Naturalising purpose: from comparative anatomy to the 'adventure of reason'

Kant's analysis of the concept of natural purpose in the Critique of judgment captured several features of organisms that he argued warranted making them the objects of a special field of study, in need of a special regulative teleological principle. By showing that organisms have to be conceived as self-organizing wholes, epigenetically built according to the idea of a whole that we must presuppose, Kant accounted for three features of organisms conflated in the biological sciences of the period: adaptation, functionality and conservation of forms. Kant's unitary concept of natural purpose was subsequently split in two directions: first by Cuvier's comparative anatomy, that would draw on the idea of adaptative functions as a regulative principle for understanding in reconstituting and classifying organisms; and then by Goethe's and Geoffroy's morphology, a science of the general transformations of living forms. However, such general transformations in nature, objects of an alleged 'archaeology of nature', were thought impossible by Kant in section paragraph 80 of the Critique of judgment. Goethe made this 'adventure of reason' possible by changing the sense of 'explanation': scientific explanation was shifted from the investigation of the mechanical processes of generation of individual organisms to the unveiling of some ideal transformations of types instantiated by those organisms.     

Paleopathological study on malignant bone tumor in Japan. Differential diagnosis on osteolytic lesions in the skull

This report concerns a probable case of metastatic malignant bone tumor in the skull of a prehistoric skeleton from Honshu Island in Japan. In gross observation, a fragmental skull of an adult showed many osteolytic lesions without any healing processes which could be also ascertained by roentgenological studies. Besides this case, four cases with a diagnosis of malignant bone tumor have so far been reported among archeological skeletal remains in Japan. This case from the prehistoric "Jomon" period is certainly the oldest case showing such malignant tumorous change in the skeleton. In this report, the osteolytic changes in the "Jomon" skull are described in detail and compared with two other cases showing the same osteolytic changes. The morphology and distribution of the lesions as well as the sex and age of the individual are discussed to make an adequate differential diagnosis for malignant osteolytic lesions in the skeleton.     

Cloverleaf skull associated with generalized bone defects close to asphyxiating thoracic dysplasia

The association of cloverleaf skull and micromelia is reputed. X-ray images of the skull are typical; those of the skeleton are compatible with the thoracic dysplasia reported by Jeune, or with chondro-ectodermic dysplasia: short ribs, horizontal roof of the acetabulum with a rounded median prominence and lateral spurs, deformed long bones with broad metaphyses, absent ossification of the terminal phalanges. The mode of inheritance of the syndrome is probably autosomal recessive. The association reported is undescribed until now, although cloverleaf skull can be associated with other bone deformities. Most often the latter are thanatophoric dwarfism or a syndrome including ankylosis of the elbow joints, occasionally of the knees, club-foot, syndactyly and absent phalanges.     

Über einige Vertreter der Eryopoidea (Amphibia: Temnospondyli) aus dem europäischen Rotliegend (? höchstes Karbon — Perm) 1.Sclerocephalus

The chronospeciesSclerocephalus bavaricus andSclerocephalus haeuseri, with the chronosubspeciesS. h. haeuseri andS. h. jeckenbachensis n. ssp., are redescribed based on material from the lower Rotliegend of the Saar-Nahe region (southern Germany). For the first time numerous features of the skull and postcranial skeleton as wellas the ontogenetic development of the skull are documented. The evolution of these species is discussed.     

Is the surface area of the red cell membrane skeleton locally conserved?

The incompressibility of the lipid bilayer keeps the total surface area of the red cell membrane constant. Local conservation of membrane surface area requires that each surface element of the membrane skeleton keeps its area when its aspect ratio is changed. A change in area would require a flow of lipids past the intrinsic proteins to which the skeleton is anchored. in fast red cell deformations, there is no time for such a flow. Consequently, the bilayer provides for local area conservation. In quasistatic deformations, the extent of local change in surface area is the smaller the larger the isotropic modulus of the skeleton in relation to the shear modulus. Estimates indicate: (a) the velocity of relative flow between lipid and intrinsic proteins is proportional to the gradient in normal tension within the skeleton and inversely proportional to the viscosity of the bilayer; (b) lateral diffusion of lipids is much slower than this flow; (c) membrane tanktreading at frequencies prevailing in vivo as well as the release of a membrane tongue from a micropipette are fast deformations; and (d) the slow phase in micropipette aspiration may be dominated by a local change in skeleton surface.     

