in this study and the zygosity of the twins had previously been determined. We hypothesized that in this study measuring craniofacial asymmetry there would be a greater concordance between monozygotic twins than between dizygotic twins for each of the variables measured. If there were some genetic component to asymmetry, we would expect to find a greater correlation between monozygotic versus dizygotic twins and sibling pairs since monozygotic twins are genetically identical and the dizygotic twins and siblings share on average fifty percent of their genes. If there are no statistically significant differences between the monozygotic and dizygotic twin correlations as shown from the heritability value, one could conclude that genetic factors are not important in the development of craniofacial asymmetry. This information is clinically significant. If we find that environment plays the predominant role in the development of asymmetry, one would conclude that clinicians should be vigilant about employing a treatment plan that will modify the environment while an asymmetry is developing. Since the zygomatico-frontal sutures and crista galli were found to be relatively symmetrical landmarks in a previous investigation by Harvold, a horizontal axis was constructed through the zygomatico-frontal sutures and a perpendicular vertical axis was constructed through crista galli. Perpendicular distances of ten bilateral structures were measured from the vertical reference line. Two methods of evaluating subjects' head positioning were used and compared. Any subject that was found to have excessive rotation of their head was excluded from the sample. After a preliminary analysis it was found that the horizontal distances were strongly correlated to patient positioning even after subjects determined to have excessive rotation of the head were eliminated from the sample. For this reason, vertical measurements of eight bilateral landmarks were made perpendicular to the reference line constructed through the zygomatico-frontal sutures. Using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, the magnitude of craniofacial asymmetry was evaluated by calculating the absolute (non-signed) asymmetry values (IL-RI) for each of the ten horizontal and eight vertical variables. The horizontal and vertical variables were evaluated for any directional asymmetry to determine if the right or left side is consistently larger by calculating signed asymmetry values (L-R) for each of the ten horizontal and eight vertical variables. Since the subjects vary in size, relative differences were subsequently calculated. The relative difference was calculated by dividing the right-left absolute difference by half the sum of the right and left measurements [IL-Rlf.5(L+R)]. The relative difference of each of the ten horizontal and eight vertical variables was calculated for each individual. Using SAS software correlation coefficients were calculated for the relative asymmetry values of the monozygotic and dizygotic twin groups for each of the ten horizontal and eight vertical variables. Subsequently heritability values of craniofacial asymmetry were calculated for each of the eighteen variables using the standard formula h2= 2(rMz-rDz). The data revealed that head positioning had significantly affected our horizontal asymmetry values. We found a significant directionality in the horizontal and vertical dimension with the left side being larger horizontally and the right side being larger vertically. However the horizontal asymmetry values must be interpreted with caution as they are significantly affected by the rotation. After analyzing the data collected, the hypothesis was rejected. We were unable to demonstrate a significant difference in correlation values between monozygotic and dizygotic twins/sibling pairs for most craniofacial asymmetry values. The few variables that did show high heritability were in the horizontal plane. The results of the horizontal data must be interpreted with caution due to the significant effect of head rotation. In contrast it was found that vertical asymmetry values were not significantly correlated to rotation and none of these had notable estimates of heritability. These findings suggest that craniofacial asymmetry is more strongly influenced by environmental factors than genetics. This finding supports treatment by clinicians to improve or prevent developing asymmetries. While genetically controlled malformations can often be improved with treatment, environmentally induced malformations may respond well to treatment that changes the faulty developmental environment. Still it will be the capability of the patient to respond to the change in environment (treatment) that will determine the efficacy of the treatment. The interaction of genetic factors with this change in environment at a particular time as represented by the treatment may have a greater influence on the outcome of the treatment than how the problem was produced in the first place. Future studies analyzing asymmetry need to take extreme care in patient positioning and calibration of the x-ray machine, for they may lead to errors which overpower the data already subject to the error of a two-dimensional representation of a three dimensional object. Keeping these technical caveats in mind, future studies should focus on whether there are genetic factors that influence a patient's response (or the difference in response among patients) to the treatment of asymmetry.
Assessment of Dental Asymmetry Utilizing Orthodontic Study Casts Comparing Tooth Positions to the Midpalatal Raphe and Tooth Size Among Antimeres
(2002) Sprowls, Matthew W.; Hartsfield, James K., Jr.; Baldwin, James; Everett, Eric T.; Hathaway, Ronald; Shanks, James C.; Ward, Richard E.
