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Young JW, Chadwell BA, O'Neill TP, Pastor F, Marchi D, Hartstone-Rose A. Quantitative assessment of grasping strength in platyrrhine monkeys. Am J Biol Anthropol 2024; 183:e24900. [PMID: 38269651 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Despite the longstanding importance of grasping adaptations in theories of primate evolution, quantitative data on primate grasping strength remain rare. We present the results of two studies testing the prediction that callitrichines-given their comparative retreat from a small-branch environment and specialization for movement and foraging on tree trunks and large boughs-should be characterized by weaker grasping forces and underdeveloped digital flexor muscles relative to other platyrrhines. METHODS First, we directly measured manual grasping strength in marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) and squirrel monkeys (Saimiri boliviensis), using a custom-constructed force transducer. Second, we reanalyzed existing datasets on the fiber architecture of forearm and leg muscles in 12 platyrrhine species, quantifying digital flexor muscle physiological cross-sectional area (i.e., PCSA, a morphometric proxy of muscle strength) relative to the summed PCSA across all forearm or leg muscles. RESULTS Callithrix was characterized by lower mean and maximum grasping forces than Saimiri, and callitrichines as a clade were found to have relatively underdeveloped manual digital flexor muscle PCSA. However, relative pedal digital flexor PCSA did not significantly differ between callitrichines and other platyrrhines. CONCLUSIONS We found partial support for the hypothesis that variation in predominant substrate usage explains variation in empirical measurements of and morphological correlates of grasping strength in platyrrhines. Future research should extend the work presented here by (1) collecting morphological and empirical metrics of grasping strength in additional primate taxa and (2) extending performance testing to include empirical measures of primate pedal grasping forces as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse W Young
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), Rootstown, Ohio, USA
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA
| | - Brad A Chadwell
- Department of Anatomy, Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine, Meridian, Idaho, USA
| | - Timothy P O'Neill
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), Rootstown, Ohio, USA
| | - Francisco Pastor
- Departamento de Anatomía y Radiología, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | | | - Adam Hartstone-Rose
- College of Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
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2
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Riga A, Profico A, Mori T, Frittitta R, Nava A, Mancini L, Dreossi D, Radovčić D, Rice H, Bondioli L, Marchi D. The Middle Pleistocene human metatarsal from Sedia del Diavolo (Rome, Italy). Sci Rep 2024; 14:6024. [PMID: 38472259 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55045-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The peopling of Europe during the Middle Pleistocene is a debated topic among paleoanthropologists. Some authors suggest the coexistence of multiple human lineages in this period, while others propose a single evolving lineage from Homo heidelbergensis to Homo neanderthalensis. The recent reassessment of the stratigraphy at the Sedia del Diavolo (SdD) site (Latium, Italy), now dated to the beginning of marine isotope stage (MIS) 8, calls for a revision of the human fossils from the site. In this paper, we present the morphometric, biomechanical and palaeopathological study of the second right metatarsal SdD2, to both re-evaluate its taxonomical affinities and possibly determine the levels of physical activity experienced by the individual during lifetime. Results demonstrate the persistence of archaic features in SdD2 suggesting new insights into the technology and hunting strategies adopted by Homo between MIS 9 and MIS 8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Riga
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Tommaso Mori
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Alessia Nava
- Department of Odontostomatological and Maxillofacial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Mancini
- ZAG-Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute, Ljubliana, Slovenia
| | - Diego Dreossi
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.P.A., Basovizza, Trieste, Italy
| | - Davorka Radovčić
- Department of Geology and Paleontology, Croatian Natural History Museum, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Hannah Rice
- Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Luca Bondioli
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Service of Bioarchaeology, Museum of Civilizations, Rome, Italy
| | - Damiano Marchi
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Centre for the Exploration of Deep Human Journey, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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3
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Sorrentino R, Carlson KJ, Orr CM, Pietrobelli A, Figus C, Li S, Conconi M, Sancisi N, Belvedere C, Zhu M, Fiorenza L, Hublin JJ, Jashashvili T, Novak M, Patel BA, Prang TC, Williams SA, Saers JPP, Stock JT, Ryan T, Myerson M, Leardini A, DeSilva J, Marchi D, Belcastro MG, Benazzi S. Morphological and evolutionary insights into the keystone element of the human foot's medial longitudinal arch. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1061. [PMID: 37857853 PMCID: PMC10587292 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05431-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The evolution of the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) is one of the most impactful adaptations in the hominin foot that emerged with bipedalism. When and how it evolved in the human lineage is still unresolved. Complicating the issue, clinical definitions of flatfoot in living Homo sapiens have not reached a consensus. Here we digitally investigate the navicular morphology of H. sapiens (living, archaeological, and fossil), great apes, and fossil hominins and its correlation with the MLA. A distinctive navicular shape characterises living H. sapiens with adult acquired flexible flatfoot, while the congenital flexible flatfoot exhibits a 'normal' navicular shape. All H. sapiens groups differentiate from great apes independently from variations in the MLA, likely because of bipedalism. Most australopith, H. naledi, and H. floresiensis navicular shapes are closer to those of great apes, which is inconsistent with a human-like MLA and instead might suggest a certain degree of arboreality. Navicular shape of OH 8 and fossil H. sapiens falls within the normal living H. sapiens spectrum of variation of the MLA (including congenital flexible flatfoot and individuals with a well-developed MLA). At the same time, H. neanderthalensis seem to be characterised by a different expression of the MLA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Sorrentino
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40126, Italy.
