SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUALITIES IN SELF-REPORTED HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FUNCTIONING IN ARGENTINA: FINDINGS FROM THE NATIONAL SURVEY ON QUALITY OF LIFE OF OLDER ADULTS 2012 (ENCaViAM).

This study aimed to evaluate educational and income inequalities in self-reported health (SRH), and physical functioning (limitations in Activities of Daily Living (ADL)/Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL)), among 60-year-old and older adults in Argentina. Using cross-sectional data from the Argentinian National Survey on Quality of Life of Older Adults 2012 (Encuesta Nacional sobre Calidad de Vida de Adultos Mayores, ENCaViAM), gender-specific socioeconomic inequalities in SRH and ADL and IADL limitations were studied in relation to educational level and household per capita income. The Relative Index of Inequality (RII) - an index of the relative size of socioeconomic inequalities in health - was used. Socioeconomic inequalities in the studied health indicators were found - except for limitations in ADL among women - favouring socially advantaged groups. The results remained largely significant after full adjustment, suggesting that educational and income inequalities, mainly in SRH and IADL, were robust and somehow independent of age, marital status, physical activity, the use of several medications, depression and the occurrence of falls. The findings add to the existing knowledge on the relative size of the socioeconomic inequalities in subjective health indicators among Argentinian older adults, which are to the detriment of lower socioeconomic groups. The results could be used to inform planning interventions aimed at decreasing socioeconomic inequalities in health, to the benefit of socially disadvantaged adults.

Contribution of immigration to adolescent fertility in Spain considering the reproductive pattern in the country of origin.

Adolescent fertility displays a trend that does not follow-and even runs contrary to-the general temporal fertility pattern. Multiple factors determine this trend, including socioeconomic conditions and cultural patterns at both immigrants' place of origin of and their destination. This article analyzes adolescent fertility in Spain with regard to country of maternal origin using records of deliveries (1980-2008) and information from countries with high immigration rates to Spain. After 1980, deliveries to adolescents diminished; after 1996, only Spanish-born adolescents continued this downward trend, but not immigrants. The factors responsible for these differences are diverse and related to the characteristics of the immigrants themselves, in addition to the situation of immigrants in the Spanish context.

Inbreeding and population subdivision in Córdoba province, Argentina, at the end of the eighteenth century.

Marital isonymy is frequently used to estimate inbreeding and the repeated pairs method is useful to investigate whether the population under examination has subdivisions. These methods can also be applied to registers, such as population censuses, where both spouses' surnames are noted. In this paper, the 1795 census for Córdoba province is analysed. Numerically speaking, Spanish and mixed-race people are the major ethno-social groups in the register. In order to estimate inbreeding, the isonymic method was applied to both groups, at provincial and at parish level. To appreciate to what extent the parishes were genetically isolated, Wright's Fst was also calculated. The repeated pairs method was also used for both groups to assess if population subdivision existed in the units under study. Finally, to evaluate whether the subdivision based on surnames reflected the ethno-social stratification, the same method was used considering the two groups together. At the provincial scale, both groups displayed low inbreeding and micro-differentiation, although the former was higher for the Spanish and the latter for mixed-race groups, which could indicate a more marked conjugal selectivity in the Spanish. At the parish scale, preferences for isonymic spouses were not pronounced either in Spanish or in mixed-race groups; in the Spanish group population subdivision prevailed, with the opposite occurring in the mixed-race group. The estimations from repeated pairs, taking the two groups together, indicated that for the studied populations the surnames do not allow the two groups to be differentiated into isolated reproductive units.

Morfología dental en una muestra de cráneos humanos de Pampa Grande, Argentina / Dental morphology in a sample of human skulls from Pampa Grande, Argentina

Se ha estudiado la prevalencia de 25 rasgos dentales en un grupo de cráneos adultos de aborígenes argentinos provenientes de la provincia de Salta, particularmente de la localidad llamada Pampa Grande. Se han analizando las arcadas superiores e inferiores de los mismos y la totalidad de las piezas dentales, excepto los terceros molares. El estudio se realizó sobre la dentición permanente de 66 cráneos adultos - maduros. Se establecieron las frecuencias absolutas y relativas de los rasgos estudiados.

