Cicero Moraes

Background: Head circumference is widely used as an indirect indicator of brain growth and cranial capacity; however, its isolated use may lead to imprecise interpretations, particularly in borderline cases of microcephaly and megalencephaly. Complementary screening approaches that remain accessible and non-invasive may therefore be useful, especially in settings with limited access to neuroimaging. Objective: To develop and evaluate an experimental, non-invasive model for estimating endocranial volume based on a combined cranial metric, termed the Triple-Measure, and to compare its performance with head circumference alone across different age ranges. Methods: One hundred forensic facial approximations with known cranial scale were analyzed. Head circumference, sagittal arc, and coronal arc were measured on three-dimensional skull models, and their sum was defined as the Triple-Measure. Endocranial volume was obtained through direct segmentation of computed tomography data or by anatomical deformation of donor models. Regression analyses and validation procedures were performed, and the results were contextualized using literature-derived datasets to assess compatibility with established population parameters. Results: The Triple-Measure showed a stronger correlation with endocranial volume (R = 0.83; R² = 0.69) than head circumference alone (R = 0.76; R² = 0.57), a difference confirmed by an F-test (F ≈ 17.03, p < 0.001). Validation analyses performed on independent CT cases demonstrated good agreement and consistency between predicted and measured values. The sample distribution was compatible with large population datasets derived from the literature. Based on these findings, an analog lookup table and a digital calculation tool were developed to support exploratory application across adult and developmental stages, with improved sensitivity in borderline situations. Conclusions: The Triple-Measure may provide a more informative anthropometric proxy for endocranial volume than head circumference alone while remaining non-invasive and accessible. Given its exploratory nature, the method is best interpreted as a complementary screening approach intended to support clinical decision-making and to indicate when further imaging evaluation may be warranted. Additional studies with larger clinical datasets are recommended to refine its applicability across populations. Highlights: Triple-measure shows improved association with endocranial volume compared to head circumference Proposed as a non-invasive, low-cost screening approach for micro- and megalencephaly Analog lookup table and digital calculator developed for exploratory and practical use Framework extended across neonatal, pediatric, and adult age groups using integrated datasets

The archeological site of Jebel Irhoud, Morocco, houses the oldest fossils attributed to Homo sapiens, dated to approximately 315,000 years before present (BP). This study presents a forensic facial approximation based on data from a three-dimensional composite skull derived from Layer 7 of the site, with structural predominance of the Irhoud 1 fossil. The methodology employed open-source software tools, combining anatomical projections and the constrained anatomical deformation technique. Endocast segmentation yielded a volume of 1364 mL, a result fully compatible with measurements and segmentations obtained in previous studies directly from the fossil, while also aligning with the variation observed in modern populations. Two sets of images were produced: an objective approximation in grayscale, focused on osteological correspondence, and a colored artistic version featuring skin pigmentation and facial hair for scientific communication. The results reinforce the feasibility and reproducibility of open-access methodologies applied to paleoanthropology, offering an anatomically coherent representation of this Middle Pleistocene hominin.

The three-dimensional (3D) documentation of the Similaun mummy (Ötzi the Iceman) and the associated Copper Age equipment and clothing presents unique challenges due to diverse material properties and strict conservation constraints. This study presents a comprehensive digital preservation workflow, primarily utilizing Structure from Motion (SfM) close-range photogrammetry (a method that reconstructs precise 3D geometry from overlapping 2D digital photographs), integrated with Image-Based Modeling (IBM) and Neural Radiance Field (NeRF) algorithms (a machine learning approach that models a complex scene as a continuous volumetric function method). To overcome the non-Lambertian properties of the mummy’s protective ice layer and wet skin (surfaces that reflect light specularly rather than diffusely, creating glares that can disorient standard reconstruction algorithms), a specialized Polarized Light Photography (PLP) strategy was implemented using custom-built hardware. This integration required advanced anatomical segmentation to resolve postural discrepancies caused by taphonomic processes. The resulting web-based application provides the scientific community with a metrically accurate digital twin, featuring interactive tools for cross-sectioning and X-ray visualization. By adopting a Free/Libre and Open-Source Software (FLOSS) ecosystem, this project establishes a sustainable, modular framework for future forensic investigations and diachronic monitoring, ensuring the long-term digital life of one of the world’s most significant archaeological finds.