| | - Kristian J Carlson
- Department of Integrative Anatomical Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, 90033, USA
- Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, WITS 2050, South Africa
| | - Caley M Orr
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
- Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, 80217, USA
| | - Annalisa Pietrobelli
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40126, Italy
| | - Carla Figus
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, 48121, Italy
| | - Shuyuan Li
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Michele Conconi
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Health Sciences and Technologies, Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, 40136, Italy
| | - Nicola Sancisi
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Health Sciences and Technologies, Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, 40136, Italy
| | - Claudio Belvedere
- Laboratory of Movement Analysis and Functional Evaluation of Prostheses, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mingjie Zhu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Luca Fiorenza
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Jean-Jacques Hublin
- Chaire Internationale de Paléoanthropologie, CIRB (UMR 7241-U1050), Collège de France, Paris, France
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
| | - Tea Jashashvili
- Department of Integrative Anatomical Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, 90033, USA
- Department of Geology and Paleontology, Georgian National Museum, Tbilisi, 0105, Georgia
| | - Mario Novak
- Centre for Applied Bioanthropology, Institute for Anthropological Research, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia
| | - Biren A Patel
- Department of Integrative Anatomical Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, 90033, USA
- Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, 90089, USA
| | - Thomas C Prang
- Department of Anthropology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Scott A Williams
- Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, WITS 2050, South Africa
- Center for the Study of Human Origins, Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, 10003, USA
- Centre for the Exploration of the Deep Human Journey, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Wits, 2050, South Africa
| | - Jaap P P Saers
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, 2333, CR, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jay T Stock
- Department of Anthropology, Western University, London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Timothy Ryan
- Department of Anthropology, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Mark Myerson
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Alberto Leardini
- Laboratory of Movement Analysis and Functional Evaluation of Prostheses, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - Jeremy DeSilva
- Department of Anthropology, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
| | - Damiano Marchi
- Centre for the Exploration of the Deep Human Journey, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Wits, 2050, South Africa
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Maria Giovanna Belcastro
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40126, Italy
| | - Stefano Benazzi
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, 48121, Italy
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4
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Profico A, Buzi C, Di Vincenzo F, Boggioni M, Borsato A, Boschian G, Marchi D, Micheli M, Cecchi JM, Samadelli M, Tafuri MA, Arsuaga JL, Manzi G. Virtual excavation and analysis of the early Neanderthal cranium from Altamura (Italy). Commun Biol 2023; 6:316. [PMID: 36964200 PMCID: PMC10039001 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04644-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Complete Neanderthal skeletons are almost unique findings. A very well-preserved specimen of this kind was discovered in 1993 in the deepest recesses of a karstic system near the town of Altamura in Southern Italy. We present here a detailed description of the cranium, after we virtually extracted it from the surrounding stalagmites and stalactites. The morphology of the Altamura cranium fits within the Neanderthal variability, though it retains features occurring in more archaic European samples. Some of these features were never observed in Homo neanderthalensis, i.e. in fossil specimens dated between 300 and 40 ka. Considering the U-Th age we previously obtained (>130 ka), the morphology of Altamura suggests that the archaic traits it retains may have been originated by geographic isolation of the early Neanderthal populations from Southern Italy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Profico
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00185, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Costantino Buzi
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00185, Italy
- Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES-CERCA), Tarragona, 43005, Spain
- Àrea de Prehistòria, Facultat de Lletres, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, 43005, Spain
| | - Fabio Di Vincenzo
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00185, Italy
- Natural History Museum - Palazzo Nonfinito, University of Florence, Florence, 50122, Italy
| | - Marco Boggioni
- School of Paleoanthropology, University of Perugia, Perugia, 06123, Italy
| | - Andrea Borsato
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Giovanni Boschian
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, 56126, Italy
- Palaeo-Research Institute, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Johannesburg - Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa
| | - Damiano Marchi
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, 56126, Italy
- Centre for the Exploration of the Deep Human Journey, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits, Johannesburg, 2050, South Africa
| | - Mario Micheli
- Department of Humanities, Roma Tre University, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | | | - Marco Samadelli
- Institute for Mummy Studies, EURAC Research, Bolzano, 39100, Italy
| | - Mary Anne Tafuri
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Juan Luis Arsuaga
- Centro Mixto UCM-ISCIII de Evolución y Comportamiento Humanos, Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Departamento de Paleontología, Facultad Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - Giorgio Manzi
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00185, Italy.
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5
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Pietrobelli A, Sorrentino R, Notariale V, Durante S, Benazzi S, Marchi D, Belcastro MG. Comparability of skeletal fibulae surfaces generated by different source scanning (dual-energy CT scan vs. high resolution laser scanning) and 3D geometric morphometric validation. J Anat 2022; 241:667-682. [PMID: 35751880 PMCID: PMC9358749 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
This work aims to test accuracy and comparability of 3D models of human skeletal fibulae generated by clinical CT and laser scanner virtual acquisitions. Mesh topology, segmentation and smoothing protocols were tested to assess variation among meshes generated with different scanning methods and procedures, and to evaluate meshes‐interchangeability in 3D geometric morphometric analysis. A sample of 13 left human fibulae were scanned separately with Revolution Discovery CT dual energy (0.625 mm resolution) and ARTEC Space Spider 3D structured light laser scanner (0.1 mm resolution). Different segmentation methods, including half‐maximum height (HMH) and MIA‐clustering protocols, were compared to their high‐resolution standard generated with laser‐scanner by calculating topological surface deviations. Different smoothing algorithms were also evaluated, such as Laplacian and Taubin smoothing. A total of 142 semilandmarks were used to capture the shape of both proximal and distal fibular epiphyses. After Generalized Procrustes superimposition, the Procrustes coordinates of the proximal and distal fibular epiphyses were used separately to assess variation due to scanning methods and the operator error. Smoothing algorithms at low iteration do not provide significant variation among reconstructions, but segmentation protocol may influence final mesh quality (0.09–0.24 mm). Mean deviation among CT‐generated meshes that were segmented with MIA‐clustering protocol, and laser scanner‐generated ones, is optimal (0.42 mm, ranging 0.35–0.56 mm). Principal component analysis reveals that homologous samples scanned with the two methods cluster together for both the proximal and distal fibular epiphyses. Similarly, Procrustes ANOVA reveals no shape differences between scanning methods and replicates, and only 1.38–1.43% of shape variation is due to scanning device. Topological similarities support the comparability of CT‐ and laser scanner‐generated meshes and validate its simultaneous use in shape analysis with potential clinical relevance. We precautionarily suggest that dedicated trials should be performed in each study when merging different data sources prior to analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Pietrobelli
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Rita Sorrentino
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | | | - Stefano Durante
- IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy.,IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna Policlinico S. Orsola, Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefano Benazzi
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy.,Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Damiano Marchi
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Centre for the Exploration of the Deep Human Journey, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Maria Giovanna Belcastro
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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6
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Marchi D, Rimoldi A, García‐Martínez D, Bastir M. Morphological correlates of distal fibular morphology with locomotion in great apes, humans, and Australopithecus afarensis. Am J Biol Anthropol 2022; 178:286-300. [PMID: 36790753 PMCID: PMC9314891 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Recent studies highlighted the importance of the fibula to further our understanding of locomotor adaptations in fossil hominins. In this study, we present a three-dimensional geometric morphometric (3D-GM) investigation of the distal fibula in extant hominids and Australopithecus afarensis with the aim of pointing out morphological correlations to arboreal behavior. METHODS Three-dimensional surface meshes of the distal fibula were obtained using computer tomography for 40 extant hominid specimens and laser scanner for five A. afarensis specimens. Distal fibula morphology was quantified positioning 11 fixed landmarks, 40 curve semilandmarks, and 20 surface landmarks on each specimen. A generalized Procrustes analysis (GPA) was carried out on all landmark coordinates followed by Procrustes ANOVA. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed on the GPA-aligned shape coordinates. Kruskal-Wallis tests and Mann-Whitney test were performed on scores along PCs. RESULTS Great apes are characterized by a shorter subcutaneous triangular surface (STS), more downward facing fibulotalar articular facets, more anteriorly facing lateral malleolus and wider/deeper malleolar fossa than humans. Within great apes, orangutans are characterized by more medially facing fibulotalar articular facets. Australopithecus afarensis shows a unique distal fibular morphology with several traits that are generally associated more to arboreality and less to bipedalism such as a short STS, a more anteriorly facing, laterally pointing malleolus and deeper and larger malleolar fossa. CONCLUSIONS The distal fibula morphology is indicative of locomotor patterns within extant hominids. The 3D-GM method presented here can be successfully used to further our understanding of arboreal adaptations in fossil hominins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damiano Marchi
