Ancient human DNA recovered from a Palaeolithic pendant.

Artefacts made from stones, bones and teeth are fundamental to our understanding of human subsistence strategies, behaviour and culture in the Pleistocene. Although these resources are plentiful, it is impossible to associate artefacts to specific human individuals1 who can be morphologically or genetically characterized, unless they are found within burials, which are rare in this time period. Thus, our ability to discern the societal roles of Pleistocene individuals based on their biological sex or genetic ancestry is limited2-5. Here we report the development of a non-destructive method for the gradual release of DNA trapped in ancient bone and tooth artefacts. Application of the method to an Upper Palaeolithic deer tooth pendant from Denisova Cave, Russia, resulted in the recovery of ancient human and deer mitochondrial genomes, which allowed us to estimate the age of the pendant at approximately 19,000-25,000 years. Nuclear DNA analysis identifies the presumed maker or wearer of the pendant as a female individual with strong genetic affinities to a group of Ancient North Eurasian individuals who lived around the same time but were previously found only further east in Siberia. Our work redefines how cultural and genetic records can be linked in prehistoric archaeology.

Enamel Caries Lesion Depth Obtained by Optical Coherence Tomography and Transverse Microradiography: A Comparative Study.

INTRODUCTION: Visual imaging of subsurface caries lesions is of vital interest in dentistry, which can be obtained by invasive radiography technique as well as by available non-destructive imaging approaches. Thus, as a first step toward the development of a new innovative approach, Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) was applied to detect the lesion depth in comparison to the established reference technique (transverse microradiography [TMR]). METHODS: Bovine enamel specimens were demineralized for 5 days, following previous studies. For OCT, the resulting artificial lesions were scanned three-dimensionally (SD-OCT) and semi-automated measured (CarLQuant). For TMR, specimens were sectioned and the lesion depth was manually determined (Inspektor Research System). RESULTS: The range of lesion depth detected with OCT was 24.0-174.0 µm (mouth rinse study), 18.0-178.0 µm (toothpastes study) and with TMR 59.2-198.0 µm (mouth rinse study), 33.2-133.4 µm (toothpastes study). We found a strong correlation between both methods in terms of lesion depth (Spearman rankwith outlierp < 0.001, Rho = 0.75, Spearman rankwithout outlierp = 0.001, Rho = 0.79). The two methods produce similar results (Passing-Bablok regression, 1.16). As deeper is the lesion, the smallest is the difference between both methods as indicated by Bland-Altman-plots. CONCLUSION: Especially in the case of deep lesions, the values obtained by both methods are in agreement, and OCT can potentially substitute TMR to detect and assess lesion depth with the benefit of being non-destructive.

Laccase-Treated Polystyrene Surfaces with Caffeic Acid, Dopamine, and L-3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine Substrates Facilitate the Proliferation of Melanocytes and Embryonal Carcinoma Cells NTERA-2.

This study presents the effects of treating polystyrene (PS) cell culture plastic with oxidoreductase enzyme laccase and the catechol substrates caffeic acid (CA), L-DOPA, and dopamine on the culturing of normal human epidermal melanocytes (NHEMs) and human embryonal carcinoma cells (NTERA-2). The laccase-substrate treatment improved PS hydrophilicity and roughness, increasing NHEM and NTERA-2 adherence, proliferation, and NHEM melanogenesis to a level comparable with conventional plasma treatment. Cell adherence dynamics and proliferation were evaluated. The NHEM endpoint function was quantified by measuring melanin content. PS surfaces treated with laccase and its substrates demonstrated the forming of polymer-like structures. The surface texture roughness gradient and the peak curvature were higher on PS treated with a combination of laccase and substrates than laccase alone. The number of adherent NHEM and NTERA-2 was significantly higher than on the untreated surface. The proliferation of NHEM and NTERA-2 correspondingly increased on treated surfaces. NHEM melanin content was enhanced 6-10-fold on treated surfaces. In summary, laccase- and laccase-substrate-modified PS possess improved PS surface chemistry/hydrophilicity and altered roughness compared to untreated and plasma-treated surfaces, facilitating cellular adherence, subsequent proliferation, and exertion of the melanotic phenotype. The presented technology is easy to apply and creates a promising custom-made, substrate-based, cell-type-specific platform for both 2D and 3D cell culture.