Prevalence of 25 dental non-metric traits has been observed in a sample of 66 adult human skulls from Pampa Grande, Provincia de Salta, Argentina. All teeth from upper and lower arcades were analyzed, except the third molars. Frequency of traits observed was established.

Temporal and territorial analysis of multiple deliveries in Spain (1900-2006).

Temporal variations in the frequency of multiple maternities in many Western European countries have been described. However, within a single country, regional differences are observed. Urban industrialized regions and rural agricultural areas have experienced in recent decades a distinct decline in multiple deliveries, which in cases have been related to maternal age and parity changes. Research on multiple deliveries in Spain is scarce and none of the studies go back to the beginning of the 20th century or consider regional variation over an extended period of time. The present paper is a yearly study on multiple deliveries in Spain since 1900 including a geographical analysis. Rather than dealing with recent changes in multi-parity, this paper is concerned with Spain's long-term national variation (between 1900 and 2006). The changing pattern of double and triple deliveries was analyzed using data from the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE). Twinning rates in Spain are low in comparison to those of equivalent periods in other countries, and the minimum rates correspond to the 1980s decade. Results were interpreted by taking into account the influence of age at maternity and reproductive variation up to 1990. A good fit between observed and predicted rates was obtained after the application of models, which besides maternal age and parity, include their interaction. Regarding territorial variability, the values corresponding to southern, northern and insular Spanish provinces are consistent with an earlier reduction of the crude birth rate in the north-east regions and latter in the southern regions and the Canary Islands.

Mate choice in Olivenza: influence of border change on Spanish-Portuguese lineages.

The mating pattern in a population determines the next generation gene pool and therefore its genetic structure. Besides socio-cultural and geographic factors, political barriers may influence the formation of couples. The present paper studies how the change of national border affected the mating pattern of Olivenza in Badajoz Province (Spain), which experienced a change of domain from Portugal to Spain in 1801. For the period analysed (1750-1850), 954 Catholic marriage records were transcribed. Data were sorted by decades in order to make a temporal study possible and analysed by means of diversity and repeated-pairs of surnames. Following the change of border the mating pattern modified. Coinciding with a larger number of mixed marriages with Spaniards, there was a progressive rise in the diversity of surnames. From 1811 to 1820 the analysis of repeated-pairs of surnames indicates the existence of preferential matings within Spanish and Portuguese lineages. After 1821 the above pattern became less clear due to the disappearance of the Spanish-Portuguese restrictions on choice of mate.

Ethnobotanical knowledge in rural communities of Cordoba (Argentina): the importance of cultural and biogeographical factors.

BACKGROUND: The possibility to better understand the relationships within the men, the nature and their culture has extreme importance because allows the characterisation of social systems through their particular environmental perception, and provides useful tools for the development of conservation policies. METHODS: The present study was planned to disentangle environmental and cultural factors that are influencing the perception, knowledge and uses of edible and medicinal plants in rural communities of Cordoba (Argentina). Interviews an participant observation were conducted in nine rural communities located in three different biogeographical areas. Data about knowledge of medicinal and edible plants and sociocultural variables were obtained. Data were analysed by Principal Components Analysis (PCA). RESULTS: The analysis of data confirmed that medicinal species are widely used whereas the knowledge on edible plants is eroding. The PCA showed four groups of communities, defined by several particular combinations of sociocultural and/or natural variables. CONCLUSION: This comprehensive approach suggests that in general terms the cultural environment has a stronger influence than the natural environment on the use of medicinal and edible plants in rural communities of Cordoba (Argentina).

