Sex assessment from the sacral base by means of image processing.

To help improve sex assessment from skeletal remains, the present study considers the diagnostic value of the sacral base (basis osseus sacri) based on its planar image and related metric data. For this purpose, 114 adult sacra of known sex and age from two early 20th century Italian populations were examined, the first from Bologna, northern Italy (n = 76), and the second from Sassari, Sardinia (n = 38). Digital photos of the sacral base were taken with each bone in a standardized orientation. Technical drawing software was used to trace its profile and to measure related dimensions (area, perimeter, and breadth of S1 and total breadth of the sacrum). The measurements were subjected to discriminant and classification function analyses. The sex prediction success of 93.2% for the Bolognese sample, 81.6% for the Sassarese sample, and 88.3% for the pooled sample indicates that the first sacral vertebra is a good character for sex determination.

Evidence for new Neanderthal teeth in Tabun Cave (Israel) by the application of self-organizing maps (SOMs).

Morphological and metrical study suggested that seven human teeth from Tabun Cave, Israel were part of the upper dentition of a single, probably Neanderthal, individual renumbered as Tabun BC7. An enamel fragment gave ESR age estimates of 82+/-14 ka (early U-uptake) and 92+/-18 ka (linear uptake) and an age estimate of 90(+30)(-16) ka using U-series disequilibrium. Although metrical analyses suggested Neanderthal affinities, definitive assessment was difficult as the values often fell into the ranges of both Neanderthal and Levantine early modern human samples. Therefore, two further classification analyses were conducted (neural networks using self-organizing maps and homogeneity analysis). Both identify Tabun BC7 as a Neanderthal. Neural networks are a promising tool for paleoanthropological studies as they can provide reliable classifications even with incomplete data.

Age at menarche and age of onset of pubertal characteristics in 6-14-year-old girls from the Province of L'Aquila (Abruzzo, Italy).

The present study is part of a research project on growth models of children in an area of central-southern Italy. It analyzes the phases of pubertal breast development (BD) in 397 girls, pubic hair development (PHD) in 399 girls, and menarche in 583 girls from 6-14 years old. The status quo method was used to evaluate the age at menarche. Probit analysis was used to analyze the data for all three variables. The onset of BD and PHD (Tanner stage 2) occurs at age 7 in 6.1% of girls. Passage to stage 3 of one or both secondary sexual characteristics occurs at age 10 in 8.5% of girls. Comparison with data from the United States shows higher percentages of American white girls in stage 2 (or greater) of both characteristics at any age. The mean (median) age of onset (Tanner stage 2) of BD or PHD or both of them is 9.96 years. The passage to stage 3 occurs at age 12.36 for BD (95% confidence interval: 1.36 years) and at age 12.10 for PHD (95% confidence interval: 0.51 years). The mean age at menarche is 12.55 years, in general agreement with other values found in Italy. Sexual maturation at any considered stage for both pubertal characteristics is generally in line with literature data concerning other Mediterranean and industrialized countries or countries in which the demographic transition is in an advanced phase. It does not show a significant earlier onset. The evidence emerging from the general project suggests that the secular trend is still in progress in this region of Italy.

Natality and the changing pattern of seasonality of births in the province of Teramo (Abruzzo, Italy: 1500-1871).

Reconstruction of human ecosystems and their stability over time provides knowledge of the processes of adaptability developed by isolated communities. Seasonality of vital events is a good indicator of the effects of different 'traditional' lifestyles, which in turn depend on the ecological context in which a population developed specific subsistence models. Seasonality of births reflects the cultural attitude towards the best time to conceive, in relation to work activities and loads; the latter may also affect physiological functions related to fertility. The present research concerns gross birth rates and seasonality of births and conceptions during four centuries in south-central Italy. Birth rates were between 33.0 and 36.5 per 1000. The pattern of seasonality of births and, by extension, of conceptions defines a southern-type agricultural area for the earlier periods. However, it also shows a progressive shift towards an increasing concentration of conceptions in spring-summer--namely from April to August--with a large increase in summer in the 19th century with respect to the previous periods. The new 19th century pattern is reported by Crisafulli, Dalla Zuanna & Solero (2000) as being representative of the central Adriatic region, a geographical classification to which Abruzzo can also be attributed.