Investigating intentional cranial modification: A hybridized two-dimensional/three-dimensional study of the Hirota site, Tanegashima, Japan.

Intentional cranial modification has a long history, being a ubiquitous practice in many cultures around the world for millennia. The crania excavated at the Hirota site on Tanegashima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, has been previously noted to have a marked tendency toward a short head and a flattened occipital bone, which has been suggested to be the result of artificial cranial deformation. However, whether this deformation was intentional or caused by unintentional habits remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of the cranial shape of the Hirota site to clarify whether the crania were intentionally modified. In the examination of Hirota crania, Kyushu Island Jomon and Doigahama Yayoi crania were added as comparative data and contrasted with three-dimensional (3D) surface scan imaging and two-dimensional outline-based geometric morphometric analysis, combined with objective assessments of potential cranial modification. The results showcased Hirota's short and flattened cranial morphology, indicating clear alignment with our hypothesis that Hirota samples are morphologically different from Doigahama and Jomon samples. No sex-based differences were found. Morphological abnormalities in cranial sutures were visually assessed utilizing novel 3D visualization methods of cranial outer surfaces. Based on a comprehensive review of the results, we concluded that Hirota site crania were intentionally modified. Although the motivation of the practice is unclear, the Hirota people may have deformed their crania to preserve group identity and possibly aid in the long-distance trade of shellfish, as seen archaeologically.

A busca de si-mesmo e da identidade nas transformações corporais / La búsqueda del yo y de la identidad en las transformaciones corporales / The search for self and identity in bodily transformations / La recherche de soi et de l'identité à travers les transformations corporelles

Este artigo procura analisar os principais acontecimentos e conquistas do processo de constituição da identidade no quadro da teoria do desenvolvimento emocional de Winnicott. Trata-se, em termos de caminho, ou método, de uma proposta de teoria psicanalítica aplicada à compreensão de fenômenos comportamentais de domínio público. Para analisarmos esse processo, apoiamo-nos na análise do sentido dado ao uso de tatuagens e de outras transformações corporais, nos casos em que estas implicam modificações que não seriam apenas adornos da pessoa, mas têm maior amplitude e podem estar a serviço de uma busca pela própria identidade. Consideramos que a identidade, ou sentimento de si mesmo identitário, está associada ao seguinte conjunto de experiências: a de ser, sem predicado; a de ser-com, associada aos fenômenos transicionais; a de ser-diferente-de, possível ao conquistar-se o status do eu sou; e a de ser-predicável, quando o indivíduo chegou à integração como uma pessoa inteira

Este artículo busca analizar los principales acontecimientos y logros del proceso de constitución de la identidad en el marco de la teoría del desarrollo emocional de Winnicott. Es, en términos de camino o método, una propuesta de la teoría psicoanalítica aplicada a la comprensión de los fenómenos conductuales en el dominio público.Para analizar este proceso, nos apoyamos en el análisis del significado que se le da al uso de tatuajes y otras transformaciones corporales en los casos en que implican cambios que no serían solo adornos de la persona, sino que tienen mayor amplitud y pueden estar al servicio de una búsqueda de la propia identidad. Consideramos que la identidad, o un sentido de identidad, se asocia con el siguiente conjunto de experiencias: la del ser, sin predicado; la del ser-con, asociada a fenómenos transicionales; la del ser-diferente-de, posible conquistando el estatus del Yo Soy; y el de ser predecible, cuando el individuo llega a la integración como persona total

The purpose of this article is to analyze the main events and accomplishments of the identity constitution process according to Winnicott's experience of the emotional development. It is, in terms of path, or method, a proposal of psychoanalytic theory applied to the understanding of behavioral phenomena in the public domain.To study this process, our analysis is based on the meaning given to the use of tattoos and other physical changes in cases involving modifications that are not merely adornments, they are more meaningful and part of the individual's search of his own identity. We consider that identity, or a sense of identity, is associated with the following set of experiences: Am-ness, without predicate; Am-with, related to the transitional phenomena; I-Am-Diferent-From, when it is possible to accomplish the I AM status, differentiating oneself from the world; and I-Am-Predicable, when the individual reaches integration as a Whole Person, when it is possible to ask about the identity question: I am x (x is a predicate of the I)

