Early craniometric tools as a predecessor to neurosurgical stereotaxis.

In this paper the authors trace the history of early craniometry, referring to the technique of obtaining cranial measurements for the accurate correlation of external skull landmarks to specific brain regions. Largely drawing on methods from the newly emerging fields of physical anthropology and phrenology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, basic mathematical concepts were combined with simplistic (yet at the time, innovative) mechanical tools, leading to the first known attempts at craniocerebral topography. It is important to acknowledge the pioneers of this pre-imaging epoch, who applied creativity and ingenuity to tackle the challenge of reproducibly and reliably accessing a specific target in the brain. In particular, with the emergence of Broca's theory of cortical localization, in vivo craniometric tools, and the introduction of 3D coordinate systems, several innovative devices were conceived that subsequently paved the way for modern-day stereotactic techniques. In this context, the authors present a comprehensive and systematic review of the most popular craniometric tools developed during this time period (prior to the stereotactic era) for the purposes of craniocerebral measurement and target localization.

Daily activity and light exposure levels for five species of lemurs at the Duke Lemur Center.

Light is the primary synchronizer of all biological rhythms, yet little is known about the role of the 24-hour luminous environment on nonhuman primate circadian patterns, making it difficult to understand the photic niche of the ancestral primate. Here we present the first data on proximate light-dark exposure and activity-rest patterns in free-ranging nonhuman primates. Four individuals each of five species of lemurs at the Duke Lemur Center (Eulemur mongoz, Lemur catta, Propithecus coquereli, Varecia rubra, and Varecia variegata variegata) were fitted with a Daysimeter-D pendant that contained light and accelerometer sensors. Our results reveal common as well as species-specific light exposure and behavior patterns. As expected, all five species were more active between sunrise and sunset. All five species demonstrated an anticipatory increase in their pre-sunrise activity that peaked at sunrise with all but V. rubra showing a reduction within an hour. All five species reduced activity during mid-day. Four of the five stayed active after sunset, but P. coquereli began reducing their activity about 2 hours before sunset. Other subtle differences in the recorded light exposure and activity patterns suggest species-specific photic niches and behaviors. The eventual application of the Daysimeter-D in the wild may help to better understand the adaptive evolution of ancestral primates.

Accuracy and benefits of 3D bone surface modelling: a comparison of two methods of surface data acquisition reconstructed by laser scanning and computed tomography outputs.

The aim of this study is to compare two different methods of frontal bone surface model acquisition. Three dimensional models acquired by laser scanning were compared with models of the same bones acquired by virtual replicas reconstructed from a sequence of computed tomography (CT) images. The influence of volumetric CT data processing (namely thresholding), which immediately preceded the generation of the three-dimensional surface model, was also considered and explored in detail in one sample. Despite identifying certain areas where both models showed deviations across all samples, their conformity can be generally classified as satisfactory, and the differences can be regarded as minimal. The average deviation of registered surface models was 0.27 mm for 90% of the data, and its value was therefore very close to the resolution of the laser scanner used.

Craniometric variation in the Aleutians: integrating morphological, molecular, spatial, and temporal data.

Several hypotheses have been put forward about the origins and evolution of the inhabitants of the Aleutian Islands. Both Hrdlicka [The Aleutian and Commander Islands and Their Inhabitants (Philadelphia: Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology, 1945)] and Laughlin ["The Alaska gateway viewed from the Aleutian Islands," in Papers on the Physical Anthropology of the American Indian, W. S. Laughlin, ed. (New York: Viking Fund, 1951), 98-126] analyzed cranial morphology and came to somewhat different conclusions using a typological approach and limited analytical methods. Subsequent investigations using morphological data have not significantly improved our understanding of Aleut prehistory. More recently, radiocarbon dating and mitochondrial DNA analyses have shed light on Aleut genetic variation and changes over time, but better morphological methods using multivariate statistical analysis have not yet been used. We analyzed craniometric data using multivariate procedures and found that Aleuts demonstrate significant changes in cranial morphology over time, and these changes correspond to Hrdlicka's observations but may not necessarily reflect in-migration. The morphological changes were concentrated in the very aspects of morphology that are easily observable and that Hrdlicka most often measured, namely, cranial length, breadth, and height, but they were obscured when craniometric variation as a whole was analyzed. Also, we found that the morphological changes over time were not related to the changes in haplogroup frequencies over time, suggesting that migration into the Aleutians did not play a significant role in producing the morphological changes. However, craniometric variability apparently increases over time, suggesting in-migration, localized selection, and/or greater environmental heterogeneity. Our results contradict Laughlin's observations but may be more in line with his hypothesis of in situ evolutionary changes absent gene flow. In addition to selection, gene flow, and gene drift, however, sociocultural changes must also be considered as a factor in why morphology changed over time.

