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Ruff CB, Wallace IJ, Abeyta-Brown A, Butler M, Busby T. Technical note: Prediction of body mass from stature and pelvic breadth. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2024:e25004. [PMID: 39056207 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.25004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Equations for predicting body mass from stature and bi-iliac (maximum pelvic) breadth have been developed, but have had variable success when applied to living or recently deceased individuals, calling into question their general applicability. Here we test these equations on a large, ethnically diverse sample. Skeletal and anthropometric data for 507 recently deceased Indigenous, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic White adults were obtained from the New Mexico Decedent Image Database. The body mass of individuals with a "normal" body mass index (BMI = 18.5-24.9) is very accurately predicted, with an average directional bias of about 1% and an average random error of less than 8%. Underweight individuals (BMI < 18.5) are overpredicted, while overweight (BMI = 25-29.9) and especially obese (BMI≥30) individuals are underpredicted. Within BMI categories, there is a strong and isometric relationship between predicted and true body mass. Individual body mass prediction errors using the stature/bi-iliac method are mainly dependent on variation in BMI. Because earlier humans were more likely to fall within or close to the normal BMI range, the equations should be applicable, on an individual basis, in archeological and paleontological contexts. Because of the prevalence of obesity in many modern populations, these equations are not applicable in a general forensic context. We derive new equations from nonobese individuals in our sample (n = 338), which produce reasonable average prediction errors. If obese individuals can be identified using other skeletal parameters, these equations may be useful in estimating body mass in nonobese forensic cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher B Ruff
- Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ian J Wallace
- Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Amaya Abeyta-Brown
- Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Madison Butler
- Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Taylor Busby
- Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
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2
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Turcotte CM, Choi AM, Spear JK, Hernandez-Janer EM, Taboada HG, Stock MK, Villamil CI, Bauman SE, Martinez MI, Brent LJN, Snyder-Mackler N, Montague MJ, Platt ML, Williams SA, Higham JP, Antón SC. Quantifying the relationship between bone and soft tissue measures within the rhesus macaques of Cayo Santiago. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2024; 184:e24920. [PMID: 38447005 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Interpretations of the primate and human fossil record often rely on the estimation of somatic dimensions from bony measures. Both somatic and skeletal variation have been used to assess how primates respond to environmental change. However, it is unclear how well skeletal variation matches and predicts soft tissue. Here, we empirically test the relationship between tissues by comparing somatic and skeletal measures using paired measures of pre- and post-mortem rhesus macaques from Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico. MATERIALS AND METHODS Somatic measurements were matched with skeletal dimensions from 105 rhesus macaque individuals to investigate paired signals of variation (i.e., coefficients of variation, sexual dimorphism) and bivariate codependence (reduced major axis regression) in measures of: (1) limb length; (2) joint breadth; and (3) limb circumference. Predictive models for the estimation of soft tissue dimensions from skeletons were built from Ordinary Least Squares regressions. RESULTS Somatic and skeletal measurements showed statistically equivalent coefficients of variation and sexual dimorphism as well as high epiphyses-present ordinary least square (OLS) correlations in limb lengths (R2 >0.78, 0.82), joint breadths (R2 >0.74, 0.83) and, to a lesser extent, limb circumference (R2 >0.53, 0.68). CONCLUSION Skeletal measurements are good substitutions for somatic values based on population signals of variation. OLS regressions indicate that skeletal correlates are highly predictive of somatic dimensions. The protocols and regression equations established here provide a basis for reliable reconstruction of somatic dimension from catarrhine fossils and validate our ability to compare or combine results of studies based on population data of either hard or soft tissue proxies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra M Turcotte
- Department of Anthropology, Center for the Study of Human Origins, New York University, New York, New York, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Anatomy, New York Institute of Technology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York, USA
| | - Audrey M Choi
- Department of Anthropology, Center for the Study of Human Origins, New York University, New York, New York, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jeffrey K Spear
- Department of Anthropology, Center for the Study of Human Origins, New York University, New York, New York, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, New York, USA
| | - Eva M Hernandez-Janer
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Hannah G Taboada
- Department of Anthropology, Center for the Study of Human Origins, New York University, New York, New York, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, New York, USA
| | - Michala K Stock
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Catalina I Villamil
- Doctor of Chiropractic Program, School of Health Sciences and Technologies, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamón, Puerto Rico, USA
| | - Samuel E Bauman
- Caribbean Primate Research Center, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA
| | - Melween I Martinez
- Caribbean Primate Research Center, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA
| | | | - Noah Snyder-Mackler
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
- School for Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Michael J Montague
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Michael L Platt
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Scott A Williams
- Department of Anthropology, Center for the Study of Human Origins, New York University, New York, New York, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, New York, USA
| | - James P Higham
- Department of Anthropology, Center for the Study of Human Origins, New York University, New York, New York, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, New York, USA
| | - Susan C Antón
- Department of Anthropology, Center for the Study of Human Origins, New York University, New York, New York, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, New York, USA
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3
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Turcotte CM, Choi AM, Spear JK, Hernandez-Janer EM, Dickinson E, Taboada HG, Stock MK, Villamil CI, Bauman SE, Martinez MI, Brent LJN, Snyder-Mackler N, Montague MJ, Platt ML, Williams SA, Antón SC, Higham JP. Mechanical and morphometric approaches to body mass estimation in rhesus macaques: A test of skeletal variables. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2024; 184:e24901. [PMID: 38445298 PMCID: PMC11137856 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Estimation of body mass from skeletal metrics can reveal important insights into the paleobiology of archeological or fossil remains. The standard approach constructs predictive equations from postcrania, but studies have questioned the reliability of traditional measures. Here, we examine several skeletal features to assess their accuracy in predicting body mass. MATERIALS AND METHODS Antemortem mass measurements were compared with common skeletal dimensions from the same animals postmortem, using 115 rhesus macaques (male: n = 43; female: n = 72). Individuals were divided into training (n = 58) and test samples (n = 57) to build and assess Ordinary Least Squares or multivariate regressions by residual sum of squares (RSS) and AIC weights. A leave-one-out approach was implemented to formulate the best fit multivariate models, which were compared against a univariate and a previously published catarrhine body-mass estimation model. RESULTS Femur circumference represented the best univariate model. The best model overall was composed of four variables (femur, tibia and fibula circumference and humerus length). By RSS and AICw, models built from rhesus macaque data (RSS = 26.91, AIC = -20.66) better predicted body mass than did the catarrhine model (RSS = 65.47, AIC = 20.24). CONCLUSION Body mass in rhesus macaques is best predicted by a 4-variable equation composed of humerus length and hind limb midshaft circumferences. Comparison of models built from the macaque versus the catarrhine data highlight the importance of taxonomic specificity in predicting body mass. This paper provides a valuable dataset of combined somatic and skeletal data in a primate, which can be used to build body mass equations for fragmentary fossil evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra M Turcotte
- Center for the Study of Human Origins, Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Anatomy, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York, USA
| | - Audrey M Choi
- Center for the Study of Human Origins, Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jeffrey K Spear
- Center for the Study of Human Origins, Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, New York, USA
| | - Eva M Hernandez-Janer
- Center for the Study of Human Origins, Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Edwin Dickinson
- Department of Anatomy, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York, USA
| | - Hannah G Taboada
- Center for the Study of Human Origins, Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, New York, USA
| | - Michala K Stock
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Catalina I Villamil
- School of Chiropractic, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamón, Puerto Rico, USA
| | - Samuel E Bauman
- Caribbean Primate Research Center, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA
| | - Melween I Martinez
- Caribbean Primate Research Center, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA
| | | | - Noah Snyder-Mackler
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
- School for Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Michael J Montague
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Michael L Platt
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Scott A Williams
- Center for the Study of Human Origins, Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, New York, USA
| | - Susan C Antón
- Center for the Study of Human Origins, Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, New York, USA
| | - James P Higham
- Center for the Study of Human Origins, Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, New York, USA
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Cox SL, Nicklisch N, Francken M, Wahl J, Meller H, Haak W, Alt KW, Rosenstock E, Mathieson I. Socio-cultural practices may have affected sex differences in stature in Early Neolithic Europe. Nat Hum Behav 2024; 8:243-255. [PMID: 38081999 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-023-01756-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
The rules and structure of human culture impact health as much as genetics or environment. To study these relationships, we combine ancient DNA (n = 230), skeletal metrics (n = 391), palaeopathology (n = 606) and dietary stable isotopes (n = 873) to analyse stature variation in Early Neolithic Europeans from North Central, South Central, Balkan and Mediterranean regions. In North Central Europe, stable isotopes and linear enamel hypoplasias indicate high environmental stress across sexes, but female stature is low, despite polygenic scores identical to males, and suggests that cultural factors preferentially supported male recovery from stress. In Mediterranean populations, sexual dimorphism is reduced, indicating male vulnerability to stress and no strong cultural preference for males. Our analysis indicates that biological effects of sex-specific inequities can be linked to cultural influences at least as early as 7,000 yr ago, and culture, more than environment or genetics, drove height disparities in Early Neolithic Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha L Cox
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Physical Anthropology Section, Penn Museum, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Nicole Nicklisch
- Center of Natural and Cultural Human History, Danube Private University, Krems-Stein, Austria
| | - Michael Francken
- State Office for Cultural Heritage Management Baden-Württemberg, Osteology, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Joachim Wahl
- Paleoanthropology Section, Institute of Archaeological Sciences, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Harald Meller
- State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt, State Museum of Prehistory, Halle, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Haak
- Department of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Kurt W Alt
- Center of Natural and Cultural Human History, Danube Private University, Krems-Stein, Austria
| | - Eva Rosenstock
- Bonn Center for ArchaeoSciences, Universität Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Iain Mathieson
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Aramendi J, Mabulla A, Baquedano E, Domínguez-Rodrigo M. Biomechanical and taxonomic diversity in the Early Pleistocene in East Africa: Structural analysis of a recently discovered femur shaft from Olduvai Gorge (bed I). J Hum Evol 2024; 186:103469. [PMID: 38071888 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2023.103469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Recent Plio-Pleistocene hominin findings have revealed the complexity of human evolutionary history and the difficulties involved in its interpretation. Moreover, the study of hominin long bone remains is particularly problematic, since it commonly depends on the analysis of fragmentary skeletal elements that in many cases are merely represented by small diaphyseal portions and appear in an isolated fashion in the fossil record. Nevertheless, the study of the postcranial skeleton is particularly important to ascertain locomotor patterns. Here we report on the discovery of a robust hominin femoral fragment (OH 84) at the site of Amin Mturi Korongo dated to 1.84 Ma (Olduvai Bed I). External anatomy and internal bone structure of OH 84 were analyzed and compared with previously published data for modern humans and chimpanzees, as well as for Australopithecus, Paranthropus and Homo specimens ranging from the Late Pliocene to Late Pleistocene. Biomechanical analyses based on transverse cross-sections and the comparison of OH 84 with another robust Olduvai specimen (OH 80) suggest that OH 84 might be tentatively allocated to Paranthropus boisei. More importantly, the identification of a unique combination of traits in OH 84 could indicate both terrestrial bipedalism and an arboreal component in the locomotor repertoire of this individual. If interpreted correctly, OH 84 could thus add to the already mounting evidence of substantial locomotor diversity among Early Pleistocene hominins. Likewise, our results also highlight the difficulties in accurately interpreting the link between form and function in the human fossil record based on fragmentary remains, and ultimately in distinguishing between coeval hominin groups due to the heterogeneous pattern of inter- and intraspecific morphological variability detected among fossil femora.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Aramendi
- McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, CB2 1TN, UK.