A skew in poo: Biases in primate fecal isotope analysis and recommendations for standardized sample preparation.

Feces are a treasure trove in the study of animal behavior and ecology. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis allows to assess the dietary niches of elusive primate species and primate breastfeeding behavior. However, some fecal isotope data may unwillingly be biased toward the isotope ratios of undigested plant matter, requiring more consistent sample preparation protocols. We assess the impact of this potential data skew in 114 fecal samples of wild bonobos (Pan paniscus) by measuring the isotope differences (Δ13 C, Δ15 N) between bulk fecal samples containing larger particles (>1 mm) and filtered samples containing only small particles (<1 mm). We assess the influence of fecal carbon and nitrogen content (ΔC:N) and sample donor age (subadult, adult) on the resulting Δ13 C, Δ15 N values (n = 228). Additionally, we measure the isotope ratios in three systematically sieved fecal samples of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus), with particle sizes ranging from 20 µm to 8 mm (n = 30). We found differences in fecal carbon and nitrogen content, with the smaller fecal fraction containing more nitrogen on average. While the Δ13 C values were small and not affected by age or ΔC:N, the Δ15 N values were significantly influenced by fecal ΔC:N, possibly resulting from the differing proportions of undigested plant macroparticles. Significant relationships between carbon stable isotope ratios (δ13 C) values and %C in large fecal fractions of both age groups corroborated this assessment. Δ15 N values were significantly larger in adults than subadults, which should be of concern in isotope studies comparing adult females with infants to assess breastfeeding. We found a random variation of up to 3.0‰ in δ13 C and 2.0‰ in nitrogen stable isotope ratios within the chimpanzee fecal samples separated by particle sizes. We show that particle size influences isotope ratios and propose a simple, cost-effective filtration method for primate feces to exclude larger undigested food particles from the analysis, which can easily be adopted by labs worldwide.

Shape, size, and quantity of ingested external abrasives influence dental microwear texture formation in guinea pigs.

Food processing wears down teeth, thus affecting tooth functionality and evolutionary success. Other than intrinsic silica phytoliths, extrinsic mineral dust/grit adhering to plants causes tooth wear in mammalian herbivores. Dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA) is widely applied to infer diet from microscopic dental wear traces. The relationship between external abrasives and dental microwear texture (DMT) formation remains elusive. Feeding experiments with sheep have shown negligible effects of dust-laden grass and browse, suggesting that intrinsic properties of plants are more important. Here, we explore the effect of clay- to sand-sized mineral abrasives (quartz, volcanic ash, loess, kaolin) on DMT in a controlled feeding experiment with guinea pigs. By adding 1, 4, 5, or 8% mineral abrasives to a pelleted base diet, we test for the effect of particle size, shape, and amount on DMT. Wear by fine-grained quartz (>5/<50 µm), loess, and kaolin is not significantly different from the abrasive-free control diet. Fine silt-sized quartz (∼5 µm) results in higher surface anisotropy and lower roughness (polishing effect). Coarse-grained volcanic ash leads to significantly higher complexity, while fine sands (130 to 166 µm) result in significantly higher roughness. Complexity and roughness values exceed those from feeding experiments with guinea pigs who received plants with different phytolith content. Our results highlight that large (>95-µm) external silicate abrasives lead to distinct microscopic wear with higher roughness and complexity than caused by mineral abrasive-free herbivorous diets. Hence, high loads of mineral dust and grit in natural diets might be identified by DMTA, also in the fossil record.

Zinc isotopes in Late Pleistocene fossil teeth from a Southeast Asian cave setting preserve paleodietary information.

