Pelvic age estimation using actual specimens and remote images.

Age estimates of the auricular surface (sacro-iliac joint) of the ilium taken from bony specimens, 35 mm slides, and digital images were compared for 29 intact specimens from archaeological contexts. Results demonstrate that age estimates from all photographic and digital images may result in significantly differing estimates of age than those from bony specimens. Of the imaging techniques, 35 mm slides provided estimates most similar to those from bony specimens. Digital images provided age estimates that varied more from bony specimens. In general, photographic and digital images may offer researchers a way of documenting age information that would otherwise be unavailable or delayed. Yet, caution should be used when age estimates are derived solely from images rather than from bony specimens.

Macroscopic characteristics of hacking trauma.

Hacking trauma is often encountered in forensic cases, but little experimental research has been conducted that would allow for the recognition of wounds caused by specific weapon types. In this paper, we report the results of a hacking trauma caused by machete, cleaver, and axe weapons and the characteristics of each weapon type on bone. Each weapon type was employed in multiple trials on pig (Sus scrofa) bones and then the wounds were examined macroscopically for several characteristics that serve to differentiate the weapons.

Microscopic characteristics of hacking trauma.

The purpose of this study was to determine if it is possible to associate machetes, axes, and cleavers with the microscopic parallel striations they leave on the cut surfaces of the bone. Hacking trauma was experimentally inflicted on pig bones using machetes, axes, and cleavers. Negative impressions of both the cut surfaces of the bone and the weapon blades were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. The results of this investigation indicate that it is possible to correlate a class of hacking weapons to trauma inflicted on bone by these weapons.

Treponematosis in regional and chronological perspective from central Gulf Coast Florida.

Examination of five central Gulf Coast Florida archaeological skeletal series (n = 547) from the late prehistoric and early historic periods reveals the presence of pathological lesions characteristic of treponemal infection. These skeletal remains of native American populations represent a crucial time regarding hypotheses about the exchange of syphilis between the Old and New World or the mutation of one treponemal infection into another. Comparison of the lesions with those observed in modern studies of treponemal infection does not support an interpretation of venereal syphilis. The data from this study and from other archaeological skeletal series indicate the presence of a treponemal disease prior to European contact. The skeletal elements from Florida do not suggest that the disease changed dramatically following contact with Europeans. It is possible that cases of nonspecific postcranial pathology can be explained by the presence of this disease in the Florida populations. This study indicates that a treponemal disease was endemic throughout the region by at least A.D. 1000.

Stature- and age-related bias in self-reported stature.

The use of reported stature, especially self-reported stature such as on a driver's license, as a proxy for measured stature is necessary when measured stature is unavailable, for example, in matching data calculated from skeletal remains with data for missing persons. The accuracy of self-reported stature for older persons and especially for tall and short people is not well ascertained. Examination of published reports provides evidence that beginning at age 45, people compound their stature overestimation by an additional amount related to age (women by twice the amount of men). Analysis of anthropometric data from 8000 U.S. Army personnel indicates that the amount of general overestimation of stature by men is 2 1/2 times greater than that by women. Neither tall men nor tall women underestimate their stature, but men in the upper third of the stature range, and women in the upper 10%, self-report their stature with greater accuracy. No trends in accuracy are apparent in the remainder of the stature spectrum for men or women.

Gene 5 protein-DNA complex: modeling binding interactions.

A helical (not toroidal) complex consisting of eight gene 5 protein dimers per turn is proposed for the extension of DNA from dimer to dimer using known bond length constraints, postulated protein-nucleic acid interactions (determined from NMR and chemical modification studies), other physical properties of the complex, and data from electron micrographs. The binding channel has been dictated by these known parameters and the relative ease of geometrically fitting these constituents. This channel is different from that previously reported by other modelers. The channel lies underneath the long arm "claw-like" extension of the monomer, so that it rests inside the outer surface of the protein complex. An explanation is proposed for the two binding modes, n = 4 (the predominate mode) and n = 3, based on the weak binding interaction of Tyrosine 34. Also, the site of the less mobile nucleic acid base as reported from ESR studies (S.-C. Kao, E.V. Bobst, G.T. Pauly and A.M. Bobst, J. Biom. Struc. Dyn. 3,261 (1985)) is postulated as involving the fourth nucleotide, and this particular base is stacked between Tyrosine 34 and Phenylalanine 73'.