| | - Audax Mabulla
- Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies, University of Dar Es Salaam, P.O. Box 35050, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Enrique Baquedano
- Archaeological and Paleontological Museum of the Community of Madrid, Plaza de Las Bernardas s/n, 28801, Alcalá de Henares, Spain; Institute of Evolution in Africa (IDEA), University of Alcalá and Archaeological and Paleontological Museum of the Community of Madrid, C/Covarrubias 36, 28010, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Domínguez-Rodrigo
- Institute of Evolution in Africa (IDEA), University of Alcalá and Archaeological and Paleontological Museum of the Community of Madrid, C/Covarrubias 36, 28010, Madrid, Spain; University of Alcalá, Department of History and Philosophy, Area of Prehistory, C/Colegios 2, 28801, Alcalá de Henares, Spain; Rice University, Department of Anthropology, 6100 Main St., Houston, TX, 77005 1827, USA
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6
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Parkinson EW, Stoddart S, Sparacello V, Bertoldi F, Fonzo O, Malone C, Marini E, Martinet F, Moggi-Cecchi J, Pacciani E, Raiteri L, Stock JT. Multiproxy bioarchaeological data reveals interplay between growth, diet and population dynamics across the transition to farming in the central Mediterranean. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21965. [PMID: 38081902 PMCID: PMC10713518 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49406-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The transition to farming brought on a series of important changes in human society, lifestyle, diet and health. The human bioarchaeology of the agricultural transition has received much attention, however, relatively few studies have directly tested the interrelationship between individual lifestyle factors and their implications for understanding life history changes among the first farmers. We investigate the interplay between skeletal growth, diet, physical activity and population size across 30,000 years in the central Mediterranean through a 'big data' cross-analysis of osteological data related to stature (n = 361), body mass (n = 334) and long bone biomechanics (n = 481), carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotopes (n = 1986 human, n = 475 animal) and radiocarbon dates (n = 5263). We present the observed trends on a continuous timescale in order to avoid grouping our data into assigned 'time periods', thus achieving greater resolution and chronological control over our analysis. The results identify important changes in human life history strategies associated with the first farmers, but also highlight the long-term nature of these trends in the millennia either side of the agricultural transition. The integration of these different data is an important step towards disentangling the complex relationship between demography, diet and health, and reconstruct life history changes within a southern European context. We believe the methodological approach adopted here has broader global implications for bioarchaeological studies of human adaptation more generally.
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Affiliation(s)
- E W Parkinson
- Archaeology & Palaeoecology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
| | - S Stoddart
- Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - V Sparacello
- Dipartimento di Scienze della vita e dell'ambiente, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - F Bertoldi
- Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici, Università Ca Foscari Venezia, Venice, Italy
| | - O Fonzo
- Museo Archeologico "Genna Maria" di Villanovaforru, Villanovaforru, Italy
| | - C Malone
- Archaeology & Palaeoecology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - E Marini
- Dipartimento di Scienze della vita e dell'ambiente, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - F Martinet
- Soprintendenza per i beni e le Attività Culturali della Valle d'Aosta, Aosta, Italy
| | - J Moggi-Cecchi
- Dipartimento Di Biologia, Università degli Studi Firenze, Florence, Italy
| | - E Pacciani
- Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio di Firenze, Pistoia e Prato, Florence, Italy
| | - L Raiteri
- Soprintendenza per i beni e le Attività Culturali della Valle d'Aosta, Aosta, Italy
| | - J T Stock
- Department of Anthropology, Western University, London, Canada
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7
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Ruff CB, Wood BA. The estimation and evolution of hominin body mass. Evol Anthropol 2023; 32:223-237. [PMID: 37335778 DOI: 10.1002/evan.21988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Body mass is a critical variable in many hominin evolutionary studies, with implications for reconstructing relative brain size, diet, locomotion, subsistence strategy, and social organization. We review methods that have been proposed for estimating body mass from true and trace fossils, consider their applicability in different contexts, and the appropriateness of different modern reference samples. Recently developed techniques based on a wider range of modern populations hold promise for providing more accurate estimates in earlier hominins, although uncertainties remain, particularly in non-Homo taxa. When these methods are applied to almost 300 Late Miocene through Late Pleistocene specimens, the resulting body mass estimates fall within a 25-60 kg range for early non-Homo taxa, increase in early Homo to about 50-90 kg, then remain constant until the Terminal Pleistocene, when they decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher B Ruff
- Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Bernard A Wood
- Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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8
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Hagihara Y. Fibular diaphyseal curvature of the Jomon population. Anat Sci Int 2023:10.1007/s12565-023-00722-w. [PMID: 37040009 DOI: 10.1007/s12565-023-00722-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated differences in the fibular diaphyseal curvature between prehistoric Jomon hunter-gatherers and modern Japanese people. A total of 115 skeletal remains of 40 individuals from the Late/Final Jomon period (approximately 4300-2500 years BP) and 75 modern Japanese individuals were included in the analysis. The degree of anteroposterior and mediolateral diaphyseal curvature was measured based on digital photographs taken from the frontal and sagittal planes at every 5% diaphyseal region between the range of 20-80% of the fibular length. Fibular diaphyseal curvature was compared between both populations and sexes, and the correlation between fibular diaphyseal curvature with diaphyseal cross-sectional morphology and body size variables were confirmed. The results showed significant differences in the anteroposterior diaphyseal curvature between the Jomon and modern Japanese populations, and a significantly curved anterior direction was noted for Jomon males and females, compared with modern Japanese males and females. On the contrary, little populational difference was noted in terms of mediolateral diaphyseal curvature. The curvature of the fibular diaphysis showed less correlation with body size variables. Moreover, anteroposterior diaphyseal curvatures were correlated with diaphyseal robustness and had low correlation with diaphyseal shape. A relationship between anteroposterior curvature and diaphyseal cross-sectional morphology, an indicator of habitual activity, was confirmed. This suggests that the fibular curvature is possibly influenced by mechanical loading from daily activities as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuo Hagihara
- Department of Rehabilitation, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, 1398 Shimami-Cho, Kita-Ku, Niigata City, Niigata, 950-3198, Japan.
- Institute of Physical Anthropology, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, 1398 Shimami-Cho, Kita-ku, Niigata City, Niigata, 950-3198, Japan.
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9
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Jeong Y, Taylor RJ, Jung Y, Woo EJ. Trotter and Gleser's (1958) equations outperform Trotter and Gleser's (1952) equations in stature estimation of the US White males. Forensic Sci Res 2023; 8:16-23. [PMID: 37415802 PMCID: PMC10265954 DOI: 10.1093/fsr/owad008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Trotter and Gleser presented two sets of stature estimation equations for the US White males in their 1952 and 1958 studies. Following Trotter's suggestion favouring the 1952 equations simply due to the smaller standard errors, the 1958 equations have been seldom used and have gone without additional systematic validation tests. This study aims to assess the performance of the Trotter and Gleser 1952, Trotter and Gleser 1958, and FORDISC equations for the White males in a quantitative and systematic way, particularly when applied to the WWII and Korean War casualties. In sum, 27 equations (7 from the 1952 study, 10 from the 1958 study, and 10 from FORDISC) were applied to the osteometric data of 240 accounted-for White male casualties of the WWII and Korean War. Then, the bias, accuracy, and Bayes factor for each set of stature estimates were calculated. The results show that, overall, Trotter and Gleser's 1958 equations outperform the 1952 and FORDISC equations in terms of all three measures. Particularly, the equations with higher Bayes factors produced stature estimates where distributions were closer to that of the reported statures than those with lower Bayes factors. When considering Bayes factors, the best performing equation was the "Radius" equation from the 1958 study (BF = 15.34) followed by the "Humerus+Radius" equation from FORDISC (BF = 14.42) and the "Fibula" equation from the 1958 study (BF = 13.82). The results of this study will provide researchers and practitioners applying the Trotter and Gleser stature estimation method with a practical guide for equation selection. Key Points The performance of three stature estimation methods was compared quantitatively.Trotter and Gleser's (1952, 1958) and FORDISC White male equations were included.Overall, Trotter and Gleser's 1958 method outperformed the other methods.This study provides a practical guide for stature estimation equation selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangseung Jeong
- Department of Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, USA
| | - Rebecca J Taylor
- Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency-Laboratory, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hickam, USA
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10
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Kinkopf KM, Agarwal SC, Giuffra V, Minozzi S, Campana S, Caramella D, Riccomi G. Contextualizing bilateral asymmetry and gender: A multivariate approach to femoral cross-sectional geometry at rural Medieval Pieve di Pava, Italy. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2023; 180:173-195. [PMID: 36790747 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Our objective was to identify the relationship between biocultural factors of sex-gender and age and patterns of femoral cross-sectional geometry with historical evidence about labor and activity from an archeological skeletal sample excavated from the rural Medieval site Pieve di Pava. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study site, Pieve di Pava, was a rural parish cemetery in Tuscany with osteoarcheological remains from the 7th to 12th centuries. Cross-sectional geometric analysis of femora from 110 individuals dated to the 10th-12th centuries were used to examine trends in bone quantity, shape, and bending strength between age and sex groups, as well as in clusters identified through Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA). RESULTS Overall, our study sample showed remarkable heterogeneity and our cluster analysis revealed a complex underlying structure, indicating that divisions of labor did not follow a strict gender binary in our sample. We found high levels of bilateral asymmetry in our sample in multiple cross-sectional areas for a significant proportion of the population. We found minimal differences between age groups or sex. DISCUSSION Our results suggest that males and females had varied experiences of labor and work during their lives that did not reflect the strict binary gender roles sometimes documented for medieval Europe. One important axis of difference is the direction and magnitude of bilateral asymmetry observed in our femur sample, which is associated with divergent trends in section moduli and bone area measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M Kinkopf
- Department of Geography and Anthropology, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California, USA
| | - Sabrina C Agarwal
- Department of Anthropology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | | | - Simona Minozzi
- Paleopathology Division, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefano Campana
- Department of History and Cultural Heritage, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Giulia Riccomi
- Paleopathology Division, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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11
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Park JH, Lee M, Kim D, Kwon HW, Choi YJ, Park KR, Park S, Park SB, Cho J. Estimating Adult Stature Using Metatarsal Length in the Korean Population: A Cadaveric Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15124. [PMID: 36429841 PMCID: PMC9690328 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192215124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to propose a regression equation for estimating stature in the Korean population using metatarsal bones from cadavers and to validate the appropriateness of the Korean-specific equation by comparing it to equations from other populations. A total of 81 adult formalin-fixed cadavers (51 males and 30 females) were evaluated. The first and second metatarsal bones' physiological and maximal lengths were measured, and the cadaveric stature of the subjects was determined as the distance from the vertex to the plantar face of the heel. In all measurements, the correlation coefficient between real stature and metatarsal length was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Additionally, both sexes showed a correlation between stature and metatarsal bone length. For unknown sex, M1 (first metatarsal maximal length) showed the strongest association between stature and metatarsal length. The following is the appropriate regression equation: 1172.4913 + 7.3275M1 (R = 0.703). The current equation demonstrated a statistically significant appropriateness for the Korean population when compared to equations for other populations (p < 0.001). In conclusion, we proposed a Korean-specific regression equation for estimating stature using metatarsal length, and this formula may be more appropriate and useful in forensic science for the Korean population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeong-Hyun Park
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Mijeong Lee
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Digud Kim
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung-Wook Kwon
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Yu-Jin Choi
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwang-Rak Park
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Keimyung University, Daegu 42601, Republic of Korea
| | - Suyeon Park
- Department of Biostatistics, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul 04401, Republic of Korea
| | - Sa-Beom Park
- Center of Biohealth Convergence and Open Sharing System, Hongik University, Seoul 04066, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaeho Cho
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24253, Republic of Korea
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12
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Two Late Pleistocene human femora from Trinil, Indonesia: Implications for body size and behavior in Southeast Asia. J Hum Evol 2022; 172:103252. [PMID: 36162353 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2022.103252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Late Pleistocene hominin postcranial specimens from Southeast Asia are relatively rare. Here we describe and place into temporal and geographic context two partial femora from the site of Trinil, Indonesia, which are dated stratigraphically and via Uranium-series direct dating to ca. 37-32 ka. The specimens, designated Trinil 9 and 10, include most of the diaphysis, with Trinil 9 being much better preserved. Microcomputed tomography is used to determine cross-sectional diaphyseal properties, with an emphasis on midshaft anteroposterior to mediolateral bending rigidity (Ix/Iy), which has been shown to relate to both body shape and activity level in modern humans. The body mass of Trinil 9 is estimated from cortical area and reconstructed length using new equations based on a Pleistocene reference sample. Comparisons are carried out with a large sample of Pleistocene and Holocene East Asian, African, and European/West Asian femora. Our results show that Trinil 9 has a high Ix/Iy ratio, most consistent with a relatively narrow-bodied male from a mobile hunting-gathering population. It has an estimated body mass of 55.4 kg and a stature of 156 cm, which are small relative to Late Pleistocene males worldwide, but larger than the penecontemporaneous Deep Skull femur from Niah Cave, Malaysia, which is very likely female. This suggests the presence of small-bodied active hunter-gatherers in Southeast Asia during the later Late Pleistocene. Trinil 9 also contrasts strongly in morphology with earlier partial femora from Trinil dating to the late Early-early Middle Pleistocene (Femora II-V), and to a lesser extent with the well-known complete Femur I, most likely dating to the terminal Middle-early Late Pleistocene. Temporal changes in morphology among femoral specimens from Trinil parallel those observed in Homo throughout the Old World during the Pleistocene and document these differences within a single site.