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of collagen from bone and dentin have frequently been used for dietary reconstruction, but this method is limited by protein preservation. Isotopes of the trace element zinc (Zn) in bioapatite constitute a promising proxy to infer dietary information from extant and extinct vertebrates. The 66Zn/64Zn ratio (expressed as δ66Zn value) shows an enrichment of the heavy isotope in mammals along each trophic step. However, preservation of diet-related δ66Zn values in fossil teeth has not been assessed yet. Here, we analyzed enamel of fossil teeth from the Late Pleistocene (38.4-13.5 ka) mammalian assemblage of the Tam Hay Marklot (THM) cave in northeastern Laos, to reconstruct the food web and assess the preservation of original δ66Zn values. Distinct enamel δ66Zn values of the fossil taxa (δ66Zncarnivore < δ66Znomnivore < δ66Znherbivore) according to their expected feeding habits were observed, with a trophic carnivore-herbivore spacing of +0.60‰ and omnivores having intermediate values. Zn and trace element concentration profiles similar to those of modern teeth also indicate minimal impact of diagenesis on the enamel. While further work is needed to explore preservation for settings with different taphonomic conditions, the diet-related δ66Zn values in fossil enamel from THM cave suggest an excellent long-term preservation potential, even under tropical conditions that are well known to be adverse for collagen preservation. Zinc isotopes could thus provide a new tool to assess the diet of fossil hominins and associated fauna, as well as trophic relationships in past food webs.

Influence of dental prophylaxis procedures on the tooth veneer interface in resin-based composite and polymer-infiltrated ceramic veneer restorations: an in vitro study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of dental prophylaxis cleaning procedures and artificial aging on veneers in human teeth. The external marginal and internal tooth veneer as well as the restoration surfaces were examined. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-two extracted premolars were restored with resin-based composite (RBC) and polymer-infiltrated ceramic network (PICN) veneers. Artificial aging by alternating thermocycling and subsequent prophylaxis procedure (glycine-based powder air polishing or ultrasonic scaling) was conducted for five consecutive cycles. The external marginal interface was examined by height profile measurements and the internal interface was investigated using micro X-ray computed tomography. In addition, the surface texture of the veneer surface was analyzed using confocal laser scanning microscopy. RESULTS: The application of both prophylaxis procedures resulted in a deepening of the marginal interface (10 µm ± 8 µm) for materials. Furthermore, the internal interface of PICN restorations showed marginal gaps after both treatments and artificial aging (16 µm ± 3 µm). In contrast to the RBC specimens, a significant increase in surface roughness was identified for PICN veneers after ultrasonic scaling. CONCLUSIONS: The marginal and internal interface regions in veneers fabricated from PICN and RBC were affected by prophylaxis procedures. Furthermore, it may result in increased veneer surface roughness, especially in PICN and after ultrasonic scaling, which might affect bioadhesion and longevity. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: After dental prophylaxis procedures, examination of the marginal and the internal interface as well as the veneer surface provides a precise insight into damage mechanisms and offers an assessment of longevity.

Forage silica and water content control dental surface texture in guinea pigs and provide implications for dietary reconstruction.

Recent studies have shown that phytoliths are softer than dental enamel but still act as abrasive agents. Thus, phytolith content should be reflected in dental wear. Because native phytoliths show lower indentation hardness than phytoliths extracted by dry ashing, we propose that the hydration state of plant tissue will also affect dental abrasion. To assess this, we performed a controlled feeding experiment with 36 adult guinea pigs, fed exclusively with three different natural forages: lucerne, timothy grass, and bamboo with distinct phytolith/silica contents (lucerne < grass < bamboo). Each forage was fed in fresh or dried state for 3 weeks. We then performed 3D surface texture analysis (3DST) on the upper fourth premolar. Generally, enamel surface roughness increased with higher forage phytolith/silica content. Additionally, fresh and dry grass feeders displayed differences in wear patterns, with those of fresh grass feeders being similar to fresh and dry lucerne (phytolith-poor) feeders, supporting previous reports that "fresh grass grazers" show less abrasion than unspecialized grazers. Our results demonstrate that not only phytolith content but also properties such as water content can significantly affect plant abrasiveness, even to such an extent that wear patterns characteristic for dietary traits (browser-grazer differences) become indistinguishable.

Movement analysis of primate molar teeth under load using synchrotron X-ray microtomography.