- Department of BiologyUniversity of PisaPisa,Centre for the Exploration of the Deep Human JourneyUniversity of the WitwatersrandWits
| | | | - Daniel García‐Martínez
- Centre for the Exploration of the Deep Human JourneyUniversity of the WitwatersrandWits,Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH)BurgosSpain,Paleoanthropology GroupMuseo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN‐CSIC)MadridSpain
| | - Markus Bastir
- Centre for the Exploration of the Deep Human JourneyUniversity of the WitwatersrandWits,Paleoanthropology GroupMuseo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN‐CSIC)MadridSpain
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7
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Pietrobelli A, Marchi D, Belcastro MG. The relationship between bipedalism and growth: A metric assessment in a documented modern skeletal collection (Certosa Collection, Bologna, Italy). Am J Biol Anthropol 2022; 177:669-689. [PMID: 36787708 PMCID: PMC9299160 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Long bone variations during growth are susceptible to the combined action of nutritional, hormonal, and genetic factors that may modulate the mechanical forces acting upon growing individuals as they progressively acquire a mature gait. In this work, we explore diaphyseal length and breadth variations of tibia and fibula during ontogeny (a) to test the presence of changes in relation to early toddling, and (b) to further our understanding of developmental patterns in relation to sex. MATERIALS AND METHODS Lengths, breadths, and indices were analyzed on right and left leg bones of 68 subadult individuals (Human Identified Skeletal Collection of the University of Bologna, Italy). Analyses included intersex and age classes (1, 0-1 year; 2, 1.1-3 years; 3, 3.1-6 years) comparisons, linear regressions with age and assessment of correlation among tibial and fibular measurements, as well as principal component analysis. RESULTS A significant difference emerged among age class 1 and the others. Age class 1 and 3 differ between them, while age class 2 overlaps with the others. No sex dimorphism was detected. All measurements were strongly correlated with age. Tibial and fibular measurements correlated with each other. CONCLUSIONS Our results relate the progressive emergence of toddling attempts in growing individuals at the end of the first year of age. No significant sex differences were found, suggesting that tibial and fibula growth might diverge between sexes in later childhood. We provide quantitative data regarding tibial and fibular linear growth and its timing in a modern documented osteological sample from Italy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Pietrobelli
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesAlma Mater Studiorum‐University of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - Damiano Marchi
- Department of BiologyUniversity of PisaPisaItaly,Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre for Excellence in PalaeoSciencesUniversity of the WitwatersrandJohannesburgSouth Africa,Natural History Museum of the University of PisaCalciItaly
| | - Maria Giovanna Belcastro
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesAlma Mater Studiorum‐University of BolognaBolognaItaly
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8
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Veneziano A, Cazenave M, Alfieri F, Panetta D, Marchi D. Novel strategies for the characterization of cancellous bone morphology: Virtual isolation and analysis. Am J Phys Anthropol 2021; 175:920-930. [PMID: 33811768 PMCID: PMC8359981 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The advent of micro-computed tomography (μCT) made cancellous bone more accessible than ever before. Nevertheless, the characterization of cancellous bone is made difficult by its inherent complexity and the difficulties in defining homology across datasets. Here we propose novel virtual methodological approaches to overcome those issues and complement existing methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS We present a protocol for the isolation of the whole cancellous region within a μCT scanned bone. This method overcomes the subsampling issues and allows studying cancellous bone as a single unit. We test the protocol on a set of primate bones. In addition, we describe a set of morphological indices calculated on the topological skeleton of the cancellous bone: node density, node connectivity, trabecular angle, trabecular tortuosity, and fractal dimension. The usage of the indices is shown on a small comparative sample of primate femoral heads. RESULTS The isolation protocol proves reliable in isolating cancellous structures from several different bones, regardless of their shape. The indices seem to detect some functional differences, although further testing on comparative samples is needed to clarify their potential for the study of cancellous architecture. CONCLUSIONS The approaches presented overcome some of the difficulties of trabecular bone studies. The methods presented here represent an alternative or supporting method to the existing tools available to address the biomechanics of cancellous bone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Veneziano
- Synchrotron Radiation for Medical Physics (SYRMEP), Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A, Trieste, Italy
| | - Marine Cazenave
- Skeletal Biology Research Centre at the School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.,Department of Anatomy and Histology, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Fabio Alfieri
- Institut für Biologie, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung, Berlin, Germany
| | - Daniele Panetta
- Istituto di Fisiologia Clinica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Pisa, Italy
| | - Damiano Marchi
- Department of Biology, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre for Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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9
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Riga A, Boggioni M, Papini A, Buzi C, Profico A, Di Vincenzo F, Marchi D, Moggi-Cecchi J, Manzi G. In situ observations on the dentition and oral cavity of the Neanderthal skeleton from Altamura (Italy). PLoS One 2020; 15:e0241713. [PMID: 33264306 PMCID: PMC7710085 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The Neanderthal specimen from Lamalunga Cave, near Altamura (Apulia, Italy), was discovered during a speleological survey in 1993. The specimen is one of the most complete fossil hominins in Europe and its state of preservation is exceptional, although it is stuck in calcareous concretions and the bones are mostly covered by calcite depositions. Nevertheless, it is possible to carry out some observations on craniodental features that have not previously been described. In this work, we present an account of the oral cavity, made possible by the use of a videoscope, which allowed us to reach some hidden parts of the mandible and palate. This is the first detailed overview of the teeth and maxillary bones of the Neanderthal skeleton from Altamura. The dentition is almost complete. However, two teeth (upper right P3 and upper left M1) were lost ante mortem and four teeth (lower right I1 and P3 and lower left I1 and I2) were lost most probably post mortem. Dental wear is marked. The erupted M3s and the inversion of the compensating curve of Wilson in the M1s and M2s but not in the M3s suggest that the individual is fully adult, but not old. Although most of the teeth have their roots exposed for several millimeters, the periodontal bone appears to be in good condition overall, except in correspondence of the two ante-mortem tooth losses. X-rays of the anterior teeth show a periapical lesion, probably linked to the advanced dental wear. We also observed a weak expression of taurodontism in the posterior dentition and the presence of a retromolar space, features consistent with an attribution to the Neanderthal hypodigm; this attribution is also supported by aspects of the cranial morphology, the morphometric analysis of the scapula and preliminary mtDNA data. There is also a well-developed palatine torus, to the best of our knowledge a feature not previously described in Neanderthals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Riga
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Laboratory of Archaeoanthropology, SABAP-FI, Scandicci (FI), Italy
| | | | | | - Costantino Buzi
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, Italy
| | - Antonio Profico
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, Italy
- Department of Archaeology, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - Fabio Di Vincenzo
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, Italy
- Natural History Museum, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Damiano Marchi
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre for Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | - Giorgio Manzi
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, Italy
- Istituto Italiano di Paleontologia Umana, Anagni, Roma, Italy
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Macchiarelli R, Bergeret-Medina A, Marchi D, Wood B. Nature and relationships of Sahelanthropus tchadensis. J Hum Evol 2020; 149:102898. [PMID: 33142154 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2020.102898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
A partial left femur (TM 266-01-063) was recovered in July 2001 at Toros-Menalla, Chad, at the same fossiliferous location as the late Miocene holotype of Sahelanthropus tchadensis (the cranium TM 266-01-060-1). It was recognized as a probable primate femur in 2004 when one of the authors was undertaking a taphonomic survey of the fossil assemblages from Toros-Menalla. We are confident the TM 266 femoral shaft belongs to a hominid. It could sample a hominid hitherto unrepresented at Toros-Menalla, but a more parsimonious working hypothesis is that it belongs to S. tchadensis. The differences between TM 266 and the late Miocene Orrorin tugenensis partial femur BAR 1002'00, from Kenya, are consistent with maintaining at least a species-level distinction between S. tchadensis and O. tugenensis. The results of our preliminary functional analysis suggest the TM 266 femoral shaft belongs to an individual that was not habitually bipedal, something that should be taken into account when considering the relationships of S. tchadensis. The circumstances of its discovery should encourage researchers to check to see whether there is more postcranial evidence of S. tchadensis among the fossils recovered from Toros-Menalla.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Macchiarelli
- Unité de Formation Géosciences, Université de Poitiers, 86073, Poitiers, France; Département Homme & Environnement, UMR 7194 CNRS, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, 75116, Paris, France.