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13
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Begerock AM, Loynes R, Peschel OK, Verano J, Bianucci R, Martinez Armijo I, González M, Nerlich AG. Trauma of bone and soft tissues in South American mummies—New cases provide further insight into violence and lethal outcome. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:962793. [PMID: 36160155 PMCID: PMC9500158 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.962793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
There exist numerous reports on violence in South American populations which shed a particular light on life and living conditions in those historic communities. Most studies have been performed on collections of isolated skulls. Whole-body investigations especially on well-preserved mummified human remains are rare. In the present study we investigated three South American mummies predating the Colonial Spanish period. The “Marburg” man lived between 996 and 1147 CE and was buried in typical burial bundle. The analysis of the textiles, ceramics and fishing tools associated with his naturally mummified body suggests that he most likely originated from the Arica region in Northern Chile and was possibly part of a fishing community. The “Delémont” natural mummies belong to an adult male and an adult female, respectively. The mummies, the textiles and grave goods were investigated. The ceramics suggest a provenance from the Arequipa region, supposing that all the artifacts were originally associated with the two mummies. The Delémont male mummy is 14C dated between 902 and 994 CE and the “Delémont” female mummy 14C dated between 1224 and 1282 CE. All mummies underwent Multidetector Computed Tomography which showed evidence of trauma, some of which were interpreted as evidence of interpersonal violence. An interdisciplinary approach was applied with the particular intention to identify trauma sequels and to evaluate their paleo-forensic potential. Evidence of violence was identified in the two male individuals. Our study provides evidence that the interdisciplinary investigation of well-preserved human remains may detect much more frequent traces of intentional trauma than previously thought. Particularly, trauma against the body may not be identified in studies on skulls alone, and trauma residues of internal organs/soft tissues will only be seen in mummies. We therefore add further evidence of two cases of (lethal) trauma in pre-colonial South-American male individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Robert Loynes
- KNH Centre for Biomedical Egyptology, University Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Oliver K. Peschel
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - John Verano
- Department of Anthropology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Raffaella Bianucci
- Department of Cultures and Societies, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
- The Ronin Institute, Montclair, NJ, United States
| | | | | | - Andreas G. Nerlich
- Institute of Pathology, Academic Clinic Munich-Bogenhausen, Munich, Germany
- *Correspondence: Andreas G. Nerlich,
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14
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Murray AA. Variability and the form-function framework in evolutionary biomechanics and human locomotion. EVOLUTIONARY HUMAN SCIENCES 2022; 4:e29. [PMID: 37588899 PMCID: PMC10426129 DOI: 10.1017/ehs.2022.28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The form-function conceptual framework, which assumes a strong relationship between the structure of a particular trait and its function, has been crucial for understanding morphological variation and locomotion among extant and fossil species across many disciplines. In biological anthropology, it is the lens through which many important questions and hypotheses have been tackled with respect to relationships between morphology and locomotor kinematics, energetics and performance. However, it is becoming increasingly evident that the morphologies of fossil hominins, apes and humans can confer considerable locomotor diversity and flexibility, and can do so with a range of kinematics depending on soft tissue plasticity and environmental and cultural factors. This complexity is not built into traditional biomechanical or mathematical models of relationships between structure and kinematics or energetics, limiting our interpretation of what bone structure is telling us about behaviour in the past. The nine papers presented in this Special Collection together address some of the challenges that variation in the relationship between form and function pose in evolutionary biomechanics, to better characterise the complexity linking structure and function and to provide tools through which we may begin to incorporate some of this complexity into our functional interpretations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison A. Murray
- Department of Anthropology, University of Victoria, Cornett Building Room B228, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC, CanadaV8P 5C2
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15
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Marciniak S, Bergey CM, Silva AM, Hałuszko A, Furmanek M, Veselka B, Velemínský P, Vercellotti G, Wahl J, Zariņa G, Longhi C, Kolář J, Garrido-Pena R, Flores-Fernández R, Herrero-Corral AM, Simalcsik A, Müller W, Sheridan A, Miliauskienė Ž, Jankauskas R, Moiseyev V, Köhler K, Király Á, Gamarra B, Cheronet O, Szeverényi V, Kiss V, Szeniczey T, Kiss K, Zoffmann ZK, Koós J, Hellebrandt M, Maier RM, Domboróczki L, Virag C, Novak M, Reich D, Hajdu T, von Cramon-Taubadel N, Pinhasi R, Perry GH. An integrative skeletal and paleogenomic analysis of stature variation suggests relatively reduced health for early European farmers. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2106743119. [PMID: 35389750 PMCID: PMC9169634 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2106743119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Human culture, biology, and health were shaped dramatically by the onset of agriculture ∼12,000 y B.P. This shift is hypothesized to have resulted in increased individual fitness and population growth as evidenced by archaeological and population genomic data alongside a decline in physiological health as inferred from skeletal remains. Here, we consider osteological and ancient DNA data from the same prehistoric individuals to study human stature variation as a proxy for health across a transition to agriculture. Specifically, we compared “predicted” genetic contributions to height from paleogenomic data and “achieved” adult osteological height estimated from long bone measurements for 167 individuals across Europe spanning the Upper Paleolithic to Iron Age (∼38,000 to 2,400 B.P.). We found that individuals from the Neolithic were shorter than expected (given their individual polygenic height scores) by an average of −3.82 cm relative to individuals from the Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic (P = 0.040) and −2.21 cm shorter relative to post-Neolithic individuals (P = 0.068), with osteological vs. expected stature steadily increasing across the Copper (+1.95 cm relative to the Neolithic), Bronze (+2.70 cm), and Iron (+3.27 cm) Ages. These results were attenuated when we additionally accounted for genome-wide genetic ancestry variation: for example, with Neolithic individuals −2.82 cm shorter than expected on average relative to pre-Neolithic individuals (P = 0.120). We also incorporated observations of paleopathological indicators of nonspecific stress that can persist from childhood to adulthood in skeletal remains into our model. Overall, our work highlights the potential of integrating disparate datasets to explore proxies of health in prehistory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Marciniak
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
| | - Christina M. Bergey
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
- Department of Genetics, Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08854
| | - Ana Maria Silva
- Research Centre for Anthropology and Health (Centro de Investigação em Antropologia e Saúde - CIAS), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra 3000-456, Portugal
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra 3000-456, Portugal
- Archeology Center of the University of Lisbon (UNIARQ), University of Lisbon, Lisbon 1600-214, Portugal
| | - Agata Hałuszko
- Institute of Archaeology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław 50-139, Poland
- Archeolodzy.org Foundation, Wrocław 50-316, Poland
| | - Mirosław Furmanek
- Institute of Archaeology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław 50-139, Poland
| | - Barbara Veselka
- Department of Chemistry, Analytical Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Research Unit, Vrije Univeristeit Brussels, Brussels 1050, Belgium
- Department of Art Studies and Archaeology, Maritime Cultures Research Institute, Vrije Univeristeit Brussels, Brussels 1050, Belgium
| | - Petr Velemínský
- Department of Anthropology, National Museum, Prague 115-79, Czech Republic
| | - Giuseppe Vercellotti
- Department of Anthropology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210
- Institute for Research and Learning in Archaeology and Bioarchaeology, Columbus, OH 43215
| | - Joachim Wahl
- Institute for Scientific Archaeology, Working Group Palaeoanthropology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen 72074, Germany
| | - Gunita Zariņa
- Institute of Latvian History, University of Latvia, Riga 1050, Latvia
| | - Cristina Longhi
- Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio, Rome 00186, Italy
| | - Jan Kolář
- Department of Vegetation Ecology, Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice 252-43, Czech Republic
- Institute of Archaeology and Museology, Masaryk University, Brno 602-00, Czech Republic
| | - Rafael Garrido-Pena
- Department of Prehistory and Archaeology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | | | | | - Angela Simalcsik
- Olga Necrasov Center for Anthropological Research, Romanian Academy - Iasi Branch, Iasi 700481, Romania
- Orheiul Vechi Cultural-Natural Reserve, Orhei 3506, Republic of Moldova
| | - Werner Müller
- Laboratoire d'archéozoologie, Université de Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel 2000, Switzerland
| | - Alison Sheridan
- Department of Scottish History & Archaeology, National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh EH1 1JF, Scotland
| | - Žydrūnė Miliauskienė
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Anthropology, Vilnius University, Vilnius 01513, Lithuania
| | - Rimantas Jankauskas
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Anthropology, Vilnius University, Vilnius 01513, Lithuania
| | - Vyacheslav Moiseyev
- Department of Physical Anthropology, Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera), Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia
| | - Kitti Köhler
- Institute of Archaeology, Research Centre for the Humanities, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest 1097, Hungary
| | - Ágnes Király
- Institute of Archaeology, Research Centre for the Humanities, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest 1097, Hungary
| | - Beatriz Gamarra
- Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social, Tarragona 43007, Spain
- Departament d’Història i Història de l’Art, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona 43003, Spain
| | - Olivia Cheronet
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna, Vienna 1030, Austria
- Human Evolution and Archaeological Sciences (HEAS), University of Vienna, Vienna 1030, Austria
| | - Vajk Szeverényi
- Institute of Archaeology, Research Centre for the Humanities, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest 1097, Hungary
- Department of Archaeology, Déri Múzeum, Debrecen 4026, Hungary
| | - Viktória Kiss
- Institute of Archaeology, Research Centre for the Humanities, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest 1097, Hungary
| | - Tamás Szeniczey
- Department of Biological Anthropology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest 1053, Hungary
| | - Krisztián Kiss
- Department of Biological Anthropology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest 1053, Hungary
- Department of Anthropology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest 1083, Hungary
| | | | - Judit Koós
- Department of Archaeology, Herman Ottó Museum, Miskolc 3530, Hungary
| | | | - Robert M. Maier
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
| | - László Domboróczki
- Department of Archaeology, István Dobó Castle Museum, Eger 3300, Hungary
| | - Cristian Virag
- Department of Archaeology, Satu Mare County Museum, Satu Mare 440031, Romania
| | - Mario Novak
- Centre for Applied Bioanthropology, Institute for Anthropological Research, Zagreb 10000, Croatia
| | - David Reich
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
- The Max Planck–Harvard Research Center for the Archaeoscience of the Ancient Mediterranean, Boston, MA 02115
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142
- HHMI, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA 02138
| | - Tamás Hajdu
- Department of Biological Anthropology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest 1053, Hungary
| | - Noreen von Cramon-Taubadel
- Buffalo Human Evolutionary Morphology Lab, Department of Anthropology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14261-0026
| | - Ron Pinhasi
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna, Vienna 1030, Austria
- Human Evolution and Archaeological Sciences (HEAS), University of Vienna, Vienna 1030, Austria
| | - George H. Perry
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) Center for Advanced Studies, University of Tübingen, Tübingen 72074, Germany
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16
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Pany‐Kucera D, Spannagl‐Steiner M, Desideri J, Rebay‐Salisbury K. Indicators of motherhood? Sacral preauricular extensions and notches in identified skeletal collections. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY 2022; 32:64-74. [PMID: 35874189 PMCID: PMC9293283 DOI: 10.1002/oa.3044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The sacral preauricular extension (SPE) and sacral preauricular notch (SPN) are morphological changes at the ventral apex of the sacrum. We recently specified their shapes and appearances and suggested a scoring system based on prehistoric Austrian skeletal assemblages. We hypothesized that these specific pelvic changes relate to past pregnancies and parturitions, a hypothesis that we now tested on a subsample of individuals from the Simon Identified Skeletal collection in Geneva (n = 62) and the Christ Church, Spitalfields collection in London (n = 27) linked to historical information on deliveries. We found SPE and SPN in low frequencies and only in female individuals with at least two children in both collections, and a significant association between the emergence of SPE and first births by 25 years. SPN was found only in two females in the Simon collection, but both with a very high number of recorded parturitions including twin births. Based on these results, we are confident in our assumption that at least SPE, and possibly also SPN, result from increased compression forces at the sacroiliac joint, and especially at the ventrosuperior margin, in recurring (complicated) birth events, the interaction of enhanced pelvic joint mobility that is highest up to age 25, and postural changes related to weight gain during pregnancy. Pelvic shape, dimensions, body proportions, biomechanical issues and hormonal levels may also play a role in their emergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doris Pany‐Kucera