Mammalian teeth have to sustain repetitive and high chewing loads without failure. Key to this capability is the periodontal ligament (PDL), a connective tissue containing a collagenous fibre network which connects the tooth roots to the alveolar bone socket and which allows the teeth to move when loaded. It has been suggested that rodent molars under load experience a screw-like downward motion but it remains unclear whether this movement also occurs in primates. Here we use synchroton micro-computed tomography paired with an axial loading setup to investigate the form-function relationship between tooth movement and the morphology of the PDL space in a non-human primate, the mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus). The loading behavior of both mandibular and maxillary molars showed a three-dimensional movement with translational and rotational components, which pushes the tooth into the alveolar socket. Moreover, we found a non-uniform PDL thickness distribution and a gradual increase in volumetric proportion of the periodontal vasculature from cervical to apical. Our results suggest that the PDL morphology may optimize the three-dimensional tooth movement to avoid high stresses under loading.

Dental microwear texture gradients in guinea pigs reveal that material properties of the diet affect chewing behaviour.

Dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA) is widely used for diet inferences in extant and extinct vertebrates. Often, a reference tooth position is analysed in extant specimens, while isolated teeth are lumped together in fossil datasets. It is therefore important to test whether dental microwear texture (DMT) is tooth position specific and, if so, what causes the differences in wear. Here, we present results from controlled feeding experiments with 72 guinea pigs, which received either fresh or dried natural plant diets of different phytolith content (lucerne, grass, bamboo) or pelleted diets with and without mineral abrasives (frequently encountered by herbivorous mammals in natural habitats). We tested for gradients in dental microwear texture along the upper cheek tooth row. Regardless of abrasive content, guinea pigs on pelleted diets displayed an increase in surface roughness along the tooth row, indicating that posterior tooth positions experience more wear compared with anterior teeth. Guinea pigs feedings on plants of low phytolith content and low abrasiveness (fresh and dry lucerne, fresh grass) showed almost no DMT differences between tooth positions, while individuals feeding on more abrasive plants (dry grass, fresh and dry bamboo) showed a gradient of decreasing surface roughness along the tooth row. We suggest that plant feeding involves continuous intake and comminution by grinding, resulting in posterior tooth positions mainly processing food already partly comminuted and moistened. Pelleted diets require crushing, which exerts higher loads, especially on posterior tooth positions, where bite forces are highest. These differences in chewing behaviour result in opposing wear gradients for plant versus pelleted diets.

Volumetric measurements of paranasal sinuses and examination of sinonasal communication in healthy Shetland ponies: anatomical and morphometric characteristics using computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: Despite clinical importance and frequent occurrence of sinus disease, little is known about the size of paranasal sinuses and their communication in ponies and small horses. To examine the shape and volume of the paranasal sinuses and evaluate the sinonasal communication, three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions of computed tomography (CT) datasets of 12 healthy adult Shetland ponies were performed and analysed. Linear measurements of head length and width were taken. Using semi-automatic segmentation, 3D-models of all sinus compartments were created. Volumetric measurement of the seven sinus compartments were conducted and statistical analysis was performed. Sinus volumes were compared between the left and right sinuses and the relation to age and head size was evaluated. RESULTS: Structure and shape of the paranasal sinus system in Shetland ponies was similar to that of large horses. All seven sinus compartments on each side of the head were identified (rostral maxillary sinus, ventral conchal sinus, caudal maxillary sinus, dorsal conchal sinus, middle conchal sinus, frontal sinus, sphenopalatine sinus). The existence of a bilateral cranial and a caudal system formed by a maxillary septum was visible in all 12 individuals. The volumetric sizes of the left and right sinuses did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). A positive correlation between the size of the paranasal sinuses and the head length was shown. A relation between sinus volumes and age could not be proved in adult ponies aged > six years. Communication between single sinus compartments was identified. Furthermore, communication with the nasal cavity over the nasomaxillary aperture (Apertura nasomaxillaris) and a common sinonasal channel (Canalis sinunasalis communis) as well as its splitting up into a rostral and a caudolateral channel could be seen. Examination of the sinonasal communication was challenging and only a descriptive evaluation was possible. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings concerning the size, shape and volumetric dimensions of Shetland pony CT images could help improve CT interpretation of abnormal clinical cases as well as aiding clinicians to develop and select appropriate instruments for medical inspection and treatments.