Cet article vise à analyser les principaux événements et réalisations du processus de constitution de l'identité dans le cadre de la théorie du développement émotionnel de Winnicott. Pour analyser ce processus, nous nous sommes basés sur l'analyse du sens donné à l'utilisation des tatouages et autres transformations corporelles dans les cas où ceux-ci impliquent des modifications qui ne seraient pas seulement des ornements de la personne, mais ont une plus grande amplitude et peuvent être à au service d'une recherche de l'identité personelle. En analysant ce processus, nous commentons l'ensemble d'expériences suivantes: celle d'être, sans prédicat (suis); celui de l'être-avec (suis-avec), associé aux phénomènes transitionnels; celle d'être-différent-de (je-suis-diferent-de), possible en accédant au statut (integation) du "Je" (Je Suis), se différenciant ainsi du monde; et je-suis-prédicable, lorsque l'individu atteint une intégration en tant que personne entière, et où la question de l'identité peut être posée en termes de l'énonce Je suis x (xest un prédicat du Je)

Financial, psychological, or cultural reasons for extracting healthy or restorable teeth.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine how often dental patients request extraction for nondental reasons and how dentists handle such requests. METHODS: The authors conducted a survey among 800 Dutch dentists from November 17, 2019, through January 5, 2020. The questionnaire contained 17 items, including a hypothetical case vingette. RESULTS: A total of 242 dentists responded to the survey (response rate was 30.3%, 48.3% of respondents were women, and mean [standard deviation] age was 45.3 [11.8] years). Sixty-eight percent of respondents reported that they had been confronted with a request for extraction on nondental grounds in the past 3 years. One-half of these dentists received such a request 5 times or fewer, 21.3% received such a request 6 through 10 times, 11.3% received such a request 11 through 20 times, and 8.8% received such a request 21 through 30 times. Their most recent request concerned a financial reason (49.7%), a combination of psychological and financial reasons (27.7%), a psychological reason (18.2%), or another reason (4.4%). Most dentists (87.5%) evaluated the patient's competency to make health care decisions. Of all nondental extraction requests, 75.6% (n = 114) were granted. Only 4.0% (n = 6) of the dentists regretted the extraction. Most dentists (82.0%, n = 191) would have refused the extraction in the hypothetical case vignette. CONCLUSIONS: Nondental requests for extraction are relatively common. Although dentists are reluctant in theory, they are likely to grant such requests in everyday practice, particularly if the patient cannot afford an indicated conservative treatment. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Dentists should keep in mind that they cannot ethically or legally be required to perform an intervention deemed harmful, even if an autonomous patient made the request.

Revelations of ancient head shape: Cranial modification in the Cuzco region of Peru, Early Horizon to Inca Imperial Period.

OBJECTIVES: Cranial vault modification (CVM), the intentional reshaping of the head, indicated group affiliation in prehistoric Andean South America. This study aims to analyze CVM data from the Cuzco region of Peru to illuminate patterns of early migration and settlement along with the later impact of the Inca Empire (AD 1438-1532) on the ethnic landscape. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 419 individuals from 10 archaeological sites spanning over 2300 years were assessed for CVM using morphological analysis. RESULTS: CVM patterns show distinct temporal attributes: the tabular type of modification appeared first and dominated the early sample (900 BC-AD 600), followed by an influx of unmodified crania during the Middle Horizon (AD 600-1000). The annular type appeared later during the Late Intermediate Period (AD 1000-1438). In the subsequent period of Inca imperialism, modification rates were higher at sites in the Cuzco countryside than in Cuzco city sites. DISCUSSION: The study results, combined with archaeological and ethnohistoric data, reveal the sociopolitical transformations that occurred prior to and during the rise of the Inca Empire. The influx of unmodified crania during the Middle Horizon resulted at least partly from Wari occupation, while the appearance of the annular type during the LIP points to migration into the area, possibly from the Lake Titicaca region. In the Inca Imperial Period, Inca individuals at Cuzco city sites refrained from modification as a sign of their ethnic identity, while modification patterns in the Cuzco countryside likely reflect state-coerced resettlement of different ethnic groups.

