The influence of biological relatedness on sexual dimorphism and sex classification based on external morphology of the frontal bone.

The most significant sexual differences in the human skull are located in the upper third of the face (the frontal bone), which is a useful research object, mainly in combination with virtual anthropology methods. However, the influence of biological relatedness on sexual dimorphism and frontal bone variability remains unknown. This study was directed at sexual difference description and sex classification using the form and shape of the external surface of the frontal bones from a genealogically documented Central European osteological sample (nineteenth to twentieth centuries). The study sample consisted of 47 cranial CT images of the adult members of several branches of one family group over 4 generations. Three-dimensional virtual models of the frontal bones were analyzed using geometric morphometrics and multidimensional statistics. Almost the entire external frontal surface was significantly different between males and females, especially in form. Significant differences were also found between this related sample and an unrelated one. Sex estimation of the biologically related individuals was performed using the classification models developed on a sample of unrelated individuals from the recent Czech population (Cechová et al. in Int J Legal Med 133: 1285 1294, 2019), with a result of 74.46% and 63.83% in form and shape, respectively. Failure of this classifier was caused by the existence of typical traits found in the biologically related sample different from the usual manifestation of sexual dimorphism. This can be explained as due to the increased degree of similarity and the reduction of variability in biologically related individuals. The results show the importance of testing previously published methods on genealogical data.

Does sternal body shape reflect family relationships? A study on a genealogically documented Central European osteological sample (19th-20th centuries).

In forensic contexts, sternal anatomical varieties represent useful tools for the identification of an individual, either by comparison of ante-mortem and post-mortem data, or by potential comparison of data from biologically related individuals. Sternal body variation is also used to detect the biological affinity of individuals in bioarchaeology. However, no study has been made available to date on the degree to which the overall shape of the sternal body reflects the degree of biological relatedness. We, therefore, analyzed the sternal body shape of 10 individuals with known genealogical data, members of one family over three generations including inbred individuals (19th-20th centuries, Bohemia, Czech Republic), and a control sample of 12 biologically unrelated individuals. First, closely biologically related individuals were compared with unrelated individuals based on 10 variables expressing the morphological characteristics of the sternum, and then all individuals were compared based on Fourier analysis depending on their degree of relationship. The results showed that there is a greater degree of shape similarity in biologically related individuals than in unrelated individuals, and variability decreases with an increasing degree of relatedness. Inbred individuals showed the lowest sternum-shape distances and degree of variability, while unrelated individuals, showed the highest distances and variability. Moreover, in some cases, the documented relationships were also supported by a similar morphology of the ossified and fused xiphoid process. Thus, sternal shape analysis expands the possibilities for individual identification and the detection of the biological affinity of individuals for both the forensic sciences and bioarchaeology.

Osseous suprascapular canal: rare variant that would hinder suprascapular nerve block and posterior surgical approach.

PURPOSE: To report atypical anatomical variation of an osseous suprascapular canal, and to elaborate on its clinical significance as a potential anatomical factor that could obscure a direct posterior surgical approach and suprascapular nerve block. METHODS: Osteological observational study of the scapula with emphasis on the suprascapular space. The pool of investigated sample size was collectively 768 specimens composed of 529 adult dry scapulae (240 paired, 289 un-paired), 54 children dry scapulae, 135 wet scapulae observed during cadaveric dissections, 47 retrospective 3D CT reconstructions, and 3 retrospective full sequence shoulder MRI. The two reported cases came from the 240 (120 skeleton) observed paired scapulae. Furthermore, the osseous suprascapular canal was examined by X-rays and its internal path was exposed by CT sections. A narrative review was conducted to investigate any relevant reports on the subject matter. RESULTS: Two left dry bone scapulae with unilateral osseous suprascapular canal were found. The incidence of this atypical morphology of an osseous canal is probably five cases reported in three studies including this cases study. CONCLUSIONS: The reported cases aid in explaining additional possible anatomical factors that could lead to below threshold anesthetic effect in posterior suprascapular nerve block procedures. Therefore, it is more practical to visualize the suprascapular canal by some imaging method before attempting to blindly access the suprascapular nerve in nerve block or posterior surgical approach due to the rare potential existence of an ossified barrier hindering the procedure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: V Basic Science Research.