Dental non-metric traits in a pre-conquest sample "Calchaquí" from Argentina, South America / Rasgos dentales no-métricos en una muestra pre-conquista "Calchaquí" de Argentina, América del Sur

The present study was carried out with a Calchaquí human Pre-Conquest sample from Northwest of Argentina, with the aim of exploring the dental morphology patterns in this population. This study was carried out by means of a macroscopic analysis in permanent dentitions of 7 skulls. 40 dental non-mtetric traits were recorded using the ASU Dental Anthropology System. Percentages >70 percent was found only in 4 traits. Calchaquí sample studied here is near to these values in shovel shape expression, but the results of this study suggest that a Sinodont pattern is no clear for this sample. To conclude, the present investigation provides additional, insightful elements for a description of biological factors in the process of dental morphologic diversification associated to regional and temporal ranges in this region of Argentina.

Estudiamos una muestra Pre-Conquista de Calchaquíes del Noroeste de Argentina, con el objetivo de explorar patrones de morfología dental presentes en esta población. Se realizó un análisis macroscópico en dentición permanente de 7 cráneos. 40 rasgos no-dentales fueron registrados utilizando el ASU Dental Antropology System. Porcentajes mayores al 70 por ciento fueron encontrados solamente en 4 rasgos. La muestra estudiada está cerca de valores en la expresión de la forma de pala, pero los resultados de este estudio sugieren que un patrón Sinodonte no es claro para esta muestra. Para concluir, la presente investigación brinda adicionalmente, profundos elementos para una descripción de los factores biológicos en el proceso de diversificación morfológica dental asociada a los rangos regionales y temporales en esta región de Argentina.

Método forense para determinar sexo en individuos subadultos usando odontometría de la dentición / Forensic method to determine gender in sub adult subjets using odontometrics in the deciduous dentition

Introducción: por muchos años, los estudios antropológicos de muestras contemporáneas de subadultos han sugerido poco dimorfismo sexual expresado en los patrones morfológicos convencionales. El objetivo fue evaluar el dimorfismo sexual en una muestra de subadultos de la población de la ciudad de Córdoba, Argentina, usando dimensiones de la dentición decidua. Métodos: este artículo describe el dimorfismo dental en una muestra de 98 subadultos con dentición temporal provenientes de la Ciudad de Córdoba, Argentina. Se tomaron las medidas mesiodistal y bucolingual de la dentición temporal y los datos arrojados se procesaron con el índice Weighted Boundary (WB) y análisis discriminante stepwise. Resultados y conclusiones: se propone una técnica alternativa de determinación de sexo usando dentición temporal. Se seleccionaron nueve variables que expresaron diferencias altamente significativas; entre ellas la BL UM1 predice correctamente el sexo masculino en el 90,9% y el femenino en un 93,7% de los casos.

Introduction: for many years, anthropological studies of sub-adult contemporary samples suggest that a low sex dimorphism expressed in morphology patterns exist. The objective was to evaluate the sex dimorphism in a sample of sub adults from Cordoba City, Argentina using dental dimensions in deciduous teeth. Methods: this article describes the dental dimorphism in a sample of 98 sub-adults with deciduous dentition from Córdoba City, Argentina. Mesial -distal and buccal-lingual diameters of the deciduous dentition were taken and the data was analyzed with Weighted Boundary (WB) index and multivariate discriminate stepwise analysis. Results and conclusion: an alternative technique for gender determination using the deciduous dentition is proposed. Nine variables that expressed highly significant differences were selected, among them, BL UM1 correctly predicting male gender in 90.9% and female gender in 93.7% of the cases.

Factors associated with recent increase of multiple births in Spain.