Ritual and the origins of first impressions.

When encountering a stranger for the first time, adults spontaneously attribute to them a wide variety of character traits based solely on their physical appearance, most notably from their face. While these trait inferences exert a pervasive influence over our behaviour, their origins remain unclear. Whereas nativist accounts hold that first impressions are a product of gene-based natural selection, the Trait Inference Mapping framework (TIM) posits that we learn face-trait mappings ontogenetically as a result of correlated face-trait experience. Here, we examine the available anthropological evidence on ritual in order to better understand the mechanism by which first impressions from faces are acquired. Consistent with the TIM framework, we argue that examination of ritual body modification performed by communities around the world demonstrates far greater cross-cultural variability in face-trait mappings than currently appreciated. Furthermore, rituals of this type may be a powerful mechanism through which face-trait associations are transmitted from one generation to the next. This article is part of the theme issue 'Ritual renaissance: new insights into the most human of behaviours'.

Children, Culture, and Body Modification.

In this paper, I analyze the phenomenon of child cultural body modification (CCBM). I describe the practice, discuss philosophical, sociological, and anthropological arguments about the parental motivations, and evaluate an influential justification based on the children's putative cultural benefit of undergoing CCBM. I propose an alternative view of bodily integrity based on the value of body agency, the ability of individuals to generate meaning in their world through conscious, voluntary, and purpose-driven usage of their own bodies.

Neurocranial shape variation among Tarascan populations: Evidence for varying degrees in artificially modified crania in pre-Hispanic West Mexico (1200-1400 AD).

INTRODUCTION: Along the Mesoamerican western margin, the Zacapu basin has yielded a large number of human remains demonstrating usage of artificial cranial modification (ACM). However, at the onset of the Middle Postclassic (1200-1400 AD) only few individuals still exhibit clear signs of ACM. Some authors have suggested that, rather than disappearing entirely, ACM may have become less visible anatomically, making it difficult to identify based on simple visual analyses. Here, we used 3D geometric morphometric methods to investigate the extent to which ACM persisted during the Postclassic in this region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured the 3D vault's shape changes in a sample of surface-scanned human crania: 55 individuals from the Postclassic Zacapu basin and a control group of 31 individuals from a Huichol Mexican Indian sample and a French medieval series from La Granède. We used a principal component analysis to explore the shape variation within the sample and employed the neighbor joining method to identify morphological groups. Finally, we quantified each individual's asymmetry. RESULTS: We identified three groups displaying shape features diverging from those of the control group. The first group is characterized by marked fronto-obelionic ACM, whereas the other two show mild forms of ACM. The individuals in all three groups display moderate to high degrees of asymmetry compared to the control group. DISCUSSION: The marked fronto-obelionic modification is clear evidence of a specific ACM technique. The two types of mild ACM most likely result from different techniques but their moderate degree of modification brings into question the intentions behind their production.

Laser Vaginal Tightening Complications: Report of Three Cases.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Laser vaginal tightening (LVT) outpatient procedures have become increasingly popular for cosmetic reasons, for enhancement of sexual functioning and to treat vaginal laxity, mild pelvic organ prolapsed (POP), and urinary incontinence, although scientific short- and long-term evidence is lacking. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Report of three patients with vaginal laxity who previously underwent LVT procedures. RESULTS: Three premenopausal women who previously underwent LVT for vaginal laxity but had no improvement. On subsequent posterior vaginal repair procedures, their vaginal mucosa was found to be scarred or friable, making surgery and dissection more difficult. CONCLUSIONS: LVT procedures lack scientific evidence of safety and efficacy regarding management of mild POP and vaginal laxity, and healthcare providers should counsel and educate their patients of the potential risks, some of which is still unreported. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2019 The Authors. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Penile implants and other high risk practices in French Guiana's correctional facility: A cause for concern.