| | | | - Damiano Marchi
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy; Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre for Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Wits, 2050, South Africa
| | - Bernard Wood
- Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology and Department of Anthropology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
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11
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Profico A, Bondioli L, Raia P, O'Higgins P, Marchi D. morphomap: An R package for long bone landmarking, cortical thickness, and cross‐sectional geometry mapping. Am J Phys Anthropol 2020; 174:129-139. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Profico
- PalaeoHub, Department of Archaeology University of York York UK
| | - Luca Bondioli
- Service of Bioarchaeology Service Museo delle Civiltà Rome Italy
| | - Pasquale Raia
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e delle Risorse Università di Napoli Federico II Naples Italy
| | - Paul O'Higgins
- PalaeoHub, Department of Archaeology University of York York UK
- Hull York Medical School University of York York UK
- Centre for Forensic Anthropology University of Western Australia Perth Australia
| | - Damiano Marchi
- Department of Biology University of Pisa Pisa Italy
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre for Excellence in PalaeoSciences University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg‐Braamfontein South Africa
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12
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Friedl L, Claxton AG, Walker CS, Churchill SE, Holliday TW, Hawks J, Berger LR, DeSilva JM, Marchi D. Femoral neck and shaft structure in Homo naledi from the Dinaledi Chamber (Rising Star System, South Africa). J Hum Evol 2019; 133:61-77. [PMID: 31358184 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2019.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2018] [Revised: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The abundant femoral assemblage of Homo naledi found in the Dinaledi Chamber provides a unique opportunity to test hypotheses regarding the taxonomy, locomotion, and loading patterns of this species. Here we describe neck and shaft cross-sectional structure of all the femoral fossils recovered in the Dinaledi Chamber and compare them to a broad sample of fossil hominins, recent humans, and extant apes. Cross-sectional geometric (CSG) properties from the femoral neck (base of neck and midneck) and diaphysis (subtrochanteric region and midshaft) were obtained through CT scans for H. naledi and through CT scans or from the literature for the comparative sample. The comparison of CSG properties of H. naledi and the comparative samples shows that H. naledi femoral neck is quite derived with low superoinferior cortical thickness ratio and high relative cortical area. The neck appears superoinferiorly elongated because of two bony pilasters on its superior surface. Homo naledi femoral shaft shows a relatively thick cortex compared to the other hominins. The subtrochanteric region of the diaphysis is mediolaterally elongated resembling early hominins while the midshaft is anteroposteriorly elongated, indicating high mobility levels. In term of diaphyseal robusticity, the H. naledi femur is more gracile that other hominins and most apes. Homo naledi shows a unique combination of characteristics in its femur that undoubtedly indicate a species committed to terrestrial bipedalism but with a unique loading pattern of the femur possibly consequence of the unique postcranial anatomy of the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Friedl
- Department of Anthropology, University of West Bohemia, Plzeň, Czech Republic
| | - Alex G Claxton
- Department of Anthropology, Dartmouth College, 409 Silsby, HB 6047, Hanover, USA
| | - Christopher S Walker
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA; Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre for Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits, 2050, South Africa; Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, 04 Bio Sci Bldg, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Steven E Churchill
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, 04 Bio Sci Bldg, Durham, NC, 27708, USA; Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre for Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits, 2050, South Africa
| | - Trenton W Holliday
- Department of Anthropology, Tulane University, 417 Dinwiddie Hall, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA; Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre for Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits, 2050, South Africa
| | - John Hawks
- Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin, 5325 Sewell Social Science Building, Madison, WI, 53706, USA; Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre for Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits, 2050, South Africa
| | - Lee R Berger
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre for Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits, 2050, South Africa
| | - Jeremy M DeSilva
- Department of Anthropology, Dartmouth College, 409 Silsby, HB 6047, Hanover, USA; Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre for Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits, 2050, South Africa
| | - Damiano Marchi
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, vis Derna 1, Pisa, 56126, Italy; Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre for Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits, 2050, South Africa.
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13
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Walker CS, Cofran ZD, Grabowski M, Marchi D, Cook RW, Churchill SE, Tommy KA, Throckmorton Z, Ross AH, Hawks J, Yapuncich GS, Van Arsdale AP, Rentzeperis FI, Berger LR, DeSilva JM. Morphology of the Homo naledi femora from Lesedi. Am J Phys Anthropol 2019; 170:5-23. [PMID: 31228254 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Revised: 05/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The femoral remains recovered from the Lesedi Chamber are among the most complete South African fossil hominin femora discovered to date and offer new and valuable insights into the anatomy and variation of the bone in Homo naledi. While the femur is one of the best represented postcranial elements in the H. naledi assemblage from the Dinaledi Chamber, the fragmentary and commingled nature of the Dinaledi femoral remains has impeded the assessment of this element in its complete state. MATERIALS AND METHODS Here we analyze and provide descriptions of three new relatively well-preserved femoral specimens of H. naledi from the Lesedi Chamber: U.W. 102a-001, U.W. 102a-003, and U.W. 102a-004. These femora are quantitatively and qualitatively compared to multiple extinct hominin femoral specimens, extant hominid taxa, and, where possible, each other. RESULTS The Lesedi femora are morphologically similar to the Dinaledi femora for all overlapping regions, with differences limited to few traits of presently unknown significance. The Lesedi distal femur and mid-diaphysis preserve anatomy previously unidentified or unconfirmed in the species, including an anteroposteriorly expanded midshaft and anteriorly expanded patellar surface. The hypothesis that the Lesedi femoral sample may represent two individuals is supported. DISCUSSION The Lesedi femora increase the range of variation of femoral morphology in H. naledi. Newly described features of the diaphysis and distal femur are either taxonomically uninformative or Homo-like. Overall, these three new femora are consistent with previous functional interpretations of the H. naledi lower limb as belonging to a species adapted for long distance walking and, possibly, running.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher S Walker
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina.,Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.,Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Zachary D Cofran
- Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Anthropology Department, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York
| | - Mark Grabowski
- Research Centre in Evolutionary Anthropology and Palaeoecology, School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Damiano Marchi
- Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Rebecca W Cook
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina.,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, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Kimberleigh A Tommy
- Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Human Variation and Identification Research Unit, School of Anatomical Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Zachary Throckmorton
- Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Department of Anatomy, Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Smith, Arkansas
| | - Ann H Ross
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
| | - John Hawks
- Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Gabriel S Yapuncich
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina.,Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | | | | | - Lee R Berger
- Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Jeremy M DeSilva
- Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Department of Anthropology, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
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Marchi D, Harper C, Chirchir H, Ruff C. Relative fibular strength and locomotor behavior in KNM-WT 15000 and OH 35. J Hum Evol 2019; 131:48-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2019.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Abstract
In questa nota sono presentati i risultati delle determinazioni del profilo degli antociani e dei flavonoli di vini prodotti con uve di alcune varietà a frutto colorato prodotte a Nord della Svizzera, nel cantone di Schaffhausen , nella regione di Klettgau. I vini sono stati ottenuti da uve delle varietà di Vitis vinifera Cabernet Dorsa, Gamaret, Dornfelder, Acolon e di un incrocio interspecifico Sylvaner × Müller Thurgau × Chambourcin (Regent). Il profilo degli antociani dei vini delle varietà di Vitis vinifera studiate è risultato a netta prevalenza di molecole trisostituite all'anello laterale (soprattutto malvidina-3-glucoside e suoi derivati acilati). Il vino Regent si è rivelato ricco di antociani 3,5-diglucosidi (soprattutto della malvidina) che hanno superato in proporzione i monoglucosidi. Di rilevante interesse è risultato il profilo dei flavonoli per la presenza nei vini, appena dopo la fine della fermentazione alcolica, di quercetina aglicone, di solito assente nell'uva. I vini Acolon e Regent sono risultati i più ricchi di quercetina aglicone. L'origine della quercetina aglicone nei vini esaminati in questo lavoro è stata attribuita all'idrolisi che le forme glicosilate di questo flavonolo hanno subito, probabilmente per via enzimatica, già durante la macerazione fermentativa.