Investigation of the lasing performance of a crystalline-coated Yb:YAG thin-disk directly bonded onto a silicon carbide heatsink.

We investigated the use of crystalline coatings as the highly reflective coating of an Yb:YAG thin disk directly bonded onto a silicon carbide heatsink. Compared to commonly used ion-beam-sputtered coatings, it possesses lower optical losses and higher thermal conductivity, resulting in better heat management and laser outputs. We pumped the disk up to 1.15 kW at 969 nm and reached 665 W of average output power, and disk temperature of 107 °C with a highly multi-modal V-cavity. These promising results were reached with this novel design despite the adoption of a cheap silicon carbide substrate having more than 3 times lower thermal conductivity compared to frequently used CVD diamond.

The Importance of Historical Medical Records Review in the Interpretation of Dry Bone Lesions on Identified Skeletal Remains: A Case Study of a Polymorbid Male (1895-1940).

ABSTRACT: The examination of documented skeletal remains provides an exceptional opportunity for biohistorical research to answer questions about an individual's life and death. Research in this area also makes it possible to assess the reliability of historical records from the period of interest, which is often the subject of discussion, especially in cases of historically known individuals. The remains of K.B.C. (1895-1940), a prominent local landowner and politician, were exhumed because of the repair of a family tomb in Jíloviste, Czech Republic. The aim of this study was to analyze pathological changes in his bones and to interpret these by comparing them with the results of a historical medical records review of private family and public archives regarding his diseases and death, thus verifying their credibility. Morphological and X-ray examinations of the bones revealed several serious pathological changes, whose presence fully corresponded to the studied documents. This showed the records' reliability, and it was thus possible to accurately interpret the lesions found. The results demonstrated the need for interdisciplinary collaboration in the analysis of such cases, including the assistance of the living descendants of the studied individuals, if possible.

Kinship and the familial occurrence of skeletal developmental anomalies in the noble Swéerts-Sporck family (Bohemia, 17th to 20th centuries).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the degree of similarity of biologically related individuals according to the occurrence of skeletal developmental anomalies (SDA), to see whether these anomalies reflect documented biological relationships. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sample consists of the skeletal remains of seven members of the noble Swéerts-Sporck family from the 17th-20th centuries. Eighty-nine SDA were examined using morphological assessment, X-ray and CT. The degree of similarity was calculated using a similarity coefficient (Cvrcek et al., 2018). RESULTS: There were three shared SDA in the sample (cranial shift at the C-T border, cervical ribs, hypoplasia of rib 12), and another fifteen individual SDA were reported. The degree of similarity between individuals supports their documented relationships. The greatest similarity was found in closely related individuals such as father/son or siblings, and the least between unrelated individuals. CONCLUSIONS: SDA can be used as a supportive tool for detecting family relationships. The results correspond to the conclusions of earlier analyses of non-metric traits and frontal sinuses in the same sample: the smaller the biological distance between individuals, the greater the degree of their similarity. SIGNIFICANCE: Using unique human skeletal collections, this communication contributes to the expansion of knowledge about the familial occurrence of SDA. LIMITATIONS: The small number of individuals limits the use of statistical approaches. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH: The results call for research on this topic using a larger sample with known genealogical data and the same approaches, to confirm our conclusions.

Familial occurrence of skeletal developmental anomalies as a reflection of biological relationships in a genealogically documented Central European sample (19th to 20th centuries).

