Announcing the Final Examination of Mr. Adam Biernaski for the degree of Master of Arts in Anthropology.
Date: 28th October, 2019
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Room: HPH 409M
Thesis title: “Utilizing Geographic Information Systems to Record and Analyze Osteoarthritis Data in Major Joints of the Arm: A Methodology for Dry Bones.”
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common pathologies encountered in dry bone contexts. However, even with the wealth of publications on documenting the presence of OA from skeletons, these studies prove to be largely incomparable due to different scoring methodologies and procedures in calculating prevalence. The standardization of a new OA data collection procedure would mitigate variability in evaluating, scoring, and calculating the prevalence of OA, thus allowing accurate comparison between studies. However, this level of data collection has often been described as unwieldy and lacking concordance. This research outlines a new methodology that utilizes Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to record OA characteristics, levels of expression, and spatial arrangement on the articular surfaces of the arm. The data was then processed using the analysis and visual rendering capabilities of GIS providing examples of OA patterning on the articular surface, within the joint, and within the individual. Using this method, large standardized OA datasets can be stored and the patterns within them modeled through the use of digitization, composite raster overlays, and modified binning techniques. The patterns recorded by this analysis can offer a more robust dataset on OA occurring within the arm that can provide the ability to explore OA progression and its relationship with biomechanical factors in larger datasets.
Outline of Studies:
Major: Anthropology
Educational Career:
B.A. Anthropology, 2015, University of Central Florida
Committee in Charge:
Dr. John Schultz, Chair
Dr. Sandra Wheeler, Co-Chair
Dr. Lana Williams
Dr. Scott Branting
Approved for distribution by Dr. John Schultz Committee Chair, on 10th October, 2019.
The public is welcome to attend.
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