The increased incidence of multiple deliveries in Spain, in addition to changes in age at maternity and parity, is attributed to assisted reproductive treatments, but the relative contribution of the latter to this rise remains uncertain, due to the scarce information provided by clinics practicing those treatments. Population based data (1984-2004), including information on mother's age, nationality, marital status, date of delivery, and the characteristics of each (parity, single or multiple), and sex of newborns were provided by the Spanish Institute of Statistics. Twinning and triplet deliveries relate to maternal age, parity, and nationality. For younger ages (or= 40) rates increased after 1994. From 1984 to 2004 the percentage of twins of opposite sex increased from 24.31 to 36.58 per cent. Since 1997, Spanish and non-Spanish mothers differentiate with respect to multiple maternity at ages over 30. In addition to unmarried Spanish women, immigrants constitute a reliable reference group that determines the convenience of segregating information on multiple deliveries respecting origin. The proportion of twins and triplets of opposite sex, maternal age, and parity patterns observed are concordant with a differential access to reproductive treatments depending on the woman's age. The present norm regulating the maximum number of fertilizations per cycle and the demand for these treatments explain the high incidence of multiple deliveries in Spain. A modified logistic curve predicts a stabilization of multiple deliveries, which will probably continue to be high in Spain.

Factors related to inbreeding components from isonymy in an urban population: Aranjuez (Spain).

An isonymic analysis has been carried out using a sample of 1529 reconstituted families residing during 1870-1964 in Aranjuez, an urban area situated south of Madrid, Spain. The random, non-random and total-components inbreeding coefficients from isonymy were obtained and the various combinations of surnames compared in order to infer the patri- or matrilocal pattern of residence. Throughout the period studied the random component of inbreeding (F(r)) has not changed, in contrast to the non-random component (F(n)), thus suggesting the latter could be responsible for the reduction of total inbreeding. Using several methodological approaches (biplot analysis, alpha, nu and percentage of immigrants) the predominance of the immigration of grooms was interpreted in terms of Aranjuez as a matrilocal pattern of residence. From this study it can also be concluded that surnames provided by reconstituted families are good estimators of inbreeding and migration.

El metaconulo de los molares superiores humanos / The metaconule in the human upper molars

Este artículo presenta la distribución mundial del rasgo Metaconulo en los primeros molares superiores humanos. Su conocimiento poblacional nos ayuda a tener una visión más completa de la morfología dental humana y nos permite tener un referente geográfico y temporal de este rasgo.

This article shows the world wide distribution of Metaconule trait on first human upper molars. The populational record of this trait can help us to know better the human dental morphology, its geographic and microevolution of this dental trait.

Morfología dental de una serie prehistórica de araucanos provenientes de la Patagonia Argentina y su relación biológica con otras poblaciones prehistóricas argentinas y del mundo / Dental morphology in a prehistoric sample of araucanos from Patagonia and his biological relationship with other prehistoric populations from Argentina and the world

Se ha estudiado la prevalencia de 25 rasgos dentales en un grupo de cráneos adultos prehispánicos conservados en el Museo de La Plata (Argentina). Se han analizando ambas arcadas y la totalidad de las piezas dentales de la dentición permanente excepto los terceros molares. El principal objetivo de este estudio es establecer el patrón morfológico dental según las frecuencias absolutas y relativas de los rasgos que caracterizan a la dentición de la serie araucanos. Se puede concluir, por las frecuencias de los rasgos analizados, que la muestra presenta similitudes con las poblaciones mongoloides sinodontes y se aleja de las poblaciones europeas y africanas.

The prevalence of 25 dental traits in a simple of pre-hispanic mature skulls belonging to Museo de La Plata (Agentina) were analyzed. Both arches, upper and lower, and all of the permanent dentition with the exception of the third molars were studied. The main objective of this study was to establish the morphological dental pattern according to absolute and relative frequency of the traits that characterize the dentitions of araucanos. It can be concluded, from the frecuency of the traits analyzed, that the sample presents similarities with momgoloid synodonts and it moves away from the European and African populations.