- Austrian Archaeological InstituteAustrian Academy of SciencesViennaAustria
- Department of AnthropologyNatural History MuseumViennaAustria
| | - Michaela Spannagl‐Steiner
- Austrian Archaeological InstituteAustrian Academy of SciencesViennaAustria
- Department of AnthropologyNatural History MuseumViennaAustria
| | - Jocelyne Desideri
- Department F.‐A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Laboratory of Prehistoric Archaeology and AnthropologyUniversity of GenevaGenevaSwitzerland
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17
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Mongillo J, Vescovo G, Bramanti B. Belly fat or bloating? New insights into the physical appearance of St Anthony of Padua. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260505. [PMID: 34932567 PMCID: PMC8691610 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the centuries, iconographic representations of St Anthony of Padua, one of the most revered saints in the Catholic world, have been inspired by literary sources, which described the Saint as either naturally corpulent or with a swollen abdomen due to dropsy (i.e. fluid accumulation in the body cavities). Even recent attempts to reconstruct the face of the Saint have yielded discordant results regarding his outward appearance. To address questions about the real appearance of St Anthony, we applied body mass estimation equations to the osteometric measurements taken in 1981, during the public recognition of the Saint's skeletal remains. Both the biomechanical and the morphometric approach were employed to solve some intrinsic limitations in the equations for body mass estimation from skeletal remains. The estimated body mass was used to assess the physique of the Saint with the body mass index. The outcomes of this investigation reveal interesting information about the body type of the Saint throughout his lifetime.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Mongillo
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara c.so Ercole I d’Este n.32, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giulia Vescovo
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara c.so Ercole I d’Este n.32, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Barbara Bramanti
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara c.so Ercole I d’Este n.32, Ferrara, Italy
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18
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Unique foot posture in Neanderthals reflects their body mass and high mechanical stress. J Hum Evol 2021; 161:103093. [PMID: 34749003 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2021.103093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Neanderthal foot bone proportions and morphology are mostly indistinguishable from those of Homo sapiens, with the exception of several distinct Neanderthal features in the talus. The biomechanical implications of these distinct talar features remain contentious, fueling debate around the adaptive meaning of this distinctiveness. With the aim of clarifying this controversy, we test phylogenetic and behavioral factors as possible contributors, comparing tali of 10 Neanderthals and 81 H. sapiens (Upper Paleolithic and Holocene hunter-gatherers, agriculturalists, and postindustrial group) along with the Clark Howell talus (Omo, Ethiopia). Variation in external talar structures was assessed through geometric morphometric methods, while bone volume fraction and degree of anisotropy were quantified in a subsample (n = 45). Finally, covariation between point clouds of site-specific trabecular variables and surface landmark coordinates was assessed. Our results show that although Neanderthal talar external and internal morphologies were distinct from those of H. sapiens groups, shape did not significantly covary with either bone volume fraction or degree of anisotropy, suggesting limited covariation between external and internal talar structures. Neanderthal external talar morphology reflects ancestral retentions, along with various adaptations to high levels of mobility correlated to their presumably unshod hunter-gatherer lifestyle. This pairs with their high site-specific trabecular bone volume fraction and anisotropy, suggesting intense and consistently oriented locomotor loading, respectively. Relative to H.sapiens, Neanderthals exhibit differences in the talocrural joint that are potentially attributable to cultural and locomotor behavior dissimilarity, a talonavicular joint that mixes ancestral and functional traits, and a derived subtalar joint that suggests a predisposition for a pronated foot during stance phase. Overall, Neanderthal talar variation is attributable to mobility strategy and phylogenesis, while H. sapiens talar variation results from the same factors plus footwear. Our results suggest that greater Neanderthal body mass and/or higher mechanical stress uniquely led to their habitually pronated foot posture.
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19
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Cox SL, Moots HM, Stock JT, Shbat A, Bitarello BD, Nicklisch N, Alt KW, Haak W, Rosenstock E, Ruff CB, Mathieson I. Predicting skeletal stature using ancient
DNA. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2021. [PMCID: PMC9298243 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Samantha L. Cox
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA
- Physical Anthropology Section, Penn Museum University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA
| | - Hannah M. Moots
- Department of Anthropology Stanford University Stanford California USA
| | - Jay T. Stock
- Department of Anthropology Western University London Ontario Canada
- Department of Archaeology Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History Jena Germany
| | - Andrej Shbat
- Institute of Anatomy, First Faculty of Medicine Charles University Prague Czech Republic
| | - Bárbara D. Bitarello
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA
| | - Nicole Nicklisch
- Center of Natural and Cultural Human History Danube Private University Krems Austria
| | - Kurt W. Alt
- Center of Natural and Cultural Human History Danube Private University Krems Austria
| | - Wolfgang Haak
- Department of Archaeogenetics Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History Jena Germany
| | - Eva Rosenstock
- Bonn Center for ArchaeoSciences Institut für Archäologie und Kulturanthropologie, Universität Bonn Bonn Germany
| | - Christopher B. Ruff
- Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore Maryland USA
| | - Iain Mathieson
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA
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20
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Aaspõllu A, Allmäe R, Puss F, Parson W, Pihkva K, Kriiska-Maiväli K, Unt A. The Unique Identification of an Unknown Soldier from the Estonian War of Independence. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1722. [PMID: 34828329 PMCID: PMC8624759 DOI: 10.3390/genes12111722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of human remains is challenging mostly due to the bad condition of the remains and the available background information that is sometimes limited. The current case report is related to the identification of an unknown soldier from the Estonian War of Independence (1918-1920). The case includes an anthropological study of the remains, examinations of documents found with the exhumed remains, and kinship estimations based on archival documents, and DNA analyses. As the preliminary data pointed to remains of male origin, Y-chromosomal STR (short tandem repeat) analyses of 22 Y-STR loci were used to analyze the exhumed teeth. Reference samples from individuals from two paternal lineages were collected based on archival documents. Y-chromosomal STR results for the tooth samples were consistent with a patrilineal relationship to only one reference sample out of two proposed paternal lineages. Based on the provided pedigrees in the consistent case, the Y-STR results are approximately four million times more likely if the tooth sample originated from an individual related along the paternal line to the matching reference sample, than if the tooth sample originated from another person in the general population. Special considerations have to be met when limited evidence is available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anu Aaspõllu
- Department of Nutrition Research, National Institute for Health Development, 11619 Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Raili Allmäe
- Archaeological Research Collection, Tallinn University, 10130 Tallinn, Estonia;
| | - Fred Puss
- Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Tartu, 50090 Tartu, Estonia;
- Department on Language History, Dialects, and Finno-Ugric Languages, Institute of the Estonian Language, 10119 Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Walther Parson
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
- Forensic Science Program, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Küllike Pihkva
- Preservation Department in Tartu, National Archives of Estonia, 50411 Tartu, Estonia;
| | | | - Arnold Unt
- Estonian War Museum-General Laidoner Museum, 74001 Tallinn, Estonia;
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21
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Pampush JD, Fuselier EJ, Yapuncich GS. Using BayesModelS to provide Bayesian- and phylogenetically-informed primate body mass predictions. J Hum Evol 2021; 161:103077. [PMID: 34688978 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2021.103077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
An accurate prediction of the body mass of an extinct species can greatly inform the reconstruction of that species' ecology. Therefore, paleontologists frequently predict the body mass of extinct taxa from fossilized materials, particularly dental dimensions. Body mass prediction has traditionally been performed in a frequentist statistical framework, and accounting for phylogenetic relationships while calibrating prediction models has only recently become more commonplace. In this article, we apply BayesModelS-a phylogenetically informed Bayesian prediction method-to predict body mass in a sample of 49 euarchontan species (24 strepsirrhines, 20 platyrrhines, 3 tarsiids, 1 dermopteran, and 1 scandentian) and compare this approach's body mass prediction accuracy with other commonly used techniques, namely ordinary least squares, phylogenetic generalized least squares, and phylogenetic independent contrasts (PICs). When predicting the body masses of extant euarchontans from dental and postcranial variables, BayesModelS and PICs have substantially higher predictive accuracy than ordinary least squares and phylogenetic generalized least squares. The improved performances of BayesModelS and PIC are most evident for dentally derived body mass proxies or when body mass proxies have high degrees of phylogenetic covariance. Predicted values generated by BayesModelS and PIC methods also show less variance across body mass proxies when applied to the Eocene adapiform Notharctus tenebrosus. These more explicitly phylogenetically based methods should prove useful for predicting body mass in a paleontological context, and we provide executive scripts for both BayesModelS and PIC to increase ease of application.
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Affiliation(s)
- James D Pampush
- Department of Exercise Science, High Point University, High Point, NC 27260, USA; Department of Physician Assistant Studies, High Point University, High Point, NC 27260, USA.
| | - Edward J Fuselier
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, High Point University, High Point, NC 27260, USA
| | - Gabriel S Yapuncich
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Medical Education Administration, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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22
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Sex estimation through geometric morphometric analysis of the frontal bone: an assessment in pre-pubertal and post-pubertal modern Spanish population. Int J Legal Med 2021; 136:319-328. [PMID: 34693478 PMCID: PMC8813871 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-021-02712-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Sex estimates is a key step of biological profile assessment in a forensic or anthropologic context. In this study, the sexual dimorphism of the frontal bone was analyzed to assess the accuracy of sex estimates using a geometric morphometric approach in a pre-pubertal and post-pubertal sample. The shape of the frontal bone was digitized on the lateral cephalograms of 87 pre-pubertal subjects (42 males, mean age 10.14, SD ± 1.48 years; 45 females mean age 10.02, SD ± 1.11 years) and 103 post-pubertal ones (53 males, mean age 29.33 SD ± 11.88 years; 50 females, mean age 26.77 SD ± 11.07 years). A generalized Procrustes analysis (GPA) was performed for shape analyses, filtering the effects of position, rotation, translation, and size. A principal component analysis (PCA) was performed on the GPA transformed variables, and a multiple logistic regression model was used to assess the accuracy of sex estimates. In both age groups, the average size of the centroid was significantly larger in males. The females presented shapes with a shorter distance between P2 (glabella) and P1 (supratoral) and a general narrowing of the structure on the sagittal plane. In the pre-pubertal group, the shape difference was not statistically significant. In the post-pubertal group, the mean shape was significantly different between the sexes. The method displayed a high accuracy for sex estimates (88.7% males, 90.3% females) also when applied in a validation sample (82.6% males and 94.1% females). The described morphometric analysis of the frontal bone is based on a limited number of landmarks, which allows sex estimates with high accuracy in post-pubertal subjects, while it is not applicable in pre-pubertal ones.