Crânios, corpos e medidas: a constituição do acervo de instrumentos antropométricos do Setor de Antropologia Biológica do Museu Nacional no fim do século XIX - início do século XX / Skulls, bodies, and measures: the formation of the collection of anthropometric instruments of the Setor de Antropologia Biológica of the Museu Nacional in the end of the XIX century - beginning of the XX century

Se há um símbolo que encapsula a história da antropologia física, talvez seja aquele de um crânio associado a um compasso para medição craniométrica. Na segunda metade do século XIX e no início do XX, na fase áurea da antropologia física, houve intensa geração de aparatos tecnológicos, sobretudo na Alemanha e na França, para determinação das características corporais. As medidas craniana talvez tenham sido as que mais se notabilizaram, mas foram desenvolvidos pelos antropólogos físicos equipamentos para escrutinar praticamente todas as partes do corpo, incluindo cor dos olhos, formato das orelhas, tamanho do nariz, e assim por diante. Este capítulo é um ensaio sobre a coleção de instrumentos antropométricos do Setor de Antropologia Biológica do Museu Nacional. Muito mais do que descrever a coleção, o interesse foi refletir sobre a história da disciplina no Brasil tomando como eixo de análise os instrumentos utilizados nas pesquisas, tratando-os como fontes históricas.

Crânios, corpos e medidas: a constituição do acervo de instrumentos antropométricos do Setor de Antropologia Biológica do Museu Nacional no fim do século XIX - início do século XX / Skulls, bodies, and measures: the formation of the collection of anthropometric instruments of the Setor de Antropologia Biológica of the Museu Nacional in the end of the XIX century - Beginning of the XX century

Se há um símbolo que encapsula a história da antropologia física, talvez seja aquele de um crânio associado a um compasso para medição craniométrica. Na segunda metade do século XIX e no início do XX, na fase áurea da antropologia física, houve intensa geração de aparatos tecnológicos, sobretudo na Alemanha e na França, para determinação das caracterísiticas corporais. As medidas craniana talvez tenham sido as que mais se notabilizaram, mas foram desenvolvidos pelos antropólogos físicos equipamentos para escrutinar praticamente todas as partes do corpo, incluindo cor dos olhos, formato das orelhas, tamanho do nariz, e assim por diante. Este capítulo é um ensaio sobre a coleção de instrumentos antropométricos do Setor de Antropologia Biológica do Museu Nacional. Muito mais do que descrever a coleção, o interesse foi refletir sobre a história da disciplina no Brasil tomando como eixo de análise os instrumentos utilizados nas pesquisas, tratando-os como fontes históricas. (AU)

La antropología en el deporte / Sports anthropology

No disponible

No disponible

Evaluation of the gonial angle in the Anatolian populations: from past to present.

Biometrical studies on ancient skeletal series and comparison with modern people by using radiological methods are quite limited in Turkey. Previous studies showed that measurements obtained from orthopantomographs are highly correlated with the actual size of the bones. The aim of the present study is to determine the possible change in gonial angle over time in ancient Anatolian populations with the present. Also an aim was attempted to demonstrate the symmetry of the gonial angle in the jaws and the sexual dimorphism. Gonial angle values (right and left) were taken from 267 Turkish adults with no craniomandibular disorders, orthodontic history or treatment by using panoramic radiographs. Data of the past populations were collected from previous studies. Comparison between right and left sides and the sexual differences were tested by paired student t-test and discriminant analyses were conducted. The results showed that there were no significant differences between the right and left gonial angles of the individuals but there was a significant difference at the left gonial angle between sexes (p < 0.01). Furthermore, no statistically significant difference was found for the gonial angle between the selected past populations with the present sample.

A new technique for measurements on long bones: development of a new instrument and techniques comparison.

In this paper we present a new instrument for measurements on long bones. The instrument is based on the use of a digital coordinatometer-goniometer connected to an optical collimator: such device allows angles as well as lengths to be measured. With regard to observing procedures, an innovative method for bone axis location by points has been applied. It is also possible to locate an axis using a symmetry and tangency criterion. As for torsion angles, the proposed technique is absolutely new; it utilizes a reference plane, which the bone must be leaned against, and the symmetry conditions that are generated by rotating the bone around an axis orthogonal to this plane. In order to verify the precision of the new instrument (digital osteogoniometer), several tests were performed. For this purpose we have studied the results of measurements carried out with the new instrument as well as with traditional apparatuses by four different observers on a sample of 10 skeletons (humerus, radius, ulna, femur, tibia of left side). The analysis of intrapersonal and interpersonal differences points out that the new osteogoniometer is more precise in angular measurements than traditional instruments. Moreover the time requested for carrying out measurements prooved to be shorter, above all with regard to torsion angles measurements.