Morfología Dental de una Serie Prehistórica de Araucanos Provenientes de la Patagonia Argentina y su Relación Biológica con Otras Poblaciones Prehistóricas Argentinas y del Mundo / Dental Morphology in a Prehistoric Sample of Araucanos From Patagonia and His Biological Relationship With Other Prehistoric Populations From Argentina and the World

Se estudió la prevalencia de 25 rasgos dentales en un grupo de cráneos adultos prehispánicos, conservados en el Museo de La Plata (Argentina). Fueron analizadas ambas arcadas y la totalidad de las piezas dentales de la dentición permanente excepto los terceros molares. El principal objetivo de este estudio es establecer el patrón morfológico dental, según las frecuencias absolutas y relativas de los rasgos que caracterizan a la dentición de la serie Araucanos. Se puede concluir, por las frecuencias presentadas en los rasgos analizados, que la muestra presenta similitudes con las poblaciones mongoloides sinodontes y se aleja de las poblaciones europeas y africanas.

Presence of 25 dental traits in a sample of pre-conquest mature skulls kept in Museo de La Plata (Argentina) has been analyzed. Both arches upper and lower and all permanent dental pieces has been registred, except third molars. This study establish dental morphology patterns from a statistical point of view. We conluded that statistical frequences show high similarity with populations associated to mongoloid dental complex and move away of European and African populations.

Class endogamy, inbreeding and migration during the Argentinean colonial period: analysis based on individuals of European ancestry.

During the Spanish colonial period, Córdoba was an important town due to its location suitable for controlling communication throughout a wide region of Argentina. As a typical colonial society, where individuals belonged to a well established social class, marriages among Whites were the result of strict norms and prejudices founded on nets of kinship, friendship and neighbouring. The objective of this paper is to determine, whether the elevated class endogamy among Whites during the colonial period resulted in high consanguinity and whether a process of selection of surnames was present in 1813. In both cases the interaction with the migratory flow was taken into account. It is concluded that (a) Although an endogamy of "class" existed among Whites, there is no evidence of the consequences on the biological structure of the population through preferential mating between relatives, as deduced from the low level of inbreeding from isonymy. (b) There was no differential reproduction reflecting the selection of families carrying certain surnames; therefore surnames followed a "neutral" model. (c) The diversity of surnames and the gene flow deduced from them were of a magnitude similar to present populations; this fact could have balanced the effect of the "class" endogamy. (d) Finally, the congruence between information derived from the population age distribution and historic data and the quantification of migration from surnames allowed the detection of mistakes in the census data file regarding the number of foreigners, thus validating the use of surnames as biological markers of the population structure.

Isonymic relationships in ethno-social categories (Argentinian colonial period) including illegitimate reproduction.

Surnames provide a useful method to study the structure of human populations for which biological data are not available. The isonymic method has had multiple applications, but difficulties emerge when dealing with groups where extramarital reproduction is common and the sample size is small, and even more so when only paternal surnames are taken into account.Therefore, it could be of interest to retain female surnames, including those of unmarried mothers. This study was carried out using all birth records froman Argentinian population in the colonial period, which was characterized by the presence of different ethno-social groups (Spanish, Indian and 'Mestizo'or mixed Spanish-Indian) and various reproductive patterns regarding legitimacy. Coefficient of relationship by isonymy (Ri) kinship matrices between geographical populations were obtained, and the results derived from sets of surnames (paternal, maternal of legitimate and illegitimate children,and all surnames in the registers) compared. The results show similar surname distribution regardless of the set of surnames and group considered. Kinship Ri matrices using paternal surnames, maternal surnames of legitimate children, maternal surnames of illegitimate children, and the set of whole surnames showed the same relationships among populations, indicating a similar pattern for Spanish, Indian and Mixed ethno-social groups. Mantel test correlation between all pairs of matrices was significant in all different ethno-social groups. The results suggest that in populations with high illegitimacy, such as that studied here, it is possible to include maternal surnames, even corresponding to single mothers, in order to consider total reproduction and therefore maximize sample size.