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Marchi D, Lanati D, Cascio P, Giacomo M. Influenza della sfogliatura sulla sintesi della quercetina in Sangiovese. Ulteriori acquisizioni sui precipitati di quercetina nei vini. BIO Web Conf 2019. [DOI: 10.1051/bioconf/20191502010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Allo scopo di approfondire i fattori che portano ad un accumulo elevato dei flavonoli e in particolare dei glicosidi della quercetina nell'uva abbiamo valutato in campo l'influenza della defogliazione precoce e all'invaiatura e di altre variabili viticole sulla sintesi di questi composti. Nello stesso tempo abbiamo studiato l'influenza della refrigerazione del vino e della formazione di complessi con altre sostanze presenti nel vino sulla solubilità della quercetina aglicone. I risultati ottenuti hanno confermato che: i) la defogliazione, in particolare quella precoce, inducono un incremento della sintesi dei flavonoli nell'uva, ii) la quercetina aglicone forma complessi, presumibilmente con gli antociani monomeri e con certe classi di pigmenti polimeri, con un incremento sensibile della sua solubilità, iii) la refrigerazione dei vini in cui la quercetina aglicone è presente sopra la sua soglia di solubilità porta alla sua precipitazione.
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Marchi D, Hartstone-Rose A. Functional Morphology and Behavioral Correlates to Postcranial Musculature. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2018; 301:419-423. [PMID: 29418117 DOI: 10.1002/ar.23779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
In this the second issue of a two-volume set of the Anatomical Record on the relationship between muscle functional morphology and behavior, the focus is on the postcranial musculature. Traditionally, when talking of the postcranium we think of the skeletal parts that primarily provide the lever system necessary for body movements. However, without the force produced by muscle, the postcranial skeleton could not perform these or most other tasks. In this special issue, our colleagues present ten papers that focus on postcranial muscle morphology and function from different perspectives. They include papers on forelimb and hindlimb muscle functional morphology of vertebrates, including lizards, bats, primates, a carnivoran and a rodent, and involved in different substrate use (arboreal, terrestrial, and flying) and locomotion behavior (quadrupedal, leaper, and suspensory) along with a historical overview to help bookend the contextualization of the issues. The picture that these papers provide is one of great liveliness in the field of muscle functional morphology where both young students and affirmed professors continue to contribute with both traditional approaches and new techniques to further our knowledge of muscle morphology and its relationship with animal behavior. Anat Rec, 301:419-423, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damiano Marchi
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via Derna 1, Pisa 50126, Italy.,Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre for Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Wits 2050, South Africa
| | - Adam Hartstone-Rose
- College of Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
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18
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Marchi D, Leischner CL, Pastor F, Hartstone‐Rose A. L
eg
M
uscle
A
rchitecture in
P
rimates and
I
ts
C
orrelation with
L
ocomotion
P
atterns. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2018; 301:515-527. [DOI: 10.1002/ar.23745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Revised: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Damiano Marchi
- Department of BiologyUniversity di Pisa, Via Derna 1Pisa, 56126 Italy
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre for Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3Wits, 2050 South Africa
| | - Carissa L. Leischner
- Department of Cell Biology and AnatomyUniversity of South Carolina School of MedicineColumbia South Carolina
| | - Francisco Pastor
- Departamento de Anatomía y RadiologíaUniversidad de Valladolid, C/Plaza de Santa Cruz, 847002 Valladolid Spain
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Leischner CL, Crouch M, Allen KL, Marchi D, Pastor F, Hartstone‐Rose A. Scaling of Primate Forearm Muscle Architecture as It Relates to Locomotion and Posture. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2018; 301:484-495. [DOI: 10.1002/ar.23747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Revised: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carissa L. Leischner
- Department of Cell Biology and AnatomyUniversity of South Carolina School of Medicine South Carolina
| | - Michael Crouch
- Department of Cell Biology and AnatomyUniversity of South Carolina School of Medicine South Carolina
| | - Kari L. Allen
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis; Department of AnthropologyWashington University in St. LouisWashington
| | - Damiano Marchi
- Department of BiologyUniversity of PisaVia Derna 1, Pisa, 56126 Italy
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre for Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the WitwatersrandPrivate Bag 3, Wits, 2050 South Africa
| | - Francisco Pastor
- Departamento de Anatomía y RadiologíaUniversidad de ValladolidValladolid Spain
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Marchi D, Ruff CB, Capobianco A, Rafferty KL, Habib MB, Patel BA. The locomotion ofBabakotia radofilaiinferred from epiphyseal and diaphyseal morphology of the humerus and femur. J Morphol 2016; 277:1199-218. [DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2015] [Revised: 04/06/2016] [Accepted: 05/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Damiano Marchi
- Department of Biology; University of Pisa; Pisa 56126 Italy
- Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand; Johannesburg WITS 2050 South Africa
| | - Christopher B. Ruff
- Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore Maryland 21111
| | - Alessio Capobianco
- Department of Biology; University of Pisa; Pisa 56126 Italy
- Scuola Normale Superiore; Pisa 56126 Italy
| | - Katherine L. Rafferty
- Department of Orthodontics School of Dentistry; University of Washington; Seattle Washington 98195
| | - Michael B. Habib
- Department of Cell and Neurobiology Keck School of Medicine; University of Southern California; Los Angeles California 90033
| | - Biren A. Patel
- Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand; Johannesburg WITS 2050 South Africa
- Department of Cell and Neurobiology Keck School of Medicine; University of Southern California; Los Angeles California 90033
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Berger LR, Hawks J, de Ruiter DJ, Churchill SE, Schmid P, Delezene LK, Kivell TL, Garvin HM, Williams SA, DeSilva JM, Skinner MM, Musiba CM, Cameron N, Holliday TW, Harcourt-Smith W, Ackermann RR, Bastir M, Bogin B, Bolter D, Brophy J, Cofran ZD, Congdon KA, Deane AS, Dembo M, Drapeau M, Elliott MC, Feuerriegel EM, Garcia-Martinez D, Green DJ, Gurtov A, Irish JD, Kruger A, Laird MF, Marchi D, Meyer MR, Nalla S, Negash EW, Orr CM, Radovcic D, Schroeder L, Scott JE, Throckmorton Z, Tocheri MW, VanSickle C, Walker CS, Wei P, Zipfel B. Homo naledi, a new species of the genus Homo from the Dinaledi Chamber, South Africa. eLife 2015; 4:e09560. [PMID: 26354291 PMCID: PMC4559886 DOI: 10.7554/elife.09560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 198] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2015] [Accepted: 08/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Homo naledi is a previously-unknown species of extinct hominin discovered within the Dinaledi Chamber of the Rising Star cave system, Cradle of Humankind, South Africa. This species is characterized by body mass and stature similar to small-bodied human populations but a small endocranial volume similar to australopiths. Cranial morphology of H. naledi is unique, but most similar to early Homo species including Homo erectus, Homo habilis or Homo rudolfensis. While primitive, the dentition is generally small and simple in occlusal morphology. H. naledi has humanlike manipulatory adaptations of the hand and wrist. It also exhibits a humanlike foot and lower limb. These humanlike aspects are contrasted in the postcrania with a more primitive or australopith-like trunk, shoulder, pelvis and proximal femur. Representing at least 15 individuals with most skeletal elements repeated multiple times, this is the largest assemblage of a single species of hominins yet discovered in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee R Berger
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - John Hawks
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States
| | - Darryl J de Ruiter
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Anthropology, Texas A&M University, College Station, United States
| | - Steven E Churchill
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, United States
| | - Peter Schmid
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Anthropological Institute and Museum, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lucas K Delezene
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Anthropology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, United States
| | - Tracy L Kivell
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
- Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Heather M Garvin
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Anthropology/Archaeology and Department of Applied Forensic Sciences, Mercyhurst University, Erie, United States
| | - Scott A Williams
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Center for the Study of Human Origins, Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, United States
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, United States
| | - Jeremy M DeSilva
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Anthropology, Dartmouth College, Hanover, United States
| | - Matthew M Skinner
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
- Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Charles M Musiba