The Effect of Solutions Containing Extracts of Vochysia tucanorum Mart., Myrcia bellaCambess., Matricaria chamomilla L. and Malva sylvestris L. on Cariogenic Bacterial Species and Enamel Caries Development.

This study evaluated the effect of experimental solutions containing plant extracts on bacterial species and enamel caries prevention. Microcosm biofilm was produced from human saliva mixed with McBain saliva (0.2% sucrose) on bovine enamel for 5 days (3 days under anaerobiosis and 2 days under aerobiosis) at 37°C. From the 2nd day, the following treatments were applied (1 × 60 s/day): Vochysia tucanorum (10 mg/mL); Myrcia bella (5 mg/mL); Matricaria chamomilla (80 mg/mL); Malva sylvestris, fluoride, and xylitol (Malvatricin Plus®); 0.12% chlorhexidine (CHX, PerioGard®); and PBS (negative control). The medium pH was measured. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed for the detection of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus spp. Enamel demineralization was measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. The data were compared by means of the Kruskal-Wallis/Dunn, two-way ANOVA/Bonferroni, and ANOVA/Tukey tests (p < 0.05). The pH decreased after sucrose exposure; only CHX reestablished pH >5.5 by the last day. CHX also eliminated Lactobacillusspp., but the other treatments did not differ significantly from PBS. Malvatricin Plus® and CHX eliminated S. mutans, but the other treatments did not differ from PBS. Similar results were seen concerning the reduction of lesion depth and reflectivity. The experimental natural-extract solutions were ineffective against cariogenic bacteria and in preventing the development of enamel caries.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of l-methadone in isoflurane-anaesthetized and mechanically ventilated ponies.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pharmacokinetics and selected pharmacodynamic effects of a commercially available l-methadone/fenpipramide combination administered to isoflurane anaesthetized ponies. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective single-group interventional study. ANIMALS: A group of six healthy adult research ponies (four mares, two geldings). METHODS: Ponies were sedated with intravenous (IV) detomidine (0.02 mg kg-1) and butorphanol (0.01 mg kg-1) for an unrelated study. Additional IV detomidine (0.004 mg kg-1) was administered 85 minutes later, followed by induction of anaesthesia using IV diazepam (0.05 mg kg-1) and ketamine (2.2 mg kg-1). Anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. Baseline readings were taken after 15 minutes of stable isoflurane anaesthesia. l-Methadone (0.25 mg kg-1) with fenpipramide (0.0125 mg kg-1) was then administered IV. Selected cardiorespiratory variables were recorded every 10 minutes and compared to baseline using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Adverse events were recorded. Arterial plasma samples for analysis of plasma concentrations and pharmacokinetics of l-methadone were collected throughout anaesthesia at predetermined time points. Data are shown as mean ± standard deviation or median and interquartile range (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Plasma concentrations of l-methadone showed a rapid initial distribution phase followed by a slower elimination phase which is best described with a two-compartment model. The terminal half-life was 44.3 ± 18.0 minutes, volume of distribution 0.43 ± 0.12 L kg-1 and plasma clearance 7.77 ± 1.98 mL minute-1 kg-1. Mean arterial blood pressure increased from 85 (±16) at baseline to 100 (±26) 10 minutes after l-methadone/fenpipramide administration (p = 0.031). Heart rate remained constant. In two ponies fasciculations occurred at different time points after l-methadone administration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Administration of a l-methadone/fenpipramide combination to isoflurane anaesthetized ponies led to a transient increase in blood pressure without concurrent increases in heart rate. Pharmacokinetics of l-methadone were similar to those reported for conscious horses administered racemic methadone.

Elevated activity levels do not influence extrinsic fiber attachment morphology on the surface of muscle-attachment sites.