Isonymic analysis of population structure in Gredos, Spain.

For the period 1875-1975 an isonymic analysis was made based on 41,696 marriages celebrated in three valleys (Tormes, Alberche and Tietar) from Gredos (Spain). Total inbreeding (Ft) was lower in the Tietar valley (0.0103- 0.0136), followed by the Tormes (0.0125-0.0255) and the Alberche (0.0153-0.0200). In the latter, random inbreeding (Fr) surpassed non random (Fn). Correlation coefficients were obtained to confirm an association of inbreeding from isonymy with valley and village endogamy rates, locality census, altitude, and alpha inbreeding. Fn correlated positively with average valley endogamy and village endogamy and with altitude, but inversely with census size. Contrarily, Fr related significantly to village endogamy. The non-random component from isonymy related positively to inbreeding from dispensations. Except for village endogamy, both variables show the same relationships to variables, such as altitude, which reflect limitations to mobility; or valley endogamy indicating the disposability of potential mates which in turn depends on the census size.

Inbreeding coefficients and degree of consanguineous marriages in Spain: a review.

The contribution of consanguineous marriages corresponding to uncle-niece or aunt-nephew (C12), first cousin (C22), first cousin once removed (C23), and second cousin (C33) to the inbreeding coefficient (alpha) was analyzed from a sample of Spanish areas and periods. Multiple regressions were performed taking as independent variables the different degrees of consanguinity previously selected (C12, C22, C23, and C33) and as dependent variable the inbreeding coefficient (alpha). According to the results obtained for any degree and period, rural frequencies always surpass urban. However, the pattern is similar in both areas. In the period where consanguinity was more elevated (1890-1929) the C22/C33 ratio increased. Its variation is not due to C22 and C33 changes in the same way. In rural areas, this ratio surpasses the expected value by a factor of 2-3, but in urban areas it was 7-10 times larger, in some cases due to migration. While in rural Spain the C33 frequency was approximately 1.5 times C22, in cities C22 was 1.5 times C33. The best fit among the various types of consanguineous matings and alpha involves a lineal relationship. Regardless of the number of variables contributing significantly to alpha, C22 matings are always present. Moreover, their standardized (beta) coefficients are the highest. The above indicates that this consanguineous relationship conditions the inbreeding coefficient the most. In the period of greater consanguinity, close relationships, uncle-niece C12, and first cousin once removed (C23) make a significant contribution to alpha. In rural Spain second cousins (C33) always significantly determined alpha; however, in cities the inbreeding variation was mainly due to C12 and C23.

Use of surname models in human population biology: a review of recent developments.

Since 1985, when a bibliography concerning studies on surnames and genetic structure appeared, the number of publications on this subject has increased a thousandfold. New topics and uses have been added, but large gaps in knowledge remain. Only studies on isonymy in cities of nation states for recent times are well covered, and most studies are on populations that were selected because they are isolated and not because they are typical. This review, although not exhaustive, covers the literature published since 1985.

Estimation of inbreeding from ecclesiastical dispensations: application of three procedures to a Spanish case.

The inbreeding coefficient of a population, estimated from ecclesiastical Roman Catholic dispensations, results from the relative contribution of different degrees of relationships (uncle-niece, first cousin, etc.). The interpopulation comparisons of consanguinity patterns may be obscured by the fact that in 1918 the Roman Catholic Church norm regulating the closest marriageable kinship was modified, limiting the application for an ecclesiastical dispensation to relatives of third degree (second cousins) or closer. Depending on the length of the period before or after the change of regulation, coefficients and rates may differ. Deviation of frequencies for multiple marriages may also occur. The aim of the present paper is to determine how the chosen procedure based on ecclesiastical dispensations may affect results, regarding the inbreeding coefficient, the consanguinity rate, the structure of consanguinity and the close/remote kinship ratio. As a sample case, information from the Gredos mountain range (central Spain) has been used.