Skeletal developmental anomalies (SDA) are a subject of constant interest across scientific disciplines, but still mostly as isolates and curiosities. The aim of this study was to find out to what extent the occurrence of SDA reflects documented biological relationships. The skeletal remains of 34 individuals with known genealogical data were available, members of one family over four generations (19th to 20th centuries, Bohemia, Czech Republic), including some inbred individuals. The occurrence of 89 SDA was assessed on the basis of scopic morphological evaluation and X-ray and CT examinations. The degree of similarity between individuals was calculated using a "similarity coefficient" (SC). A linear model was used to test the relationship between positive values of the SC and the relatedness of biologically related individuals. Simultaneously, based on population frequencies of the evaluated anomalies, those that could be considered familial were recorded. A statistically significant relationship between morphological similarity and the biological distance between individuals was found. The greatest similarity was found among close relatives such as parents and children, siblings, or grandparents and grandchildren. The effect of increased consanguinity on the occurrence of anomalies was not confirmed, however. Seventeen SDA shared by closely related individuals were found in the sample, supporting the documented family relationships among them. Eleven of these were selected as possibly familial, but only five were statistically significant: an elongated styloid process, a cervical block vertebrae (arch, facet joints), hamate hamulus aplasia, anteater nose sign, and incomplete fusion of the S1 spinous process. There were also 28 cases of individual occurrences of 17 different SDA, without connection to the documented relationships between individuals.

Frontal sinus anatomy of the noble Swéerts-Sporck family and verification of their biological relationships using similarity analysis.

The evaluation of frontal sinus similarity is one way to detect biological relationships, especially in small groups, including families of historically known personalities. However, possibilities for studying this issue are currently limited. This contribution deals with the frontal sinuses of a rare osteological sample with known genealogical data, members of the noble Swéerts-Sporck family from the 17th to 20th centuries. The aim is to verify whether the frontal sinuses reflect documented family relationships. Basic dimensions of the frontal sinus such as total surface area and volume, and maximum height and width, and also morphology and anatomical features were evaluated using computed tomography scans. The portions of the frontal sinus above the "external supraorbital line" were analyzed. The degree of similarity between biologically related individuals was determined for each variable and compared with their known biological distance. The degree of similarity based on dimensions was evaluated using both the unadjusted measured data and standardized data adjusted to size. For the unadjusted dimensions, a positive correlation between morphological similarity and biological relatedness was apparent. On the other hand, no positive correlation was apparent for most of the standardized data. Only total volume showed a very weak indication of a positive trend in the standardized data, but this was weaker than in the original values. A positive quantifiable relationship between morphological patterns and biological distance is not clearly indicated. However, nonmetric features do support the documented relationships of the individuals.

The dietary behavior of two early medieval individuals with temporomandibular ankylosis.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to reconstruct the dietary behavior of two early medieval individuals who display gnathic malformation. MATERIAL: Two skeletons affected by temporomandibular ankylosis were analyzed, one from the Great Moravian burial site of Rajhradice (9th century AD, Czech Republic), and the other from the Avar burial site of SchÓ§nkirchen (8th century AD, Austria). METHODS: Carbon and nitrogen isotopic values were measured from the bone collagen of both individuals. In the Rajhradice case, where the childhood origin of ankylosis is deduced, isotopic analysis of dentine sections was performed. RESULTS: Both individuals show isotopic values within the range of variation of a contemporaneous population sample. There was no observable dietary change in the Rajhradice individual that could be linked to the occurrence of ankylosis. CONCLUSIONS: Both individuals consumed diets typical for their populations. They appear to not have restricted access to foodstuffs, namely animal protein, which would likely have had to be served in liquid (e.g. milk) or in a highly mashed form to compensate for insufficient mastication. SIGNIFICANCE: This finding provides specific evidence of care provided to these two afflicted members of past populations. LIMITATIONS: Though the proportion of animal protein is an important indicator of the quality of diet, many other aspects of diet - such as micronutrient content - elude stable isotope analysis. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH: Amino acid compound specific isotope analyses of collagen would provide deeper insight into both the diet and physiology of the affected individuals.

Biological relationships and frontal sinus similarity in skeletal remains with known genealogical data.