Placental radioangiography as a method for the study of uteroplacental blood flow in the rhesus monkey.

Placental radioangiography was performed in lightly anesthetized, pregnant rhesus monkeys under close monitoring of vital signs. Two angiographies in the same animal performed at an interval of approximately 20 min consistently produced identical patterns but not at intervals of one or two weeks. Evidence is adduced that the parameters, calculated from the angiograms, represent indices of uteroplacental blood flow under the standardized conditions of the angiographic procedure described here. Thus, placental radioangiography constitutes a relatively simple procedure for comparative, semiquantitative studies.

A radioangiographic study of the effects of catecholamines on uteroplacental blood flow in the rhesus monkey.

Two placental radioangiographies were performed with a 20-min interval in ten lightly anesthetized rhesus monkeys. Amniotic and aortic pressures, as well as the maternal ECG, were continuously monitored. Norepinephrine or metaproterenol was administered in a low dose which did not cause general cardiovascular effects, prior to the second angiography. Norepinephrine appeared to cause constriction and metaproterenol, dilatation of the uteroplacental vessels. These effects could be diminished or abolished by an alpha- or beta-adrenergic blocking agent, respectively, and thus would appear to be caused by stimulation of adrenergic receptors in the uteroplacental vasculature.

Fetal and maternal risks associated with intrauterine transfusion procedures.

Continuing follow-up observations and study of information as derived from a large cohort of fetal recipients of intrauterine transfusion (IUT) is utilized to provide estimates of maternal and fetal risks associated with the transfusion procedures, subsequent maternal complications of the pregnancy, and the health, intelligence, and behavior of the erythroblastotic recipient. The upper limit of risk of the procedure is estimated to be 7.2 per cent. Fourteen per cent of hydropic fetuses survived through the perinatal period as compared with 47 per cent of nonhydropic fetuses. One infant developed acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) at age 4 1/2 years. The IUT survivors showed a marked correlation among the frequencies of abnormalities in the three areas measured: physical, intellectual, and social maturity. Only about 50 per cent were considered normal in these parameters of health. Maternal complications were observed in only 2 per cent of the cases.

Maternal-fetal plasma glucose relationships in late monkey pregnancy.

Maternal hyperglycemia was induced in six late gestation monkey pregnancies with intravenous glucose injection plus infusion. The maximum measured plasma glucose levels of the mother varied from 380 to 1,020 Gm. per cent. A significant linear relationship evolved between maternal and fetal plasma glucose peak concentrations. A saturation limit to placental transfer of glucose across the placenta is not apparent from these data.

Gastric glucose tolerance in the third-trimester monkey conceptus.

PIP: The hypothesis that glucose in swallowed amniotic fluid could serve as an insulinogenic stimulus to the fetal pancreas whereas intravascularly administered glucose does not was tested in the third-trimester monkey conceptus. When 1 gm of glucose was instilled into the stomach of 5 fetal monkeys between Days 142 and 153 of gestation, fetal plasma insulin, growth hormone, and glucagon were unchanged. Instillation of 1 gm of glucose into the stomach of 5 premature newborn monkeys (Days 144-154 of gestation) at 4-5 hours of life led to an increase in plasma insulin in 3 of the 5 animals with no change in the other 2. Plasma growth hormone and glucagon were unchanged. From this study it is unclear whether the failure of orally administered glucose to stimulate an early adultlike insulin response in the fetal and newborn monkey is due to a deficiency in the enteroinsular axis hormones or islet cell unresponsiveness.^ieng