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, United States
| | - Noel Cameron
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - Trenton W Holliday
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Anthropology, Tulane University, New Orleans, United States
| | - William Harcourt-Smith
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Anthropology, Lehman College, Bronx, United States
- Division of Paleontology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, United States
| | - Rebecca R Ackermann
- Department of Archaeology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Markus Bastir
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Paleoanthropology Group, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain
| | - Barry Bogin
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - Debra Bolter
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Anthropology, Modesto Junior College, Modesto, United States
| | - Juliet Brophy
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Geography and Anthropology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, United States
| | - Zachary D Cofran
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan
| | - Kimberly A Congdon
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, United States
| | - Andrew S Deane
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, United States
| | - Mana Dembo
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Human Evolutionary Studies Program and Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
| | - Michelle Drapeau
- Department d'Anthropologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Marina C Elliott
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Human Evolutionary Studies Program and Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
| | - Elen M Feuerriegel
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Archaeology and Anthropology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Daniel Garcia-Martinez
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Paleoanthropology Group, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain
- Faculty of Sciences, Biology Department, Universidad Autònoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - David J Green
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Anatomy, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, United States
| | - Alia Gurtov
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States
| | - Joel D Irish
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Research Centre in Evolutionary Anthropology and Palaeoecology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Ashley Kruger
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Myra F Laird
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Center for the Study of Human Origins, Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, United States
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, United States
| | - Damiano Marchi
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marc R Meyer
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Anthropology, Chaffey College, Rancho Cucamonga, United States
| | - Shahed Nalla
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Enquye W Negash
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, George Washington University, Washington, United States
| | - Caley M Orr
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, United States
| | - Davorka Radovcic
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Geology and Paleontology, Croatian Natural History Museum, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Lauren Schroeder
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Archaeology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Jill E Scott
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Anthropology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, United States
| | - Zachary Throckmorton
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Anatomy, DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, United States
| | - Matthew W Tocheri
- Human Origins Program, Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, United States
- Department of Anthropology, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Canada
| | - Caroline VanSickle
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States
- Department of Gender and Women's Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States
| | - Christopher S Walker
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, United States
| | - Pianpian Wei
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Paleoanthropology, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Beijing, China
| | - Bernhard Zipfel
- Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre of Excellence in PalaeoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Marchi D. Using the morphology of the hominoid distal fibula to interpret arboreality in Australopithecus afarensis. J Hum Evol 2015; 85:136-48. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2015.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Revised: 06/04/2015] [Accepted: 06/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Marchi D. Variation in tibia and fibula diaphyseal strength and its relationship with arboreal and terrestrial locomotion: extending the investigation to non-hominoid primates. J Anthropol Sci 2015; 93:153-6. [PMID: 25664637 DOI: 10.4436/jass.93005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Damiano Marchi
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Universitá di Pisa, Via Derna, 1 56126 Pisa, Italy; Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa,
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Marchi D, Shaw CN. Variation in fibular robusticity reflects variation in mobility patterns. J Hum Evol 2011; 61:609-16. [PMID: 21937082 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2011.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2010] [Revised: 08/20/2011] [Accepted: 08/21/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
During hominin plantigrade locomotion, the weight-bearing function of the fibula has been considered negligible. Nevertheless, studies conducted on human samples have demonstrated that, even if less than that of the tibia, the load-bearing function of the fibula still represents a considerable portion of the entire load borne by the leg. The present study assesses whether variation in habitual lower limb loading influences fibular morphology in a predictable manner. To achieve this, both fibular and tibial morphology were compared amongst modern human athletes (field hockey players and cross-country runners) and matched sedentary controls. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography was used to capture two-dimensional, cross-sectional bone images. Geometric properties were measured at the midshaft for each bone. Results show a trend of increased fibular rigidity from control to runners through to field hockey players. Moreover, relative fibular robusticity (fibula/tibia) is significantly greater in hockey players compared with runners. These results are likely the consequence of habitual loading patterns performed by these athletes. Specifically, the repeated directional changes associated with field hockey increase the mediolateral loading on the lower leg in a manner that would not necessarily be expected during cross-country running. The present study validates the use of the fibula in association with the tibia as a mean to provide a more complete picture of leg bone functional adaptations. Therefore, the fibula can be added to the list of bones generally used (tibia and femur) to assess the correspondence between mobility patterns and skeletal morphology for past human populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damiano Marchi
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Biological Sciences Building, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, United States.
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Sparacello VS, Pearson OM, Coppa A, Marchi D. Changes in skeletal robusticity in an iron age agropastoral group: the Samnites from the Alfedena necropolis (Abruzzo, Central Italy). Am J Phys Anthropol 2010; 144:119-30. [PMID: 20718040 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.21377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2009] [Accepted: 06/11/2010] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Cross-sectional geometrical (CSG) properties of an Iron Age Samnite group from the Alfedena necropolis (Abruzzo, Italy, 2600-2400 B.P.) are compared with a Ligurian Neolithic sample (6000-5500 B.P.). In the period under examination, Samnites were organized in a tribal confederation led by patrilinear aristocracies, indicating incipient social stratification. In comparison, Neolithic society lacked clear signs of social hierarchy. The subsistence of both groups was mainly based on pastoralism and agriculture, but changes in habitual behavior are expected due to the socio-economic transformations that characterized the Iron Age. The Samnites' warlike ideology suggests that unimanual weapon-use and training would have become frequent for males. The intensification of agriculture and the adoption of transhumant pastoralism, performed by a smaller subset of the population, likely led to a lower average level of logistic mobility. The strongly genderized ideology of the period suggests a strict sexual division of labor, with women primarily performing sedentary tasks. CSG properties based on periosteal contours were calculated for humeri, femora, and tibiae (N = 61). Results corroborated the expectations: Alfedena males show substantial humeral bilateral asymmetry, indicating prevalent use of one arm, likely due to weapon training. In both sexes lower limb results indicate reduced mobility with respect to the Neolithic group. Sexual dimorphism is significant in both humeral asymmetry and lower limb indicators of mobility. Although both groups could be broadly defined as agropastoral based on archeological and historical evidence, CSG analysis confirmed important differences in habitual behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- V S Sparacello
- Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA.