Several studies have been conducted in relation to the treatment and etiologies of craniofacial and dental asymmetries in the orthodontic scientific literature. However, limited research has attempted to correlate asymmetry in dental traits to each other. The purpose of this research study was to develop a better understanding of the correlations between dental arch asymmetry and dental tooth size asymmetry and their underlying causes. Understanding asymmetries is essential in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning. An orthodontist cannot obtain an optimal occlusal and functional result without properly balancing skeletal and dental relationships. Pretreatment dental study casts of 86 sequential patients from the postgraduate orthodontic clinic at the Indiana University School of Dentistry were used for the analysis. Each patient was analyzed in a single blind fashion to minimize bias. The Adobe Photoshop® ruler and Chicago® brand electronic digital calipers accurate to the nearest tenth of a millimeter were used for digital measurements. Measurements were made to determine the amount and direction of asymmetry along the dental midlines relative to the median palatine raphe. Transverse and sagittal measurements were made to record asymmetries in canine and molar positioning. Furthermore, three sets of antimeric maxillary teeth were measured for length and width. These included the central incisors, the canines, and the first molars. Fluctuating asymmetry was present in all measurements, except molar distance to median palatal raphe. This was found to be directional to the left in the entire sample group. Statistical analysis was subsequently performed and the results showed significant correlations in the individuals in the subsample dentition group. Subjects belonging to this group with a measurable degree of fluctuating asymmetry had a greater tendency toward transverse maxillary discrepancies as measured from the canines and first maxillary molars relative to the median palatal raphe. Moreover, individuals in the subsample group with above average total weighted fluctuating asymmetry values according to the parameters analyzed in this study appeared more likely to have decreased developmental stability leading to the clinical expression of more severe malocclusions.
Cephalometric Similarity Among Parents of Individuals with Sporadic Isolated Cleft Palate : Is There Evidence for an Inherited Predisposition?
(1999) Sammons, Edward M.; Ward, Richard E.; Hartsfield, James K., Jr.; Avery, David R.; Hathaway, Ronald R.; Garetto, Lawrence P.
Isolated cleft palate is one of the most frequent congenital conditions that affect the oral and facial structures, yet its etiology remains obscure. Previous studies of both cleft palate (CP) and cleft lip and/ or palate [CL(P)] have shown that there may be unusual facial characteristics among the parents of such sporadic cases. Such findings have been used to support the possibility that there are predisposing familial (genetic) factors for both conditions. However, previous studies have generally not controlled for the possibility of genetic heterogeneity or for different contributions from each of the parents. The objective of this study is to examine parents of individuals with CP in order to test the hypothesis that these "non cleft" individuals have abnormal facial structures. Lateral (LA) and Posterior-Anterior (PA) cephalograms were examined from thirty parents of fifteen individuals with sporadic CP. Seventeen LA and twenty-five PA variables were obtained on each subject and converted to standardized "z-scores" through comparison to published age and sex matched reference data. Multivariate cluster analysis was used to define groupings of individuals who shared similar patterns of facial features. Results demonstrate that as a group, relatives of CP individuals show significantly different patterns of facial measurements compared to reference norms. Values significantly larger (p < 0.05) from parental data included: ANS-Me, PNS-ANS, S-N-Pg, Ar-Go-Me, MoL-MoR, NSR-NCR. Values significantly smaller (p < 0.05) from parents included: N-ANS, S-Ba, PNS-ANS / N-ANS, PNS-ANS/ N-Pg, N-S-Ba, ZyLZyR, GoL-GoR, GoNL-GoNR, CRO-CNS, CNS-SD, CNS-Me, ID-Me, MxR-ZyR, MeGoR. These findings were not entirely consistent with those few previously reported findings. Additional analysis of the present data demonstrated that such inconsistencies may be due in part to the presence of distinct phenotypic subgroupings within the parental sample. Cluster analysis identified two such subgroups. Significant findings (p < 0.05) that were smaller for Cluster 1 relative to Cluster 2 included: N-Me, ANS-Me, S-Go, PNS-ANS, Ar-Go, CNS-SD, MxR-ZyR. Significant variables that were larger for Cluster 1 included: S-N-Pg. In addition, gender was significantly different across clusters with Cluster 1 containing 75 percent female individuals and Cluster 2 containing 67 percent male individuals. These results extend those reported in other studies by demonstrating that unusual facial patterns, when present are not uniformly distributed in parents of sporadic cases of CP. Phenotypic assessment in conjunction with multivariate analysis may help to identify families in which there is a significant heritable component for CP.