Frontal sinus analysis has potential utility for detecting biologically related individuals. However, the methodological approach to its evaluation, as well as its informative value, have been questioned. The aim of this work is to introduce a new approach to evaluating the frontal sinus using the 'external supraorbital line' (ESOL) and to determine whether there are sex differences within families in frontal sinus measurements and whether frontal sinus similarity reflects known genetic relationships in both measurements and morphology. We examined the skeletal remains of 41 adult individuals (25 males, 16 females), all members of one family over four generations (19th to 20th centuries), including individuals with very close consanguinity. CT images of skulls were acquired, and both the dimensions and morphology of the frontal sinuses were analyzed using their portions above the ESOL. No significant sex differences were found within families based on frontal sinus dimensions. Significant relationships were found between biological distance and the maximum height and morphology of the frontal sinuses. The greatest degree of similarity was found among closely related individuals. Additionally, in several cases, there was a greater degree of similarity between first cousins or grandparents and their grandchildren than among siblings or parents and their children. Total surface, volume and width are not significant indicators of relatedness. Known genetic relationships are also supported by individual morphological features. Variability within families with very close consanguineous relationships was lower than within families with common degrees of consanguinity, although differences are significant only for some variables.

Multiple occurrence of premature polyarticular osteoarthritis in an early medieval Bohemian cemetery (Prague, Czech Republic).

OBJECTIVES: To highlight conditions that may cause early-onset degenerative joint disease, and to assess the possible impact of such diseases upon everyday life. MATERIAL: Four adults aged under 50 years from a medieval skeletal collection of Prague (Czechia). METHODS: Visual, osteometric, X-ray, and histological examinations, stable isotope analysis of bone collagen. RESULTS: All four individuals showed multiple symmetrical degenerative changes, affecting the majority of joints of the postcranial skeleton. Associated dysplastic deformities were observed in all individuals, including bilateral hip dysplasia (n = 1), flattening of the femoral condyles (n = 3), and substantial deformation of the elbows (n = 3). The diet of the affected individuals differed from the contemporary population sample. CONCLUSIONS: We propose the diagnosis of a mild form of skeletal dysplasia in these four individuals, with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia or type-II collagenopathy linked to premature osteoarthritis as the most probable causes. SIGNIFICANCE: Combining the skeletal findings with information from the medical literature, this paper defines several characteristic traits which may assist with the diagnosis of skeletal dysplasia in the archaeological record. LIMITATIONS: As no genetic analysis was performed to confirm the possible kinship of the individuals, it is not possible to definitively assess whether the individuals suffered from the same hereditary condition or from different forms of skeletal dysplasia. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH: Further studies on premature osteoarthritis in archaeological skeletal series are needed to correct the underrepresentation of these mild forms of dysplasia in past populations.

Kinship and morphological similarity in the skeletal remains of individuals with known genealogical data (Bohemia, 19th to 20th centuries): A new methodological approach.

OBJECTIVES: This article proposes a new approach, called the "similarity coefficient" (SC) for verifying family relationships from skeletal remains using nonmetric traits. Based on this method and further analyses, the authors aim to show the degree of similarity between individuals with varying degrees of kinship, including inbred individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our sample includes the skeletal remains of 34 individuals with known genealogical data (four generations, 19th to 20th centuries). A total of 243 skeletal nonmetric traits were evaluated with respect to their anatomical characteristics. The SC was calculated by quantifying the agreement of trait occurrence between individuals. We also identified the traits that support the biological relationships of particular individuals by accounting for their population frequencies. RESULTS: There was a positive correlation between the morphological similarity of biologically related individuals and their biological distance. In some cases, we found greater degree of morphological similarity between first cousins than among other close relatives such as parents and children. At the same time, there was no statistically significant difference in the degree of similarity between inbred individuals and common relatives. Proven family relationships were best reflected by cranial traits, especially bone bridges associated with the courses of blood vessels and nerves. CONCLUSIONS: The use of skeletal nonmetric traits for the detection of relatives is possible. There is a relationship between biological distance and the degree of morphological similarity in related individuals. It also appears that inbreeding, despite previous assumptions, does not lead to a significant reduction in morphological variation.