BACKGROUND: Prisoners in French Guiana, a French territory located in South America, have a HIV and hepatitis B prevalence of 4%. Body modifications such as penile implants, tattoos, and body piercings are common among detainees, increasing the risk of blood-borne virus transmission. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional randomised survey in which the primary objective was to estimate the prevalence of high risk 'bloody practices' (penile implants, tattoos, body piercings) in French Guiana's only correctional facility. The secondary objective was to describe the risk factors for penile implants, the procedures and motivations for insertion, the reported complications, their risk factors and adverse impact on condom use. RESULTS: Of the 221 male inmates interviewed, 19% had tattoos or body piercings while incarcerated, and 68% had penile implants, of which, 85% had been inserted inside the correctional facility. Addictive behaviors such as cannabis use and alcohol addiction (positive AUDIT-C score), early age at first sexual intercourse, and the number of incarcerations correlated positively with having inserted one or more penile implants while incarcerated. In contrast, having reported previous psychiatric hospitalizations and having a high knowledge score for HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were negatively correlated with the insertion of penile implants while incarcerated. Penile implants were inserted in poor hygienic conditions, usually using the sharp lid of a canned food container, with 18% of early complications, mostly haemorrhage and edema. Condom use was negatively impacted for 52% of men with penile implants. CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight the need for prevention interventions which should aim at increasing knowledge levels and at implementing comprehensive risk-reduction measures.

Intentional cranial modification from the Houtaomuga Site in Jilin, China: Earliest evidence and longest in situ practice during the Neolithic Age.

OBJECTIVES: Intentional cranial modification (ICM) was a long-established tradition used to reshape the head. Unfortunately, motivation of the act is unclear. It has been found in recent and contemporary human populations throughout the Old and New Worlds, yet the drawback of the quest into the origin, diffusion, and meanings of ICM is the lack of early materials for scientific examination. This study reports the discovery of ICM from the Neolithic Houtaomuga Site in Northeast China and the importance in deepening our knowledge of this intriguing tradition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five skeletons unearthed from the Neolithic cultural Phases 1-4 in the Houtaomuga Site were visually screened for ICM features. Cranial measurements were conducted to quantify the degree of variation in the modified skulls and typical ones were computer tomography (CT) scanned to obtain a diploë structure and 3D model. RESULTS: Eleven skulls carrying signs of ICM from both sexes varying in age from juveniles to full adults were identified ranging from 12,000 BP to 5,000 BP. Three types of modification patterns were observed and most of them were of typical fronto-occipital modification pattern. In particular, there were remarkable variations in the curvature of the crania along the sagittal direction. DISCUSSION: Overall, the antiquity as well as the cultural and genetic continuity of the population in Houtaomuga Site demonstrated the earliest confirmed ICM cases from the easternmost Old World, and the longest in situ duration of ICM practice at one single Neolithic site. This circumstance largely contributes to our understanding of the origins and distribution of ICM in Eurasia and the American continent.

Microdermal Implants Show No Effect on Surrounding Tissue During Surgery With Electrocautery.

BACKGROUND: Microdermal implants are an increasingly popular form of body jewelry. The potential for electrical conduction burn at the site of metal jewelry left in situ during electrosurgery has prompted surgical societies to recommend routine removal before surgery. To date, however, there is a lack of evidence to support this practice. We assessed in vivo thermal effect and tissue damage around implants during and after electrocautery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Stainless steel microdermal anchors were surgically implanted into four swine. After allowing for initial healing, negative controls were excised and evaluated. An electrocautery grounding pad was placed 2 cm caudal to the implant. Continuous electrocautery (coagulation/30 W) for 30 s was applied to the skin 2 cm cranial to the implant. Surface skin temperature was recorded during electrocautery using thermal imaging. Tissue damage was assessed by gross examination and histologic evaluation. The same procedure was then performed to the contralateral nonimplanted side as a sham control. RESULTS: Electrocoagulation raised skin temperature around the electrocautery tip 27.7°C (Tmax 64.8°C). Skin temperature around the dermal implant rose 1.58°C (Tmax 38.6°C) compared with 2.03°C (Tmax 39.2°C) in the nonimplanted control skin (P = 0.627). Skin temperatures at implanted and control sites showed no statistical difference at any recorded time interval. Histologic review of excised tissue samples showed no evidence of thermal injury. CONCLUSIONS: Metallic implants appear to have no effect on skin temperature during the use of electrocautery even when in close proximity to both the electrocautery pen and return pad. Aggressive steps to remove microdermal implants before surgery may be unnecessary.