Cephalometric similarity among parents of individuals with sporadic isolated cleft palate: is there evidence for an inherited predisposition?
(1999) Sammons, Edward M.; Ward, Richard E.; Avery, David R.; Hathaway, Ronald R.; Garetto, Lawrence P.; Hartsfield, James K., Jr.
Isolated cleft palate is one of the most frequent congenital conditions that affect the oral and facial structures, yet its etiology remains obscure. Previous studies of both cleft palate (CP) and cleft lip and/ or palate [CL(P)] have shown that there may be unusual facial characteristics among the parents of such sporadic cases. Such findings have been used to support the possibility that there are predisposing familial (genetic) factors for both conditions. However, previous studies have generally not controlled for the possibility of genetic heterogeneity or for different contributions from each of the parents. The objective of this study is to examine parents of individuals with CP in order to test the hypothesis that these "non cleft" individuals have abnormal facial structures. Lateral (LA) and Posterior-Anterior (PA) cephalograms were examined from thirty parents of fifteen individuals with sporadic CP. Seventeen LA and twenty-five PA variables were obtained on each subject and converted to standardized "z-scores" through comparison to published age and sex matched reference data. Multivariate cluster analysis was used to define groupings of individuals who shared similar patterns of facial features. Results demonstrate that as a group, relatives of CP individuals show significantly different patterns of facial measurements compared to reference norms. Values significantly larger (p < 0.05) fro1n parental data included: ANS-Me, PNS-ANS, S-N-Pg, Ar-Go-Me, MoL-MoR, NSR-NCR. Values significantly smaller (p < 0.05) from parents included: N-ANS, S-Ba, PNS-ANS/ N-ANS, PNS-ANS/ N-Pg, N-S-Ba, ZyL-ZyR, GoL-GoR, GoNL-GoNR, CRO-CNS, CNS-SD, CNS-Me, ID-Me, MxR-ZyR, Me-GoR. These findings were not entirely consistent with those few previously reported findings. Additional analysis of the present data demonstrated that such inconsistencies may be due in part to the presence of distinct phenotypic sub groupings within the parental sample. Cluster analysis identified two such subgroups. Significant findings (p < 0.05) that were smaller for Cluster 1 relative to Cluster 2 included: N-Me, ANS-Me, S-Go, PNS-ANS, Ar-Go, CNS-SD, MxR-ZyR. Significant variables that were larger for Cluster 1 included: S-N-Pg. In addition, gender was significantly different across clusters with Cluster 1 containing 75 percent female individuals and Cluster 2 containing 67 percent male individuals. These results extend those reported in other studies by demonstrating that unusual facial patterns, when present are not uniformly distributed in parents of sporadic cases of CP. Phenotypic assessment in conjunction with multivariate analysis may help to identify families in which there is a significant heritable component for CP.
Craniofacial Morphology in familial cases of cleft lip/palate: phenotypic heterogeneity and genetic predisposition in unaffected family members
(1993) Litz, Stephanie M.; Bixler, David; Fleener, Donald E.; Hennon, David Kent, 1933-; Sadove, A. Michael; Ward, Richard E.; Avery, David R.
This study investigated familial cases of cleft lip with or without cleft palate to determine whether the unaffected members of each family can be identified as gene carriers for the cleft trait. This research presumes that such carriers will have henotypic features identifiable by cephalometric analysis that are associated with an increased risk to cleft offspring. Using population genetics methodology, a pedigree analysis was made for each family member was assigned to one of four groups: (1) obligate normal, (2) affected, (3) carrier, and (4) unknown. LA and PA cephalographs were taken on each subject and a clinical oral-facial examination carried out on participating family members. Various anatomic landmarks located on the LA and PA films were digitized and from them, a total of 28 linear measurements were made. To eliminate the effect of sex and differential age responses, Z scores were calculated. Through univariate analysis, only one variable, NCR-MO, was shown to be significantly different between the two groups. This variable difference by itself is not adequate to differentiate those in the normal group from the carrier group. Even though only one variable was significant, other differences in the variables between these groups become obvious when the group variables were plotted as Z scores. Since Z scores are pure values with no limits (2--the number of standard deviations in a given variable differs from normal). Thereby, age-related growth differences were minimized. Further information is gained when these Z scores are plotted as pattern profiles, Figures 5-7. These profiles of mean Z scores for each variable pointed out areas of the face in which the differences were so great that specific anatomic areas appeared to be associated with one of the four groups. For example, gene carriers demonstrated specific alterations in facial height that might conceivably be used to discriminate that group from the other three groups. The family normals and carriers were then analyzed by using a stepwise multivariate analysis. By this approach, a discriminant function was generated consisting of six variables (three each from the lateral and frontal headplates), which proved to be significant in distinguishing an individual's phenotype. These variables define facial height, width and depth. The specific findings included a decrease in mid-facial height and depth along with an increased lower facial height and width in the gene carrier population as compared to the normals. The function then was used to predict group membership of the same two groups. Comparing this analytical prediction to that of the grouping system that resulted from the pedigree analysis, all but one individual was classified correctly in both the normal and carrier population. A discriminant score was also determined for the unknown population of family members which were defined as non-cleft blood relatives of cleft probands. Thus, they were a mixture of two types--those unaffected who carried a genetic liability for producing a cleft child and those unaffected who did not. A prediction of their placement into either the normal or carrier group was made with the discriminate function. One-third were classed in the normal group and two-thirds as gene carriers. The results of this study confirm that the phenotype of these unaffected family members designated as obligate gene carriers differs significantly from that of the family normals. This information is not only quite useful for genetic counselling but gives both a better understanding or the genetic control of clefting and can lead to molecular research to identify the specific gene in question.