Extrinsic fibers (EFs) are a type of penetrating collagenous fiber, closely related to the periodontal ligament, which help anchor soft tissue into bone. These fibers are associated with muscle attachment sites (entheses). Their size and grouping patterns are thought to be indicative of the loading history of the muscle. EFs are of particular significance in anthropology as potential tools for the reconstruction of behavior from skeletal remains and, specifically, entheses. In this study, we used a mouse model to experimentally test how activity level alters the morphology of EF insertion sites on the bone surface of a fibrocartilaginous enthesis, the biceps brachii insertion. Further, we adapted surface metrological techniques from studies of dental wear to perform automated, quantitative and non-destructive analysis of bone surface histology. Our results show that experimentally increased activity had no significant effect on the quantity or density of EF insertions at the enthesis, nor on the size of those insertions. Although EF presence does indicate muscle attachment, activity did not have an observable effect on EF morphology.

Dental microwear texture reflects dietary tendencies in extant Lepidosauria despite their limited use of oral food processing.

Lepidosauria show a large diversity in dietary adaptations, both among extant and extinct tetrapods. Unlike mammals, Lepidosauria do not engage in sophisticated mastication of their food and most species have continuous tooth replacement, further reducing the wear of individual teeth. However, dietary tendency estimation of extinct lepidosaurs usually rely on tooth shape and body size, which allows only for broad distinction between faunivores and herbivores. Microscopic wear features on teeth have long been successfully applied to reconstruct the diet of mammals and allow for subtle discrimination of feeding strategies and food abrasiveness. Here, we present, to our knowledge, the first detailed analysis of dental microwear texture on extant lepidosaurs using a combination of 46 surface texture parameters to establish a framework for dietary tendency estimation of fossil reptilian taxa. We measured dental surface textures of 77 specimens, belonging to herbivorous, algaevorous, frugivorous, carnivorous, ovivorous, insectivorous, molluscivorous, as well as omnivorous species. Carnivores show low density and shallow depth of furrows, whereas frugivores are characterized by the highest density of furrows. Molluscivores show the deepest wear features and highest roughness, herbivores have lower surface roughness and shallower furrows compared to insectivores and omnivores, which overlap in all parameters. Our study shows that despite short food-tooth interaction, dental surface texture parameters enable discrimination of several feeding strategies in lepidosaurs. This result opens new research avenues to assess diet in a broad variety of extant and extinct non-mammalian taxa including dinosaurs and early synapsids.

Dust affects chewing efficiency and tooth wear in forest dwelling Western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus).

OBJECTIVES: In humans it has been shown that abrasive particles in the diet result in increased tooth wear and less intense chewing behavior, both of which decrease chewing efficiency. This behavioral response may also exist in non-human primates as a means to reduce the wear effect of dust-laden food. Here we tested whether the periodical occurrence of abrasive dust particles in the diet of Western chimpanzees affects tooth wear and reduces chewing efficiency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured fecal particle size of undigested food matter as an indicator of chewing efficiency in 13 Western chimpanzees of the Taï National Park (Ivory Coast) before (wet), after (wet) and during a dust-rich (dry) period. Moreover, feeding data were compiled for a further 12 chimpanzees and matched to three-dimensional surface texture data measured on two molar facets of 26 skulls of the same population. RESULTS: Fecal particles were larger during the dry period, indicating a reduced chewing efficiency compared to wet periods; age and sex did not have an effect. Concomitantly, dust led to an increase of abrasive wear evidenced by smaller texture features and higher density of fine furrows on wear facets. DISCUSSION: Our findings show that a periodical increase in dust loads on foods places a dietary-physiological stress on the digestive system in chimpanzees. We suggest that the impact of extrinsic abrasive particles from globally acting periodical dust-laden winds may affect evolutionary fitness. Further studies are required to elucidate this relationship in other non-human primates and fossil hominins.

Controlled feeding experiments with diets of different abrasiveness reveal slow development of mesowear signal in goats (Capra aegagrus hircus).

Dental mesowear is applied as a proxy to determine the general diet of mammalian herbivores based on tooth-cusp shape and occlusal relief. Low, blunt cusps are considered typical of grazers and high, sharp cusps typical of browsers. However, how internal or external abrasives impact mesowear, and the time frame the wear signature takes to develop, still need to be explored. Four different pelleted diets of increasing abrasiveness (lucerne, grass, grass and rice husks, and grass, rice husks and sand) were fed to four groups of a total of 28 adult goats in a controlled feeding experiment over a 6-month period. Tooth morphology was captured by medical CT scans at the beginning and end of the experiment. These scans, as well as the crania obtained post mortem, were scored using the mesowear method. Comparisons between diet groups showed few significant differences after 6 months, irrespective of whether CT scans or the real teeth were scored. Only when assessing the difference in signal between the beginning and the end of the experiment did relevant, significant diet-specific effects emerge. Diets containing lower phytolith content caused a more pronounced change in mesowear towards sharper cusps/higher reliefs, while the feed containing sand did not result in more extreme changes in mesowear when compared with the same feed without sand. Our experiment suggests that the formation of a stable and hence reliable mesowear signal requires more time to develop than 6 months.