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23
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Park S, Yi Y, Tsengel B, Kim J, Chun DI, Won SH, Min TH, Park JH, Lee M, Cho J. Adult Stature Estimation from Radiographic Metatarsal Length in a Contemporary Korean Population. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph181910363. [PMID: 34639663 PMCID: PMC8508081 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph181910363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The ability to estimate stature can be important in the identification of skeletal remains. This study aims to develop a Korean-specific equation predicting stature using radiographic measurements in the contemporary Korean population. 200 healthy Korean adults, including 102 males and 98 females, were randomly selected (age, range 20–86 years). The first and second metatarsals of the foot were measured by a standing X-ray using a digital medical image viewer. The result showed a statistically significant correlation between metatarsal length and stature in Korean populations (male, R = 0.46, p < 0.001; female, R = 0.454, p < 0.001). Values of correlation coefficients (R) of the equations were 0.431 to 0.477. Compared to equations derived from other races, the Korean-specific equation showed significantly lower error values for estimating the actual height of Koreans through cross-validation. In conclusion, this study is the first to propose a Korean-specific regression formula for estimating stature using metatarsal length and a verified formula for precise application to the Korean population. However, given the relatively low correlation coefficient, the stature estimation formula derived from this study can be utilized when other bones that allow more accurate stature estimation are not available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suyeon Park
- Department of Biostatistics, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul 04401, Korea;
- Department of Applied Statistics, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Korea
| | - Young Yi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital, Seoul 04551, Korea;
| | - Battur Tsengel
- Institute for Skeletal Aging and Orthopedic Surgery, Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24253, Korea;
| | - Jahyung Kim
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Armed Force Gangneung Hospital, Gangneung 25422, Korea;
| | - Dong-Il Chun
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul 04401, Korea; (D.-I.C.); (S.-H.W.); (T.-H.M.)
| | - Sung-Hun Won
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul 04401, Korea; (D.-I.C.); (S.-H.W.); (T.-H.M.)
| | - Tae-Hong Min
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul 04401, Korea; (D.-I.C.); (S.-H.W.); (T.-H.M.)
| | - Jeong-Hyun Park
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Kangwon 24341, Korea; (J.-H.P.); (M.L.)
| | - Mijeong Lee
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Kangwon 24341, Korea; (J.-H.P.); (M.L.)
| | - Jaeho Cho
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24253, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-33-240-5198
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24
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Cox SL. A geometric morphometric assessment of shape variation in adult pelvic morphology. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2021; 176:652-671. [PMID: 34528241 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In humans, the pelvis is the most sexually dimorphic skeletal element and is often utilized in aging and sexing remains. The pelvis has become greatly relied upon in anthropological research (e.g., forensics, demographics, obstetrics, evolutionary history); however, pelvis morphology is highly variable, and very little is known about the nature, sources, patterning, and interpretation of this variation. This study aims to quantify pelvis shape variation, document sexual shape variation, and estimate the plasticity of morphology. This will ultimately give greater ability to interpret modern, archaeological, and evolutionary patterns to gain deeper insight into processes which shape human anatomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using a sample of 129 Medieval Danish skeletons, shape variation is documented in the greater sciatic notch (GSN), iliac crest (IC), arcuate line (AL), and sub-pubic angle (SPA) using 3D geometric morphometrics. The landmarking method applied here has the advantage of being applicable to fragmentary remains, rather than requiring whole bones. This allows it to be easily applied to archaeological samples and for the interpretation of separate bone features. Differences in shape were statistically analyzed by principle component analysis, linear discriminate analysis, and morphological disparity. Relationships between maximum femur length, body mass, and shape centroid size were also test by allometric regression. RESULTS Results quantify the sexual dimorphism and shape variation present in these features. The GSN shape is the most variable, while the AL is the least. Similarly, the IC is the only feature which shows almost no dimorphism in shape, and instead best reflects lifestyle/activity patterns. Evidence of dimorphism in the IC is likely a result of cultural labor patterns rather than genetic and hormonal influence. Finally, the shapes of the GSN, AL, and SPA are more related to body mass than to femur length, such that individuals with increased mass exhibit more classically "male" shapes and those with less mass have more "female" shapes. DISCUSSION The results have important implications for the evolution of pelvic anatomy, and sexual dimorphism, but also highlight the plasticity inherent in pelvic morphology. Analyzing pelvis features separately in a clearly defined, relatively genetically homogenous population gives insight into the determinants of bone morphology, which are not readily observable by other means. The relationship between body mass and shape suggests dimorphism in body size and composition may affect bone shape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha L Cox
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Physical Anthropology, Penn Museum, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,University of Cambridge, Department of Archaeology, Cambridge, UK
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25
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Zedda N, Bramanti B, Gualdi-Russo E, Ceraico E, Rinaldo N. The biological index of frailty: A new index for the assessment of frailty in human skeletal remains. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2021; 176:459-473. [PMID: 34418072 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Frailty is the physiological stress that individuals suffer during their life. In past populations, frailty is conventionally assessed through the occurrence of different biomarkers of biological stress. Some efforts have been made to propose indexes that combine all biomarkers. However, these indices have some critical limitations: they cannot be used on incomplete skeletons, do not consider the severity and/or healing of lesions, and assign equal importance to different biomarkers. To address these limitations, we propose a new index to assess frailty in skeletal individuals. MATERIAL AND METHODS By statistically analyzing a large amount of osteological data available from the Museum of London, and using a Logit model, we were able to define a different weight for each reported biomarker of frailty, based on their importance in increasing the risk of premature death for the individuals. RESULTS The biological index of frailty (BIF) is the weighted mean of all biomarkers scored on the individuals, according to a different degree of importance assigned to each one. It also considers the severity and healing of the biomarkers when this is relevant to diagnose frailty. We applied BIF on a sample of Monastics and Non-Monastics from medieval England and compared it with the skeletal index of frailty (SFI). DISCUSSION BIF is the first frailty index that gives a different weight to each skeletal biomarker of stress, considers both severity and healing of the lesions, and can be applied on partial skeletal remains. The comparison with SFI showed that BIF is applicable to a larger number of skeletal individuals, revealing new differences between the Monastic and the Non-Monastic groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoletta Zedda
- Department of Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Barbara Bramanti
- Department of Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Emanuela Gualdi-Russo
- Department of Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Elena Ceraico
- Department of Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Natascia Rinaldo
- Department of Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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26
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Irving-Pease EK, Muktupavela R, Dannemann M, Racimo F. Quantitative Human Paleogenetics: What can Ancient DNA Tell us About Complex Trait Evolution? Front Genet 2021; 12:703541. [PMID: 34422004 PMCID: PMC8371751 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.703541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic association data from national biobanks and large-scale association studies have provided new prospects for understanding the genetic evolution of complex traits and diseases in humans. In turn, genomes from ancient human archaeological remains are now easier than ever to obtain, and provide a direct window into changes in frequencies of trait-associated alleles in the past. This has generated a new wave of studies aiming to analyse the genetic component of traits in historic and prehistoric times using ancient DNA, and to determine whether any such traits were subject to natural selection. In humans, however, issues about the portability and robustness of complex trait inference across different populations are particularly concerning when predictions are extended to individuals that died thousands of years ago, and for which little, if any, phenotypic validation is possible. In this review, we discuss the advantages of incorporating ancient genomes into studies of trait-associated variants, the need for models that can better accommodate ancient genomes into quantitative genetic frameworks, and the existing limits to inferences about complex trait evolution, particularly with respect to past populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan K. Irving-Pease
- Lundbeck Foundation GeoGenetics Centre, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rasa Muktupavela
- Lundbeck Foundation GeoGenetics Centre, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Dannemann
- Center for Genomics, Evolution and Medicine, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Fernando Racimo
- Lundbeck Foundation GeoGenetics Centre, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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27
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Berner M, Pany-Kucera D, Doneus N, Sladek V, Gamble M, Eggers S. Challenging definitions and diagnostic approaches for ancient rare diseases: The case of poliomyelitis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2021; 33:113-127. [PMID: 33894575 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2021.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This paper aims to contribute to the definition of ancient rare diseases in skeletons displaying pathologies associated with paralysis. It uses a new suite of methods, which can be applied to challenging cases of possible paralysis in archaeologically-derived human skeletal material, specifically applied to the identification of poliomyelitis. MATERIALS An adult male skeleton from Roman Halbturn, Austria. METHODS Morphological and entheseal change analyses, CT scans, X-rays, cross-section morphology, and histology, alongside modern clinical, as well as historic, literature were used to discuss paralyses. RESULTS The results suggest a diagnosis of poliomyelitis; now considered a rare disease, but perhaps ubiquitous in antiquity, thus complicating the definition of 'rare disease'. CONCLUSIONS The integrated methodological procedures employed for this case constitutes a replicable and thorough approach to diagnosis, and explores the nature of ancient rare diseases. Due to the socio-environmental aspects of poliomyelitis transmission, it is likely that polio was likely not rare in the past. Therefore, the definition of 'rare diseases in the past' must include rarely occurring rarely diagnosed diseases due to biases and challenges within the archaeological and environmental record. SIGNIFICANCE The developed suite of methods has not been applied to establish a diagnosis of polio in the past. LIMITATIONS The individual considered in this study is fairly well-preserved; thus, this set of analyses may not be applicable to all remains where preservation is poor or highly fragmentary, and the discussion of rare diseases requires relatively secure diagnoses and context. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH Large collections and series of skeletal human remains are recommended to develop definitive conclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margit Berner
- Department of Anthropology, Natural History Museum Vienna, Austria.
| | | | | | - Vladimír Sladek
- Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Michelle Gamble
- Heritage and Archaeological Research Practice, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Sabine Eggers
- Department of Anthropology, Natural History Museum Vienna, Austria
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28
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Yim AD, Konigsberg LW, Hwa HL, Chang CC, Chen JY, Liu HM. Allometric scaling and growth: Evaluation and applications in subadult body mass estimation. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2021; 175:577-588. [PMID: 34002366 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Previously developed methods in subadult body mass estimation have not been tested in populations other than European-American or African-American. This study uses a contemporary Taiwanese sample to test these methods. Through evaluating their accuracy and bias, we addressed whether the allometric relationships between body mass and skeletal traits commonly used in subadult body mass estimation are conserved among different populations. MATERIALS AND METHODS Computed tomography scans of lower limbs from individuals aged 0-17 years old of both sexes were collected from National Taiwan University Hospital along with documented body weight. Polar second moment of area, distal femoral metaphyseal breadth, and maximum superior/inferior femoral head diameter were collected either directly from the scans or from reconstructed 3D models. Estimated body mass was compared with documented body mass to assess the performance of the equations. RESULTS Current methods provided good body mass estimates in Taiwanese individuals, with accuracy and bias similar to those reported in other validation studies. A tendency for increasing error with increasing age was observed for all methods. Reduced major axis regression showed the allometric relationships between different skeletal traits and body mass across different age categories can all be summarized using a common fitted line. A revised, maximum likelihood-based approach was proposed for all skeletal traits. DISCUSSION The results suggested that the allometric relationships between body mass and different skeletal traits are largely conserved among populations. The revised method provided improved applicability with strong underlying theoretical justifications, and potential for future improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- An-Di Yim
- Department of Anthropology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Lyle W Konigsberg
- Department of Anthropology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Hsiao-Lin Hwa
- Department and Graduate Institute of Forensic Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Chin-Chen Chang
- Department and Graduate Institute of Forensic Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan.,Department of Medical Imaging, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Jo-Yu Chen
- Department of Medical Imaging, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Hon-Man Liu
- Department of Medical Imaging, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan.,Department of Medical Imaging, Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
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29
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Colleter R, Bataille CP, Dabernat H, Pichot D, Hamon P, Duchesne S, Labaune-Jean F, Jean S, Le Cloirec G, Milano S, Trost M, Steinbrenner S, Marchal M, Guilbeau-Frugier C, Telmon N, Crubézy É, Jaouen K. The last battle of Anne of Brittany: Solving mass grave through an interdisciplinary approach (paleopathology, biological anthropology, history, multiple isotopes and radiocarbon dating). PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248086. [PMID: 33951047 PMCID: PMC8099129 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Mass graves are usually key historical markers with strong incentive for archeological investigations. The identification of individuals buried in mass graves has long benefitted from traditional historical, archaeological, anthropological and paleopathological techniques. The addition of novel methods including genetic, genomic and isotopic geochemistry have renewed interest in solving unidentified mass graves. In this study, we demonstrate that the combined use of these techniques allows the identification of the individuals found in two Breton historical mass graves, where one method alone would not have revealed the importance of this discovery. The skeletons likely belong to soldiers from the two enemy armies who fought during a major event of Breton history: the siege of Rennes in 1491, which ended by the wedding of the Duchess of Brittany with the King of France and signaled the end of the independence of the region. Our study highlights the value of interdisciplinary approaches with a particular emphasis on increasingly accurate isotopic markers. The development of the sulfur isoscape and testing of the triple isotope geographic assignment are detailed in a companion paper [13].