Differences in Craniofacial Shape among A/J and C57BL/6J Mice and their F1 Crosses
(2003) Roth, Lawrence E.; Hartsfield, James K., Jr.; Everett, Eric T.; Hohlt, William F.; Shanks, James J.; Ward, Richard E.
Several studies have found relationships between various craniofacial measurements and the occurrence of cleft lip (CL) in humans as well as mice. Several modes of inheritance have been proposed, some of which involve a maternal effect. In this experiment, dried skulls of CL-susceptible A/J mice, CL-resistant C57BL/6J (C57) mice and Fl mice of the two reciprocal crosses of the same were measured and compared to ascertain whether differences existed between the two Fl strains, depending on the strain of the mother. AB6/F1J (AB6) have the Fl with A/J as the mother and B6A/F1J (B6A) have C57 as the mother. Digital photographs were measured using digitizing software. Groups of two measurements were combined to form ratios describing specific shapes. Measurements and ratios were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and discriminant analysis (DA). Oneway ANOV A showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between the two parent strains with both the measurements as well as the ratios, with A/J being smallest and C57 largest in all measurements. Univariate ANOVA controlling for weight showed little difference from the oneway ANOVA. DA was able to correctly classify 100% of both parental strains into their correct strain category. Measurements between the two Fl strains showed fewer significant differences. The B6A strain was significantly smaller than the AB6 in 3 of the 7 measurements, and the tendency was for it to be smaller in all of the measurements. This placed the Fl strains closer to their paternal strain rather than their maternal strain. The only ratio which showed significant difference between the Fl 's was the premaxillary width to interorbital width in which the B6A exhibited a narrower premaxilla when compared with its interorbital width. This was again more like its paternal strain, though with the remaining 5 ratios, the Fl 's tended to be closer to their maternal strain. DA was able to correctly classify 89% of the Fl 's into their correct strain category, indicating significant differences in overall shape between the Fl 's. Lack of a strong maternal effect in this study may be do to the age of the mice examined and/or small sample size. Future studies may do well to use the euclidean distance matrix analysis to distinguish additional differences between the 4 strains.
Geography: its place in higher education enrollment
(2011-03-16) McDonald, Joseph P.; Banerjee, Aniruddha; Dwyer, Owen J.; Ward, Richard E.
The fundamental principles colleges and universities use to recruit students have remained largely unchanged for decades. Traditionally, admissions professionals visit high schools and attend college fairs, while colleges and universities hold preview days and publish viewbooks all in the interest of attracting a high-quality and diverse student population. The recruiting process has been greatly improved through the application of modern technology. The analytic abilities of technologies such as geographic information systems (GISystems), which allow for the visualization and analysis of spatial data, presents previously underutilized strategies for higher education recruiting methods. In addition, the incorporation of a Hierarchical Bayesian model will effectively model influential enrollment factors, which successful students possess. Hierarchical Bayesian models use the prior distribution, and likelihood of an events occurrence to create the posterior distribution or Bayesian inference. The intelligence created by combining traditional recruiting techniques with GISystems and Hierarchical Bayesian modeling will allow admissions professionals to improve the success rate of enrollment efforts and expenditures. This paper will explore the application of Hierarchical Bayesian models and GISystems within higher education recruiting.

Browsing by Author "Ward, Richard E."

Results Per Page

Sort Options