Prey size reflected in tooth wear: a comparison of two wolf populations from Sweden and Alaska.

Ingesta leaves distinct patterns on mammalian teeth during mastication. However, an unresolved challenge is how to include intraspecific variability into dietary reconstruction and the biomechanical aspects of chewing. Two extant populations of the grey wolf (Canis lupus), one from Alaska and one from Sweden, were analysed with consideration to intraspecific dietary variability related to prey size depending on geographical origin, sex and individual age as well as tooth function. Occlusal enamel facets of the upper fourth premolars, first molars and the second lower molar were analysed via three-dimensional surface texture analysis. The Swedish wolves displayed facets characterized by higher peaks and deeper, more voluminous dales, featuring an overall rougher surface than the wolves from Alaska. Compared to females, the Swedish male wolves had a slightly larger dale area and hill volume on their facets. Upper fourth premolars are smoother and had higher values in texture direction compared to upper first molars. The upper first molars were rougher than the occluding lower second molars and were characterized by larger and deeper dales. We find evidence supporting intraspecific dietary segregation, and antagonistic asymmetry in occlusal wear signatures. The data offer new insights into the roles of apex predators like the grey wolf.

Wear patterns of radular teeth in Loligo vulgaris (Cephalopoda; Mollusca) are related to their structure and mechanical properties.

Radular teeth have to cope with wear, when interacting with ingesta. In some molluscan taxa, wear-coping mechanisms, related to the incorporation of high contents of iron or silica, have been previously determined. For most species, particularly for those which possess radulae without such incorporations, wear-coping mechanisms are understudied. In the present study, we documented and characterized the wear on radular teeth in the model species Loligo vulgaris (Cephalopoda). By applying a range of methods, the elementary composition and mechanical properties of the teeth were described, to gain insight into mechanisms for coping with abrasion. It was found that the tooth regions that are prone to wear are harder and stiffer. Additionally, the surfaces interacting with the ingesta possessed a thin coating with high contents of silicon, probably reducing abrasion. The here presented data may serve as an example of systematic study of radular wear, in order to understand the relationship between the structure of radular teeth and their properties.

Age-related changes in the midpalatal suture: Comparison between CBCT staging and bone micromorphology.

The age-related maturation of the human midpalatal suture is challenging to predict, but critical for successful non-surgical rapid maxillary expansion (RME). While cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) can be used to categorize the suture into stages, it remains unclear how well the stages predict the actual micromorphology of the palate. To address this clinically relevant question, we used CBCT together with three-dimensional micro-computed tomography (µCT) analysis on 24 human palate specimens from individuals aged 14-34 years. We first classified the specimens into stages (A-E) using CBCT images and then correlated the results with our comprehensive µCT analysis. Our analysis focused on several factors, including bone volume fraction (BV/TV), sutural width, volume, interdigitation, ossification, and their associations with age, CBCT stage, and sex. Our µCT analysis revealed a decrease in sutural width and volume after the age of 20 years, accompanied by sutural closure beginning in the palatal segment. The overall rate of ossification remained low but increased after the age of 20 years. No significant differences were found between males and females. Importantly, we also found no correlation between individual age and CBCT stages. Furthermore, there was no association between CBCT stages and patalal suture volume, ossification and interdigitation. Taken together, our findings cast doubt on the reliability of CBCT stage as a means of predicting skeletal maturity of the palatal suture, as it appears to lack the precision required to accurately assess the true micromorphology of the palatal suture. Future investigations should explore whether alternative CBCT parameters may be more useful in addressing the challenging question of whether RME requires surgical bone weakening.