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Affiliation(s)
- Rozenn Colleter
- INRAP (Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives), Cesson-Sévigné, France
- CNRS, CAGT, UMR 5288, Université Paul Sabatier, 31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Clément P. Bataille
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Henri Dabernat
- CNRS, CAGT, UMR 5288, Université Paul Sabatier, 31000, Toulouse, France
| | | | | | - Sylvie Duchesne
- INRAP (Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives), Cesson-Sévigné, France
- CNRS, CAGT, UMR 5288, Université Paul Sabatier, 31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Françoise Labaune-Jean
- INRAP (Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives), Cesson-Sévigné, France
- CNRS, CReAAH, UMR 6566, Rennes, France
| | - Stéphane Jean
- INRAP (Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives), Cesson-Sévigné, France
| | - Gaétan Le Cloirec
- INRAP (Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives), Cesson-Sévigné, France
- CNRS, CReAAH, UMR 6566, Rennes, France
| | - Stefania Milano
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Department of Human Evolution, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Manuel Trost
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Department of Human Evolution, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sven Steinbrenner
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Department of Human Evolution, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Marine Marchal
- CNRS, CAGT, UMR 5288, Université Paul Sabatier, 31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Céline Guilbeau-Frugier
- I2MC, Université de Toulouse, INSERM U1048, 31432, Toulouse, France
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- Faculté de Médecine Rangueil, CMEAB, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Norbert Telmon
- CNRS, CAGT, UMR 5288, Université Paul Sabatier, 31000, Toulouse, France
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Éric Crubézy
- CNRS, CAGT, UMR 5288, Université Paul Sabatier, 31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Klervia Jaouen
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Department of Human Evolution, Leipzig, Germany
- CNRS, GET UMR 5563, Observatoire Midi Pyrénées, Toulouse, France
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30
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Jiménez-Brobeil SA, Charisi D, Laffranchi Z, Maroto Benavides RM, Delgado Huertas A, Milella M. Sex differences in diet and life conditions in a rural Medieval Islamic population from Spain (La Torrecilla, Granada): An isotopic and osteological approach to gender differentiation in al-Andalus. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2021; 175:794-815. [PMID: 33772756 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Gender differentiation can influence the diet, physical activity, and health of human populations. Multifaceted approaches are therefore necessary when exploring the biological consequences of gender-related social norms in the past. Here, we explore the links between diet, physiological stress, physical activity, and gender differentiation in the Medieval Islamic population of La Torrecilla (Granada, Spain, 13th-15th century AD), by analyzing stable isotope patterns, stature, and long bone diaphyseal measurements. MATERIALS AND METHODS The sample includes 96 individuals (48 females, 48 males) classified as young and middle adults (20-34 and 35-50 years of age respectively). Diet was reconstructed through the analysis of δ13 C and δ15 N. Stature, humeral and femoral diaphyseal shape and product of diaphyseal diameters served as proxies of physiological stress and physical activity. RESULTS Isotopic ratios suggest a substantial dietary contribution of C4 plants (e.g., sorghum, millet), a variable access to animal proteins, and no differences between the sexes. Sexual dimorphism in stature derives from a markedly low female stature. Long bone diaphyseal properties suggest that men performed various physically stressful activities, whereas women were involved in less physically demanding activities (possibly related to household work). DISCUSSION Gender differentiation in La Torrecilla was expressed by a possibly differential parental investment in male versus female offspring and by culturally sanctioned gender differences in the performance of physical tasks. Diet was qualitatively homogenous between the sexes, although we cannot rule out quantitative differences. Our results shed new light on the effects of gender-related social norms on human development and lifestyle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia A Jiménez-Brobeil
- Department of Legal Medicine, Toxicology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Drosia Charisi
- Department of Legal Medicine, Toxicology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Zita Laffranchi
- Department of Legal Medicine, Toxicology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.,Department of Physical Anthropology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Rosa M Maroto Benavides
- Department of Legal Medicine, Toxicology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Antonio Delgado Huertas
- Biogeochemistry of Stable Isotopes Laboratory, Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences, (IACT-CSIC-UGR), Granada, Spain
| | - Marco Milella
- Department of Physical Anthropology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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31
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Laffranchi Z, Milella M, Lombardo P, Langer R, Lösch S. Co-occurrence of malignant neoplasm and Hyperostosis Frontalis Interna in an Iron Age individual from Münsingen-Rain (Switzerland): A multi-diagnostic study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2021; 32:1-8. [PMID: 33176226 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2020.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To re-analyze one of the oldest cases of malignant bone neoplasm with different analytical techniques. MATERIAL The available skeletal remains of grave 138 (G138) from the Iron Age necropolis of Münsingen-Rain (Switzerland, 420-240 BC). METHODS The bones are analyzed by means of morphological, radiographic, histological, and biogeochemical methods. RESULTS The individual, a male aged between 35-50 years old, presents morphologically and radiographically a previously described coral-like bone neoformation on the proximal left humerus. The new analyses highlight previously undocumented coarse bone proliferation on the left scapula and lobular apposition on the endocranial surface of the frontal bone. The histological analysis of the humerus shows a 'lace-like' pattern of osteoid deposition without lamellation. CONCLUSIONS Our data support a diagnosis of osteoblastic malignant neoplasm, probably an osteosarcoma or, more likely, a dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma for the humerus and scapula, and of hyperostosis frontalis interna on the frontal. The co-presence of a malignant neoplasm and hyperostosis frontalis interna may be related to a hormonal imbalance, a possibility also suggested by atypical funerary treatment. SIGNIFICANCE This study confirms G138 as one of the oldest cases of malignant bone neoplasm, adds new paleopathological data on this individual, and demonstrates the advantages of a multidisciplinary approach. LIMITATIONS The discussion of the pathological changes is limited by the representation and preservation of the skeletal elements. SUGGESTION FOR FUTURE RESEARCH Biomolecular and protein biomarkers analyses may help to refine the diagnostic conclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zita Laffranchi
- Department of Physical Anthropology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern. Sulgenauweg 40, CH-3007, Bern Switzerland.
| | - Marco Milella
- Department of Physical Anthropology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern. Sulgenauweg 40, CH-3007, Bern Switzerland.
| | - Paolo Lombardo
- Inselspital, Universitätsspital Bern, Universitätsinstitut für Diagnostische, Interventionelle und Pädiatrische Radiologie (DIPR). Freiburgstrasse 10, CH-3010, Bern Switzerland.
| | - Rupert Langer
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern. Murtenstrasse 31, CH-3008, Bern Switzerland.
| | - Sandra Lösch
- Department of Physical Anthropology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern. Sulgenauweg 40, CH-3007, Bern Switzerland.
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32
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Waltenberger L, Pany‐Kucera D, Rebay‐Salisbury K, Mitteroecker P. The association of parturition scars and pelvic shape: A geometric morphometric study. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2021; 174:519-531. [PMID: 33295660 PMCID: PMC7898533 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Pelvic features, mostly known as parturition scars, have been extensively studied in the last decades and are frequently investigated in archaeological and forensic contexts. It is still unclear, however, whether they really relate to pregnancy and birth, or whether these features are caused by other biomechanical factors. Because the length and difficulty of labor correlates with the form of the birth canal, we studied the association between the expression of pelvic features and pelvic shape using geometric morphometrics. MATERIALS AND METHODS We scored the expression of the preauricular sulcus, margo auricularis groove, sacral preauricular extension, dorsal and ventral pubic pitting for 54 individuals from a 19th century collection and 19 individuals from the Bronze Age cemetery of Hainburg-Teichtal, Austria. Based on photogrammetric surface models, pelvic shape was captured by 331 landmarks and semilandmarks. The multivariate association between pelvic features and pelvic shape was explored by partial least squares analysis. RESULTS Within the female subsample, we detected a significant association of a constrained birth canal with a strong expression of the preauricular sulcus, the margo auricularis groove, and a retroverted position of the acetabulum. No significant association was found among males. DISCUSSION This suggests that difficult or prolonged labor may indeed cause more strongly expressed pelvic features, presumably because of increased strain of the pelvic ligaments during birth. Furthermore, the retroversion of the acetabulum, which is known to cause sacroiliac joint dysfunction, changes the strain on pelvic ligaments and can thus also result in the development of pronounced pelvic features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Waltenberger
- OREA ‐ Institute for Oriental and European Archaeology, Austrian Academy of SciencesViennaAustria
- Department of Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Doris Pany‐Kucera
- OREA ‐ Institute for Oriental and European Archaeology, Austrian Academy of SciencesViennaAustria
- Department of AnthropologyNatural History MuseumViennaAustria
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Hagihara Y. Dorso-palmar elongation of the diaphysis of the third metacarpal bone in prehistoric Jomon people. Anat Sci Int 2020; 96:119-131. [PMID: 32920735 DOI: 10.1007/s12565-020-00570-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated cross-sectional morphological differences in the diaphysis of the third metacarpal bone (MC3) between prehistoric Jomon hunter-gatherers and modern Japanese people. Overall, 179 skeletal remains of 119 individuals (73 men and 46 women) from the Middle-to-Final Jomon period (3500 BC-500 BC) and 60 modern Japanese people (35 men and 25 women) were included in the analysis. Analyses were performed at the mid-shaft of the MC3 using linear measurement, elliptic Fourier analysis, and cross-sectional geometric properties. The standardized polar section modulus (ZpSTD) indicated sexual differences in both populations. The right MC3 was generally stronger than the left side. There was no populational difference in the ZpSTD in both sexes. In both men and women, the cross-sectional shape of the MC3 was relatively larger in the dorso-palmar direction than in the radioulnar direction in the Jomon population compared to the modern Japanese population. Sexual differences in cross-sectional shape were recognized only in the Jomon population, with the dorso-palmar elongation being greater in Jomon men than in women (particularly when comparing the left MC3). There was a significant side difference in the diaphyseal shape among Jomon women, with the right MC3 being relatively larger in the dorso-palmar direction. These findings were consistent, although skeletal remains of the Jomon population were excavated from different regions. Differences in the diaphyseal cross-sectional shape between populations suggest differences in habitual loading on MC3 associated with differences in subsistence behavior. Furthermore, differences in diaphyseal shape and strength between Jomon men and women suggest sexual division of labor, with men performing bimanual tasks and women performing unimanual tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuo Hagihara
- Department of Medical Technology, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, 1398 Shimami-cho, Kita-ku, Niigata, Niigata, 950-3198, Japan.