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Abstract
Time series of human gait stride intervals exhibit fractal and multifractal properties under several conditions. Records from subjects walking at normal, slow, and fast pace speed are analyzed to determine changes in the fractal scalings as a function of the stress condition of the system. Records from subjects with different age from children to elderly and patients suffering from neurodegenerative disease are analyzed to determine changes in the fractal scalings as a function of the physical maturation or degeneration of the system. A supercentral pattern generator model is presented to simulate the above two properties that are typically found in dynamical network performance: that is, how a dynamical network responds to stress and to evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Scafetta
- Department of Physics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
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Marchi D. Relationships between lower limb cross-sectional geometry and mobility: the case of a Neolithic sample from Italy. Am J Phys Anthropol 2008; 137:188-200. [PMID: 18470890 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.20855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
This study investigates the relationships between lower limb robusticity and mobility in a Neolithic sample (LIG) from Italy (6th millennium BP). This study tests the hypothesis that the high femoral robusticity previously observed in the LIG sample is a consequence of the subsistence strategy (i.e., high mobility on uneven terrain) practiced by LIG. Cross-sectional geometric properties of the femur and tibia at midshaft of LIG (eight males and eight females) were collected and results compared to Late Upper Paleolithic (12 males, five females), Mesolithic (24 males, 8 females), and Eneolithic (28 males, 17 females) samples from other sites throughout Europe. The results show that the LIG sample does not show the reduction of lower limb robusticity that is characteristic of the Eneolithic sample, but rather that the LIG sample is most similar to the earlier, highly mobile, populations. This high level of robusticity in the LIG sample could reflect both their pastoral subsistence strategy combined with a rugged environment, as well as their earlier temporal position within the Neolithic. The results of this study further point to significant variation in male-female mobility patterns in the region, also possibly related to pastoral behavioral patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damiano Marchi
- Department of Biological Anthropology and Anatomy, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708-0383, USA.
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Sparacello V, Marchi D. Mobility and subsistence economy: A diachronic comparison between two groups settled in the same geographical area (Liguria, Italy). Am J Phys Anthropol 2008; 136:485-95. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.20832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Marchi D. Relative strength of the tibia and fibula and locomotor behavior in hominoids. J Hum Evol 2007; 53:647-55. [PMID: 17675139 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2007.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2006] [Revised: 03/19/2007] [Accepted: 05/09/2007] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The fibula has rarely been considered in comparative morphological studies, probably due to its relatively minor role in carrying mechanical loads. However, some differences in morphology (and inferred function) of the fibula between humans and apes, and within apes, have been noted and related to differences in positional behavior. Therefore, the study of tibiofibular relations may be useful in characterizing such differences. This study examines cross-sectional geometric (CSG) properties (cortical area and polar section modulus, Z(p)) of the tibia and fibula at mid-diaphysis across a sample (n=87) of humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, and gibbons. The fibula is compared against the tibia in the different taxa. The results indicate that the robusticity of the fibula relative to that of the tibia can be explained in terms of differences in positional behavior. In particular, hominoids that are more arboreal (i.e., gibbons, orangutans, and chimpanzees) possess a relatively more robust fibula than do hominoids that are more terrestrial (i.e., gorillas and humans). The difference appears to be a consequence of the more mobile fibula and more adducted position of the hindlimb necessary in an arboreal environment. Apart from providing the first CSG data on the fibula, these results may be helpful in reconstructing the locomotor behavior of fossil hominoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damiano Marchi
- Department of Biological Anthropology and Anatomy, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708-0383, USA.
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Marchi D, Sparacello VS, Holt BM, Formicola V. Biomechanical approach to the reconstruction of activity patterns in Neolithic Western Liguria, Italy. Am J Phys Anthropol 2006; 131:447-55. [PMID: 16685729 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.20449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
This paper investigates the changes in upper and lower limb robusticity and activity patterns that accompanied the transition to a Neolithic subsistence in western Liguria (Italy). Diaphyseal robusticity measures were obtained from cross-sectional geometric properties of the humerus and femur in a sample of 16 individuals (eight males and eight females) dated to about 6,000-5,500 BP. Comparisons with European Late Upper Paleolithics (LUP) indicate increased humeral robusticity in Neolithic Ligurian (NEOL) males, but not in females, with a significant reduction in right-left differences in both sexes. Sexual dimorphism in robusticity increases in upper and lower limb bones. Regarding the femur, while all female indicators of bending strength decrease steadily through time, values for NEOL males approach those of LUP. This suggests high, and unexpected, levels of mechanical stress for NEOL males, probably reflecting the effects of the mountainous terrain on lower limb remodeling. Comparisons between NEOL males and a small sample of LUP hunter-gatherers from the same area support this interpretation. In conclusion, cross-sectional geometry data indicate that the transition to Neolithic economies in western Liguria did not reduce functional requirements in males, and suggest a marked sexual division of labor involving a more symmetrical use of the upper limb, and different male-female levels of locomotory stress. When articulated with archaeological, faunal, paleopathological, and ethnographic evidence, these results support the hypothesis of repetitive, bimanual use of axes tied to pastoral activities in males, and of more sedentary tasks linked to agriculture in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damiano Marchi
- Department of Biological Anthropology and Anatomy, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA.
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Marchi D. The cross-sectional geometry of the hand and foot bones of the hominoidea and its relationship to locomotor behavior. J Hum Evol 2005; 49:743-61. [PMID: 16219337 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2005.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2004] [Revised: 08/02/2005] [Accepted: 08/09/2005] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Cheiridia are valuable indicators of positional behavior, as they directly contact the substrate, but systematic comparison of the structural properties of both metacarpals and metatarsals has never been carried out. Differences in locomotor behavior among the great apes (knuckle-walking vs. quadrumanous climbing) can produce biomechanical differences that may be elucidated by the parallel study of cross-sectional characteristics of metacarpals and metatarsals. The aim of this work is to study the cross-sectional geometric properties of these bones and their correlation with locomotor behavior in large-bodied hominoids. The comparisons between bending moments of metacarpals and metatarsals of the same ray furnished interesting results. Metacarpals III and especially IV of the knuckle-walking African apes were relatively stronger than those of humans and orangutans, and metatarsal V of humans was relatively stronger than those of the great apes. Interestingly, the relative robusticity of the metacarpal IV of the quadrumanous orangutan was between that of the African apes and that of humans. The main conclusions of the study are: 1) cross-sectional dimensions of metacarpals and metatarsals are influenced by locomotor modes in great apes and humans; 2) interlimb comparisons of cross-sectional properties of metacarpals and metatarsals are good indicators of locomotor modes in great apes and humans; and 3) the results of this study are in accord with those of previous analyses of plantar pressure and morphofunctional traits of the same bones, and with behavioral studies. These results provide a data base from which it will be possible to compare the morphology of the fossils in order to gain insight into the locomotor repertoires of extinct taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damiano Marchi
- Department of Biological Anthropology and Anatomy, Duke University, 05 Bio. Sci. Bldg., Science Drive, Box 90383, Durham, NC 27708-0383, USA.
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Canci A, Marchi D, Caramella D, Fornaciari G, Borgognini Tarli SM. Coexistence of melorheostosis and DISH in a female skeleton from Magna Graecia (Sixth Century BC). Am J Phys Anthropol 2005; 126:305-10. [PMID: 15386295 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.20077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
This paper reports on a case of massive hyperostotic alterations observed in the skeleton of an adult woman from the necropolis of Montescaglioso Belvedere (Basilicata, Southern Italy) attributed to the Enotrian culture and dated to the 6th century BC. Hyperostotic changes involve joints, the vertebral column, and the lower limbs. In particular, the large flowing ossification in both the thoracic (T6-T10) and lumbar (L2-L5) tracts, the sacralization of L5, accompanied by sacroiliac fusion on the left side, and the proliferative bone production on both the metaphyseal portion of the left tibia and the left third metatarsal are described. The vertebral antero-lateral ossification and the sacroiliac fusion support a diagnosis of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH), while the flowing bone formation on the lower limbs supports a diagnosis of melorheostosis. The pathological conditions described here were already described in the literature, but this is the first reported case of the coexistence of DISH and the very rare melorheostosis. Furthermore, the skeleton from Montescaglioso Belvedere represents the first case of this disease described for ancient Europe, therefore adding a valuable contribution to the reconstruction of the antiquity and distribution of skeletal dysplasias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Canci
- Department of Cultural Heritage University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
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Abstract
The aim of this work is to outline a general picture of life style and conditions of a population living in Magna Graecia between the 7th and the 4th c. BC by the study of human skeletal remains found in two necropoles from the Matera province, Timmari and Montescaglioso, neighbouring Metaponto, one of the main Ionian Greek colonies. The biological reconstruction was attempted by a holistic approach which foresees the use of anthropometric, anthroposcopic, palaeodemographic, palaeopathological data, the study of skeletal and dentoalveolar indicators of environmental stress and the integration with archaeological and historical information. Interpretation of the results was also based on comparisons with coeval sites from Central-Southern Italy, from Greece and with earlier and later sites from the same region. The two samples from Matera did not show appreciable differences with the other Southern Italian coeval series when compared on the basis of metric and morphometric traits. The comparison with Greek samples was hampered by the scarcity of pertinent data. A high level of muscular activity was observed in males and females, with males clearly more mobile than females. Sexual dimorphism and limb bone lateralisation were marked. Health conditions and nutritional status were good.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Marchi
- Unità di Antropologia, Dipt. Etologia, Ecologia, Evoluzione, Università degli Studi di Pisa, via S. Maria 55, I-56126 Pisa.