Saint Theobald of Provins (1033–1066), a French nobleman who embraced voluntary poverty, hermitism, and pilgrimage, represents an early figure in the medieval ascetic movement. He holds historical significance for the diffusion of 11th‐century ascetic ideals, as a hermit saint associated with the Camaldolese order and venerated across northern Italy and France. His remains, preserved in the church of Saint Giovanni Battista in Badia Polesine (Italy), have been investigated to authenticate them and reconstruct his appearance and health status. Cranial paleopathological lesions may be compatible with leprosy ( Mycobacterium leprae ), although not pathognomonic. The absence of endogenous pathogen DNA and the fragmentary postcranial skeleton require us to be cautious, as alternative chronic infectious processes cannot be excluded. Anthropological data, historical documentation, and radiocarbon dating support the plausibility of the association with Saint Theobald. The craniofacial approximation excluded pathological lesions to avoid speculation, and phenotypic elements traits such as pigmentation, hair, and eyes remain hypothetical in the absence of aDNA.

The "40 Hours of Angicos" project, conducted by Paulo Freire in 1963 in rural Brazil, is often highlighted as a milestone in adult education. Supported by the U.S. Alliance for Progress and the Catholic Church, it aimed to teach 300 adults to read and write in just 40 hours, cementing Freire's reputation as one of the 20th century's leading educators. This study revisits the initiative based on historical records and participant data, offering a balanced analysis of its objectives, implementation, and outcomes. Evidence shows that the number of completers was 122, not 300, and that the 40 hours were, in practice, 38, with literacy skills limited to writing names and a few words. The project's termination, often attributed to political repression, appears to have been driven by a lack of literacy-focused materials and an excessive emphasis on political debates, as noted by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). While it inspired participants, the educational outcomes were more modest than the narrative suggests, indicating the need for a careful reassessment of this historical experience.

The response to the comments of Casabianca et al. (2025) aims to clarify interpretive misconceptions and reaffirm the methodological coherence of the study Image Formation on the Holy Shroud—A Digital 3D Approach . The presented criticisms disregard the declared scope of the research, which is strictly methodological in nature, focused on evaluating morphological deformation in the projection of the body onto fabric. The exclusive use of the frontal region, the choice of visual sources, and the historical contextualization based on tomb effigies are consistent with the proposed objective and find precedent studies. The response emphasizes the transparency of the data, the replicability of the experiment, and the legitimacy of the adopted scientific approach, refuting the allegations of conceptual or historical flaws.

This study investigates the origin of the image imprinted on the Shroud of Turin, a linen artifact displaying the frontal and dorsal figures of an adult man with marks of physical violence, using 3D digital simulations. Through free and open‐source software, parametric modeling of a human body, fabric dynamics simulation, and contact area mapping were performed. Two scenarios were compared: the projection of a three‐dimensional human model and that of a low‐relief model. The results demonstrate that the contact pattern generated by the low‐relief model is more compatible with the Shroud's image, showing less anatomical distortion and greater fidelity to the observed contours, while the projection of a 3D body results in a significantly distorted image. The accessible and replicable methodology suggests that the Shroud's image is more consistent with an artistic low‐relief representation than with the direct imprint of a real human body, supporting hypotheses of its origin as a medieval work of art.

This study presents a digital forensic facial approximation of Wenceslas, Duke of Bohemia (ca. 907–935), based on photographs of the skull attributed to the saint, preserved in St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague. The skull was replicated through structural deformation using public domain images, adjusted to historical measurements, and enriched with anthropometric data. The facial approximation combined traditional techniques with statistical projections from tomography of living individuals, resulting in two versions: an objective one and another with artistic and more speculative elements based on historical descriptions. Comparisons with Petr Parler’s 14th-century statue and a previous reconstruction revealed structural consistency, suggesting the skull may have inspired the sculpture. This work contributes to humanizing historical figures and reinforces Wenceslas’s legacy as a Czech icon.