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34
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Laffranchi Z, Charisi D, Jiménez-Brobeil SA, Milella M. Gendered division of labor in a Celtic community? A comparison of sex differences in entheseal changes and long bone shape and robusticity in the pre-Roman population of Verona (Italy, third-first century BC). AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2020; 173:568-588. [PMID: 32812226 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The presence of a gendered subdivision of labor has been bioarchaeologically investigated in various prehistoric and historical contexts. Little is known, however, about the type of differences in daily activities characterizing men and women among the Celtic communities of Italy. The focus of the present study is the analysis of differences in patterns of entheseal changes (ECs) and long bone shape and robusticity between sexes among the Cenomani Gauls of Seminario Vescovile (SV-Verona, Italy, third-first century BC). MATERIALS AND METHODS The sample includes 56 adult individuals (22 females and 34 males). Presence of ECs on nine bilateral postcranial attachment sites, and values of humeral and femoral shape and robusticity indices based on external measurements were compared between sexes by means of generalized linear models and Mann-Whitney tests. RESULTS Results show a lack of difference between sexes in long bone shape and robusticity, and a higher incidence of upper and, especially, lower limb ECs in males. DISCUSSION These results suggest the presence of sex-specific activities at SV mostly related to farming and differently influencing the considered variables. Also, this study suggests the relevance of a series of nonbiomechanical factors (developmental, hormonal, genetic, and methodological) when attempting biocultural reconstructions from osteoarchaeological samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zita Laffranchi
- Department of Physical Anthropology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Legal Medicine, Toxicology and Physical Anthropology, Medicine Faculty, University of Granada (UGR), Granada, Spain
| | - Drosia Charisi
- Department of Legal Medicine, Toxicology and Physical Anthropology, Medicine Faculty, University of Granada (UGR), Granada, Spain
| | - Sylvia A Jiménez-Brobeil
- Department of Legal Medicine, Toxicology and Physical Anthropology, Medicine Faculty, University of Granada (UGR), Granada, Spain
| | - Marco Milella
- Department of Physical Anthropology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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35
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Missing Value Imputation in Stature Estimation by Learning Algorithms Using Anthropometric Data: A Comparative Study. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/app10145020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Estimating stature is essential in the process of personal identification. Because it is difficult to find human remains intact at crime scenes and disaster sites, for instance, methods are needed for estimating stature based on different body parts. For instance, the upper and lower limbs may vary depending on ancestry and sex, and it is of great importance to design adequate methodology for incorporating these in estimating stature. In addition, it is necessary to use machine learning rather than simple linear regression to improve the accuracy of stature estimation. In this study, the accuracy of statures estimated based on anthropometric data was compared using three imputation methods. In addition, by comparing the accuracy among linear and nonlinear classification methods, the best method was derived for estimating stature based on anthropometric data. For both sexes, multiple imputation was superior when the missing data ratio was low, and mean imputation performed well when the ratio was high. The support vector machine recorded the highest accuracy in all ratios of missing data. The findings of this study showed appropriate imputation methods for estimating stature with missing anthropometric data. In particular, the machine learning algorithms can be effectively used for estimating stature in humans.
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36
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Ruff CB, Squyres N, Junno J. Body mass estimation in hominins from humeral articular dimensions. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2020; 173:480-499. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher B. Ruff
- Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore Maryland USA
| | - Nicole Squyres
- Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore Maryland USA
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37
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Jeong Y, Harris AP, Ali O, Jung Y. Bayes factor: A useful tool to quantitatively evaluate and compare performance of multiple stature estimation equations. Forensic Sci Int 2020; 312:110299. [PMID: 32371283 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
When stature estimation of incomplete skeletal remains is necessary, researchers select an estimation equation which will produce the most accurate estimates. The purpose of this study is to propose that, given prior information of a target sample, the Bayes factor can be a useful tool to quantitatively evaluate and compare performance of multiple equations in this regard. This study also explores the best-performing equations to reconstruct statures of Korean War casualties with a demonstration of equation comparisons by the Bayes factor. Thirty-three sets of stature estimates were generated using different equations based on the osteometric data of the Korean War casualties. The distribution of each set was compared to that of the population (i.e., Korean servicemen during the Korean War) using the Bayes factors and posterior probabilities generated by the R codes in the LearnBayes package. A higher Bayes factor indicates a closer similarity between the two distributions under comparison. The equation with the highest Bayes factor in this study was Choi et al.'s (1997) humerus equation (bf=9.84), followed by the femur equation of the same authors (bf=5.3). The Bayesian approach has advantages over the traditional frequentist approach primarily based on the p-value. Particularly, the Bayes factor can provide practical interpretations on the models under comparison, which allows for a quantitative prioritization of different models. Researchers can obtain more accurate stature estimates of a target sample by using the equation of the highest Bayes factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangseung Jeong
- Department of Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, USA.
| | - Ashlin P Harris
- Computational Science, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, USA
| | - Omar Ali
- Department of Chemistry, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, USA
| | - Yochun Jung
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Chonnam National University Hospital, Chonnam National University School of Medicine, Gwangju, 61469, South Korea.
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38
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Osipov B, Alaica AK, Pickard C, Garcia‐Donas JG, Márquez‐Grant N, Kranioti EF. The effect of diet and sociopolitical change on physiological stress and behavior in late
Roman‐Early
Byzantine (300–700
AD
) and Islamic (902–1,235
AD
) populations from Ibiza, Spain. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2020; 172:189-213. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Osipov
- Lawrence J. Ellison Musculoskeletal Research Center, Department of Orthopaedic SurgeryUniversity of California Davis Medical Center Sacramento California USA
| | - Aleksa K Alaica
- Department of AnthropologyUniversity of Toronto Toronto Ontario Canada
- School of History, Classics and ArchaeologyUniversity of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK
| | - Catriona Pickard
- School of History, Classics and ArchaeologyUniversity of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK
| | - Julieta G Garcia‐Donas
- School of Science and Engineering, Center for Anatomy and Human IdentificationUniversity of Dundee Dundee UK
| | - Nicholas Márquez‐Grant
- Cranfield Forensic InstituteCranfield University, Defence Academy of the United Kingdom UK
| | - Elena F. Kranioti
- School of History, Classics and ArchaeologyUniversity of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK
- Department of Forensic Sciences, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of Crete Crete Greece
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39
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Mulder B, Stock JT, Saers JPP, Inskip SA, Cessford C, Robb JE. Intrapopulation variation in lower limb trabecular architecture. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2020; 173:112-129. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Bram Mulder
- University of Cambridge, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research Cambridge UK
| | - Jay T. Stock
- University of Cambridge, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research Cambridge UK
- Department of Anthropology University of Western Ontario London Canada
- Department of Archaeology Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History Jena Germany
| | - Jaap P. P. Saers
- University of Cambridge, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research Cambridge UK
| | - Sarah A. Inskip
- University of Cambridge, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research Cambridge UK
| | - Craig Cessford
- University of Cambridge, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research Cambridge UK
| | - John E. Robb
- University of Cambridge, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research Cambridge UK
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40
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Rein TR. Comparative analysis of femoral biomechanical neck length in primates. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2020; 303:2330-2343. [PMID: 31961484 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The unique abductor capability of the human lesser gluteal muscles among extant hominoids has been suggested to be associated, in part, with biomechanical neck length of the femur. Beyond the hominin lineage, the relationship between biomechanical neck length and locomotor performance remains unclear due, in part, to the limited number of primate taxa directly compared and the need to examine species characterized by a wider range of locomotor diversity. Measurements were taken on the proximal femora of 28 extant taxa, with each species being assigned to a locomotor and phylogenetic category. Pairwise comparisons and phylogenetic generalized least-squares analysis were performed to examine the impact of phylogeny and locomotor adaptation on relative biomechanical neck length. Arboreal quadrupeds that perform varying proportions of climbing/clambering versus leaping were characterized by different biomechanical neck lengths, whereas semi-terrestrial anthropoids that perform either knuckle-walking or palmigrade/digitigrade quadrupedalism were found to have similar relative neck lengths. Samples categorized as either orthograde clamberers or bipeds were distinct from all other anthropoid samples and characterized by the relatively shortest and longest biomechanical neck lengths, respectively. Results of additional analyses that included prosimian primates suggest that relatively long biomechanical necks characterize species adapted to hind limb-dominated forms of locomotion (e.g., vertical clinging and leaping and bipedalism). Thus, biomechanical neck length is useful for signaling reliance on bipedalism (as performed by humans) or leaping, including subtle variation in leaping performance among arboreal quadrupeds. Furthermore, this trait is informative regarding reliance on irregular gait clambering as performed by orangutans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas R Rein
- Department of Anthropology, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, Connecticut
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41
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Korpinen N, Oura P, Väre T, Niskanen M, Niinimäki J, Karppinen J, Junno JA. Temporal Trends in Vertebral Dimensions - a case study from Finland. Sci Rep 2020; 10:1635. [PMID: 32005864 PMCID: PMC6994481 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-58340-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Vertebral fractures and other back problems represent a major, increasing worldwide health problem. This has increased the need to better understand the reasons behind this phenomenon. In addition to a reduction in bone mineral density and overall size of the vertebral body, research has indicated a possible association between the shape of the endplate and spinal disorders. As one previous study has shown changes in vertebral body dimensions between contemporary people and their medieval counterparts, we wanted to examine the potential temporal trends in vertebral size and dimensions in Finnish samples of archaeological and contemporary individuals. To conduct this study, we utilized three archaeological populations from the 16th–19th century and clinical materials from two population-based Finnish birth cohorts. As the average height of people has increased greatly since the first time period, we also height-adjusted the dimensions to provide a clearer picture of the dimensional changes that have occurred in the later temporal group. Our results were in agreement with those of the earlier study. The archaeological samples had a larger vertebral size than the contemporary population when height was adjusted for. Vertebral mediolateral width in particular had decreased, and the shape of the vertebral body had changed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niina Korpinen
- Faculty of Humanities, Department of Archaeology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
| | - Petteri Oura
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Faculty of Medicine, Center for Life Course Health Research, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Faculty of Medicine, Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Tiina Väre
- Faculty of Humanities, Department of Archaeology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Markku Niskanen
- Faculty of Humanities, Department of Archaeology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Jaakko Niinimäki
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Faculty of Medicine, Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Jaro Karppinen
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Faculty of Medicine, Center for Life Course Health Research, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Oulu, Finland
| | - Juho-Antti Junno
- Faculty of Humanities, Department of Archaeology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Faculty of Medicine, Center for Life Course Health Research, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Faculty of Medicine, Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
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42
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Yapuncich GS, Bowie A, Belais R, Churchill SE, Walker CS. Predicting body mass of bonobos (Pan paniscus) with human-based morphometric equations. Am J Primatol 2020; 82:e23088. [PMID: 31961002 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
A primate's body mass covaries with numerous ecological, physiological, and behavioral characteristics. This versatility and potential to provide insight into an animal's life has made body mass prediction a frequent and important objective in paleoanthropology. In hominin paleontology, the most commonly employed body mass prediction equations (BMPEs) are "mechanical" and "morphometric": uni- or multivariate linear regressions incorporating dimensions of load-bearing skeletal elements and stature and living bi-iliac breadth as predictor variables, respectively. The precision and accuracy of BMPEs are contingent on multiple factors, however, one of the most notable and pervasive potential sources of error is extrapolation beyond the limits of the reference sample. In this study, we use a test sample requiring extrapolation-56 bonobos (Pan paniscus) from the Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo-to evaluate the predictive accuracy of human-based morphometric BMPEs. We first assess systemic differences in stature and bi-iliac breadth between humans and bonobos. Due to significant differences in the scaling relationships of body mass and stature between bonobos and humans, we use panel regression to generate a novel BMPE based on living bi-iliac breadth. We then compare the predictive accuracy of two previously published morphometric equations with the novel equation and find that the novel equation predicts bonobo body mass most accurately overall (41 of 56 bonobos predicted within 20% of their observed body mass). The novel BMPE is particularly accurate between 25 and 45 kg. Given differences in limb proportions, pelvic morphology, and body tissue composition between the human reference and bonobo test samples, we find these results promising and evaluate the novel BMPE's potential application to fossil hominins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel S Yapuncich