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Granieri E, Casetta I, Govoni V, Tola MR, Marchi D, Murgia SB, Ticca A, Pugliatti M, Murgia B, Rosati G. The increasing incidence and prevalence of MS in a Sardinian province. Neurology 2000; 55:842-8. [PMID: 10994006 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.55.6.842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To verify incidence rates and their temporal trend in a homogeneous, ethnically, and genetically distinct population of central Sardinia (the Nuoro province). BACKGROUND Intensive epidemiologic studies carried out in Sardinia since the 1970s have suggested that the prevalence and incidence of MS are much higher in this Mediterranean island compared with those found on mainland Italy. METHODS The study area had a population of approximately 274, 000 people in the 1991 census. The authors adopted a complete enumerative approach by reviewing all possible sources of case collection available in the investigative area. RESULTS Based on 469 MS patients, the mean annual incidence for 1955 to 1995 was 4.18 per 100,000 (or 4.3 per 100,000 if age- and sex-adjusted to the European population). The incidence, averaging 1.95 per 100,000 during 1955 to 1959, rose progressively over time, reaching rates of 6.6 in the quinquiennium 1985 to 1989 and 6.4 per 100,000 in 1990 to 1995. On December 31, 1994, the crude prevalence, based on 415 MS patients alive in the study area, was 151.9 per 100,000 (156.6 if adjusted to the European population). CONCLUSION These incidence and prevalence rates are the highest to date that have been estimated for a large community in southern Europe, and they constitute some of the highest rates in the world. Based on other surveys, these results reinforce the position of Sardinia as a higher and rising prevalence area for MS compared with other Mediterranean populations. Genetic and social-historic data strengthen the hypothesis of the environmental role and genetic factors among Sardinians in determining the notable difference in MS frequency between Sardinians and other Mediterraneans.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Granieri
- Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
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Casetta I, Granieri E, Marchi D, Murgia SB, Tola MR, Ticca A, Lauria G, Govoni V, Murgia B, Pugliatti M. An epidemiological study of multiple sclerosis in central Sardinia, Italy. Acta Neurol Scand 1998; 98:391-4. [PMID: 9875616 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1998.tb07319.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To verify morbidity estimates in central Sardinia, Italy. METHODS A prevalence study was performed in the province of Nuoro, Central Sardinia, which has a population of 273,768 inhabitants (135,383 men and 138,385 women). A complete enumeration approach was adopted by using all possible case-collection sources. RESULTS On prevalence day, December 31, 1993, 394 subjects (124 men and 270 women) living in the study area were known to suffer from definite and probable MS, giving a crude prevalence rate of 143.9 cases per 100,000 people, 91.6 for males and 195.11 for females. The crude prevalence estimated on December 31, 1985, based on 282 MS cases alive in the study area, was 102.94 per 100,000. CONCLUSION This study reinforced central Sardinia's position as a high and rising prevalence area for MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Casetta
- Clinica Neurologica, Dipartimento di Discipline Medico-Chirurgiche della Comunicazione e del Comportamento, Centro Sclerosi Multipla, Università di Ferrara, Italy
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Molesini M, Cinquetti M, Dolci L, Barlocco EG, Marchi D, Vinco A, Zoppi G. [Prevalence of HCV antibodies and vertical transmission of hepatitis C virus]. Pediatr Med Chir 1996; 18:43-5. [PMID: 8685022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
HCV infection is one of the most frequent causes of hepatitis in man. There are numerous means of infection, not all of which can be documented. In infancy HCV infection occurs particularly in children that have been multitransfused or are on dialysis. Vertical transmission of HCV infection is rare, and the times and means of occurrence are not as yet well defined. The present study sets out to establish the prevalence of HCV-Ab carriers within a population of 4,242 pregnant women in Verona (Italy). It also aims to assess the incidence of vertical transmission of HCV infection in a sample of newborns examined over a 15-months follow-up. Of the 4,242 pregnant women subjected to screening, 45 (1.06%) were HCV-Ab positive. In only 74% of the cases it was possible to identify an HCV infection risk factor. On the 45 children of the HCV positive mothers, at present 25 have completed the 15 months follow-up. Only one of these children has contracted the infection: the incidence of transmission is therefore 4%.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Molesini
- Cattedra di Pediatria dell'Università, Ospedale Maggiore di Verona, Italia
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Cinquetti M, Marchi D. [Alpha-interferon in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in children]. Pediatr Med Chir 1995; 17:501-7. [PMID: 8668583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The hepatitis C virus is the main causative agent for sporadic as well as parenteral cases of non-A non-B hepatitis. Alpha interferon is a biologically active protein produced by B lymphocytes and monocytes which can be manufactured by recombinant DNA technology. Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with interferon in adults is associated with a sustained response in 20-25% of treated cases. First studies provide encouraging results for the use of interferon in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in children, but controlled trials using this drug in a larger population of children are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Cinquetti
- Cattedra di Pediatria dell'Università-Divisione di Pediatria dell'Ospedale Civile Maggiore di Verona, Italia
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Hunter PA, Hannon R, Marchi D. Alcohol consumption in natural settings as a function of sex, age and income level. J Stud Alcohol 1982; 43:387-92. [PMID: 7121005 DOI: 10.15288/jsa.1982.43.387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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Ungerer A, Marchi D, Ropartz P, Weil JH. Aversive effects and retention impairment induced by acetoxycycloheximide in an instrumental task. Physiol Behav 1975; 15:55-62. [PMID: 1197399 DOI: 10.1016/0031-9384(75)90279-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
AXM, when subcutaneously injected during the first 3 min following the acquisition of a nondiscriminative instrumental learning task, induced an aversion for the food reinforcement which had been associated with the training situation and with the pharmacological treatment. The high number of nonreinforced responses preceding the first reinforced response(RR) that animals performed when tested 6 days after AXM treatment, was not due to forgetting of the lever significance, but to this aversion. Animals treated with AXM showed low levels of lever pressing response and long latencies for their first RR; this deficit did not seem only to be due to food reinforcement aversion; it disappeared, as well as food aversion, when food reinforcement which had been associated with the learning situation and to treatment, was added to the daily feeding regimen during treatment-test interval. It has been shown, moreover, that more than 90 percent of cerebral protein synthesis was inhibited during the 5 hr following subcutaneous AXM injection. These findings are interpreted as an indication that AXM does not affect memory consolidation of a non discriminative instrumental learning.
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