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.,Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
| | - Aleah Bowie
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | | | - Steven E Churchill
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.,Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Wits, South Africa
| | - Christopher S Walker
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.,Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina.,Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Wits, South Africa
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43
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HUI JIAMING, LIU WU, CARLSON KRISTIANJ, WEI PIANPIAN. Variation in the intertrochanteric line in a modern human population from southwestern China (19th–20th centuries). ANTHROPOL SCI 2020. [DOI: 10.1537/ase.200224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- JIAMING HUI
- Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing
- CAS Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment, Beijing
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing
| | - WU LIU
- Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing
- CAS Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment, Beijing
| | - KRISTIAN J. CARLSON
- Department of Integrative Anatomical Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
- Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
| | - PIANPIAN WEI
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai
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Anzellini A, Toyne JM. Estimating the stature of ancient high-altitude Andean populations from skeletal remains of the Chachapoya of Peru. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2019; 171:539-549. [PMID: 31778212 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Previous studies have demonstrated the need for regionally specific stature estimation formulae due to the geographical specificity of limb proportionality related to the effects of environmental pressures on growth and development. High-altitude Andean populations have often been neglected in the creation of these formulae. This study uses a hybrid approach to create linear regression formulae for stature estimation and test their accuracy when compared previously published formulae traditionally used in Andean bioarchaeology. MATERIALS AND METHODS We studied a sample from a high-altitude Andean population to create linear regression formulae based on anatomical estimates of stature from the femur, tibia, and calcaneus and compare the newly created formulae with those traditionally employed in Andean bioarchaeology. We also examine the reliability of calcanei in stature estimation by creating and testing regression formulae based on metrics from that element. RESULTS We include specific formulae accurate to within 1 cm of anatomical stature estimates using femoral, tibial, and calcaneal metrics. These formulae provide estimates that are closer to anatomical stature than those traditionally used in the Andes. ANOVA results were statistically significant for differences between Andean-derived and Mesoamerican-derived formulae. DISCUSSION Although regionally proximate (mid-altitude) formulae provide estimates approximating population-specific formulae, those created from geographically distant populations from sites at or near sea-level are inappropriate in high-altitude studies. Like some previous studies on stature, we found that the most accurate estimates were based on the tibia rather than the femur and that the calcaneus can be used reliably in stature estimation when no other element is present or measurable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armando Anzellini
- Department of Anthropology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
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Abstract
Measurements of prehistoric human skeletal remains provide a record of changes in height and other anthropometric traits over time. Often, these changes are interpreted in terms of plastic developmental response to shifts in diet, climate, or other environmental factors. These changes can also be genetic in origin, but, until recently, it has been impossible to separate the effects of genetics and environment. Here, we use ancient DNA to directly estimate genetic changes in phenotypes and to identify changes driven not by genetics, but by environment. We show that changes over the past 35,000 y are largely predicted by genetics but also identify specific shifts that are more likely to be environmentally driven. The relative contributions of genetics and environment to temporal and geographic variation in human height remain largely unknown. Ancient DNA has identified changes in genetic ancestry over time, but it is not clear whether those changes in ancestry are associated with changes in height. Here, we directly test whether changes over the past 38,000 y in European height predicted using DNA from 1,071 ancient individuals are consistent with changes observed in 1,159 skeletal remains from comparable populations. We show that the observed decrease in height between the Early Upper Paleolithic and the Mesolithic is qualitatively predicted by genetics. Similarly, both skeletal and genetic height remained constant between the Mesolithic and Neolithic and increased between the Neolithic and Bronze Age. Sitting height changes much less than standing height—consistent with genetic predictions—although genetics predicts a small post-Neolithic increase that is not observed in skeletal remains. Geographic variation in stature is also qualitatively consistent with genetic predictions, particularly with respect to latitude. Finally, we hypothesize that an observed decrease in genetic heel bone mineral density in the Neolithic reflects adaptation to the decreased mobility indicated by decreased femoral bending strength. This study provides a model for interpreting phenotypic changes predicted from ancient DNA and demonstrates how they can be combined with phenotypic measurements to understand the relative contribution of genetic and developmentally plastic responses to environmental change.
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46
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Saers JP, Ryan TM, Stock JT. Trabecular bone structure scales allometrically in the foot of four human groups. J Hum Evol 2019; 135:102654. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2019.102654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Frei KM, Bergerbrant S, Sjögren KG, Jørkov ML, Lynnerup N, Harvig L, Allentoft ME, Sikora M, Price TD, Frei R, Kristiansen K. Mapping human mobility during the third and second millennia BC in present-day Denmark. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0219850. [PMID: 31433798 PMCID: PMC6703675 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We present results of the largest multidisciplinary human mobility investigation to date of skeletal remains from present-day Denmark encompassing the 3rd and 2nd millennia BC. Through a multi-analytical approach based on 88 individuals from 37 different archaeological localities in which we combine strontium isotope and radiocarbon analyses together with anthropological investigations, we explore whether there are significant changes in human mobility patterns during this period. Overall, our data suggest that mobility of people seems to have been continuous throughout the 3rd and 2nd millennia BC. However, our data also indicate a clear shift in mobility patterns from around 1600 BC onwards, with a larger variation in the geographical origin of the migrants, and potentially including more distant regions. This shift occurred during a transition period at the beginning of the Nordic Bronze Age at a time when society flourished, expanded and experienced an unprecedented economic growth, suggesting that these aspects were closely related.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Margarita Frei
- National Museum of Denmark, Department of Research, Collections and Conservation, Environmental Archaeology and Material Science, I.C. Modewegsvej, Brede, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- * E-mail:
| | - Sophie Bergerbrant
- Institute for Historical Studies, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Karl-Göran Sjögren
- Institute for Historical Studies, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Marie Louise Jørkov
- Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Niels Lynnerup
- Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lise Harvig
- Department of Archaeological Science and Conservation, Højbjerg, Moesgaard Museum, Denmark
| | - Morten E. Allentoft
- Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Martin Sikora
- Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - T. Douglas Price
- Institute for Historical Studies, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Laboratory for Archaeological Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Robert Frei
- Department of Geoscience and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Keisu A, Oura P, Niskanen M, Ruff CB, Niinimäki J, Arvola T, Auvinen J, Tuukkanen J, Lehenkari P, Junno J. The association between knee breadth and body mass: The Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 case study. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2019; 170:196-206. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Revised: 07/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Asla Keisu
- Faculty of Medicine, Cancer and Translational Medicine Research UnitUniversity of Oulu Oulu Finland
- Medical Research Center OuluOulu University Hospital and University of Oulu Oulu Finland
| | - Petteri Oura
- Medical Research Center OuluOulu University Hospital and University of Oulu Oulu Finland
- Faculty of Medicine, Center for Life Course Health ResearchUniversity of Oulu Oulu Finland
- Faculty of Medicine, Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and TechnologyUniversity of Oulu Oulu Finland
| | - Markku Niskanen
- Faculty of HumanitiesDepartment of Archaeology, University of Oulu Oulu Finland
| | - Christopher B. Ruff
- Center for Functional Anatomy and EvolutionJohns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore Maryland USA
| | - Jaakko Niinimäki
- Medical Research Center OuluOulu University Hospital and University of Oulu Oulu Finland
- Faculty of Medicine, Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and TechnologyUniversity of Oulu Oulu Finland
| | - Timo Arvola
- Medical Research Center OuluOulu University Hospital and University of Oulu Oulu Finland
- Faculty of Medicine, Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and TechnologyUniversity of Oulu Oulu Finland
| | - Juha Auvinen
- Medical Research Center OuluOulu University Hospital and University of Oulu Oulu Finland
- Faculty of Medicine, Center for Life Course Health ResearchUniversity of Oulu Oulu Finland
| | - Juha Tuukkanen
- Faculty of Medicine, Cancer and Translational Medicine Research UnitUniversity of Oulu Oulu Finland
- Medical Research Center OuluOulu University Hospital and University of Oulu Oulu Finland
| | - Petri Lehenkari
- Faculty of Medicine, Cancer and Translational Medicine Research UnitUniversity of Oulu Oulu Finland
- Medical Research Center OuluOulu University Hospital and University of Oulu Oulu Finland
| | - Juho‐Antti Junno
- Faculty of Medicine, Cancer and Translational Medicine Research UnitUniversity of Oulu Oulu Finland
- Faculty of HumanitiesDepartment of Archaeology, University of Oulu Oulu Finland
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Pomeroy E, Mushrif-Tripathy V, Cole TJ, Wells JCK, Stock JT. Ancient origins of low lean mass among South Asians and implications for modern type 2 diabetes susceptibility. Sci Rep 2019; 9:10515. [PMID: 31324875 PMCID: PMC6642207 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46960-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Living South Asians have low lean tissue mass relative to height, which contributes to their elevated type 2 diabetes susceptibility, particularly when accompanied by obesity. While ongoing lifestyle transitions account for rising obesity, the origins of low lean mass remain unclear. We analysed proxies for lean mass and stature among South Asian skeletons spanning the last 11,000 years (n = 197) to investigate the origins of South Asian low lean mass. Compared with a worldwide sample (n = 2,003), South Asian skeletons indicate low lean mass. Stature-adjusted lean mass increased significantly over time in South Asia, but to a very minor extent (0.04 z-score units per 1,000 years, adjusted R2 = 0.01). In contrast stature decreased sharply when agriculture was adopted. Our results indicate that low lean mass has characterised South Asians since at least the early Holocene and may represent long-term climatic adaptation or neutral variation. This phenotype is therefore unlikely to change extensively in the short term, so other strategies to address increasing non-communicable disease rates must be pursued.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Pomeroy
- Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3DZ, UK.
| | - Veena Mushrif-Tripathy
- Department of Archaeology, Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute, Yerwada, Pune, 411 006, India
| | - Tim J Cole
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Jonathan C K Wells
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Jay T Stock
- ADaPt Project, PAVE Research Group, Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3DZ, UK
- Department of Anthropology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5C2, Canada
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Kahlaische Strasse 10, Jena, Germany, Jena, Germany
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Korpinen N, Keisu A, Niinimäki J, Karppinen J, Niskanen M, Junno JA, Oura P. Body mass estimation from dimensions of the fourth lumbar vertebra in middle-aged Finns. Leg Med (Tokyo) 2019; 40:5-16. [PMID: 31279223 DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2019.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Revised: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Although body mass is not a stable trait over the lifespan, information regarding body size assists the forensic identification of unknown individuals. In this study, we aimed to study the potential of using the fourth lumbar vertebra (L4) for body mass estimation among contemporary Finns. Our sample comprised 1158 individuals from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 who had undergone measurements of body mass at age 31 and 46 and lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at age 46. MRI scans were used to measure the maximum and minimum widths, depths, and heights of the L4 body. Their means and sum were calculated together with vertebral cross-sectional area (CSA) and volume. Ordinary least squares (OLS) and reduced major axis (RMA) regression was used to produce equations for body mass among the full sample (n = 1158) and among normal-weight individuals (n = 420). In our data, body mass was associated with all the L4 size parameters (R = 0.093-0.582, p ≤ 0.019 among the full sample; R = 0.243-0.696, p ≤ 0.002 among the normal-weight sample). RMA regression models seemed to fit the data better than OLS, with vertebral CSA having the highest predictive value in body mass estimation. In the full sample, the lowest standard errors were 6.1% (95% prediction interval ±9.6 kg) and 7.1% (±9.1 kg) among men and women, respectively. In the normal-weight sample, the lowest errors were 4.9% (±6.9 kg) and 4.7% (±5.7 kg) among men and women, respectively. Our results indicate that L4 dimensions are potentially useful in body mass estimation, especially in cases with only the axial skeleton available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niina Korpinen
- Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland
| | - Asla Keisu
- Cancer Research and Translational Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland
| | - Jaakko Niinimäki
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, PO Box 5000, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland; Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland
| | - Jaro Karppinen
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, PO Box 5000, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland; Center for Life Course Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland; Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Aapistie 1, FI-90220 Oulu, Finland
| | - Markku Niskanen
- Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland
| | - Juho-Antti Junno
- Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland; Cancer Research and Translational Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland
| | - Petteri Oura
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, PO Box 5000, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland; Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland; Center for Life Course Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland.
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