FGFs in endochondral skeletal development

The mammalian skeleton developments and grows through two complementary pathways: membranous ossification, which gives rise to the calvarial bones and distal clavicle, and endochondral ossification, which is responsible for the bones of the limbs, girdles, vertebrae, face and base of the skull and the medial clavicle. Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and their cognate FGF receptors (FGFRs) play important roles in regulating both pathways. However, the details of how FGF signals are initiated, propagated and modulated within the developing skeleton are only slowly emerging. This prospect will focus on the current understanding of these events during endochondral skeletal development with special attention given to concepts that have emerged in the past few years. J. Cell. Biochem. 110: 1046–1057, 2010. Published 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

海南三亚一头死亡中华白海豚的形态学记录

On February 2,2015, a dead female Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) was found in the coastal water of Meilian Village, Yacheng Town, Sanya City, Hainan Province, China. It was the first Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin death case ever found in waters southwest of Hainan Island. In the present study, data about external morphology and skeleton system of the dead dolphin were documented, Body length and body mass of the animal were 235.0 cm and ca. 150 kg, respectively, with completely white body color. The cranium of this dolphin wa 189 mm in zygomatic width, and 415 mm in skull length. Its vertebra formula was C6+T12+L10+Ca20=48. It had 12 pairs of ribs and 11 V-bones. According to previous reports, our skeleton sample may have one cervical vertebra missing, and one or more caudal vertebras and V bones missing. More new skeleton samples from the same population are needed to confirm this presumption.     

鼋骨骼系统及与中华鳖比较

采用虫蚀法制备了鼋Pelochelys cantorii和中华鳖Pelodiscus sinensis的骨骼标本, 对骨骼系统进行了观察、描述、绘图及比较分析。结果显示, 鼋的骨骼共169枚, 由背甲和腹甲组成的外骨骼、中轴骨和附肢骨组成的内骨骼组成。通过比较鼋和中华鳖的骨骼结构, 发现二者在头骨的吻突长度及第三颈椎结构方面有较大差别。鼋眼眶前部至吻突最前端的长度与头骨总长度比为0.082, 而中华鳖为0.570, 显示中华鳖吻突显著长于鼋。鼋与中华鳖的颈椎骨数目均为9枚, 但中华鳖的第三至第九颈椎的横突要更明显, 第七颈椎的椎体向上显著翘起, 且第九颈椎腹面椎体前端为尖状。从整条颈椎上看, 鼋脊椎长度与其背甲长度之比为0.66, 中华鳖为1.07, 表明中华鳖的颈椎更长; 研究结果丰富了鳖科动物的骨骼学基础数据, 也为鼋物种鉴定、龟鳖动物系统演化及生态适应性提供骨骼学理论依据。     

Probable evidence of scurvy in subadults from archeological sites in Peru

Subadult scurvy is not well documented in archeological human remains despite the existence of many biomedical references indicating that bone changes do occur in some cases and, because of this, should be observable in human burials. There are several potential reasons for this gap in our knowledge of scurvy. Not all children who suffered from scurvy died of the disease or from other causes when they had scurvy. Scurvy may not leave characteristic bone changes in every case of the disease. Some of the pathological conditions associated with scurvy have been known for many years, but these features may be rare or difficult to differentiate from other pathological conditions. Recently a lesion of the skull has been described that is probably pathognomonic for scurvy, specifically porous and sometimes hypertrophic lesions of the greater wing of the sphenoid. This lesion is bilateral and highly associated with evidence of inflammation at other anatomical sites in the skull. A survey of subadult skulls (N = 363) in the human skeletal collection from Peru at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, reveals a prevalence of 10% of skulls that exhibit plausible evidence of scurvy. Some cases of scurvy also have cribra orbitalia that has been attributed to anemia. In most of the Peruvian scurvy cases, anemia is an unlikely possibility because there is no evidence of marrow hyperplasia. This highlights the need for caution in using lesions of the orbit as an indicator of anemia when there is no other evidence of this disease elsewhere in the skeleton. Anatomical evidence of scurvy offers the potential of providing new and important evidence of diet in archeological human populations.     

Early Lens Ablation Causes Dramatic Long-Term Effects on the Shape of Bones in the Craniofacial Skeleton of Astyanax mexicanus

The Mexican tetra, Astyanax mexicanus, exists as two morphs of a single species, a sighted surface morph and a blind cavefish. In addition to eye regression, cavefish have an increased number of taste buds, maxillary teeth and have an altered craniofacial skeleton compared to the sighted morph. We investigated the effect the lens has on the development of the surrounding skeleton, by ablating the lens at different time points during ontogeny. This unique long-term study sheds light on how early embryonic manipulations on the eye can affect the shape of the adult skull more than a year later, and the developmental window during which time these effects occur. The effects of lens ablation were analyzed by whole-mount bone staining, immunohistochemisty and landmark based morphometric analyzes. Our results indicate that lens ablation has the greatest impact on the skeleton when it is ablated at one day post fertilisation (dpf) compared to at four dpf. Morphometric analyzes indicate that there is a statistically significant difference in the shape of the supraorbital bone and suborbital bones four through six. These bones expand into the eye orbit exhibiting plasticity in their shape. Interestingly, the number of caudal teeth on the lower jaw is also affected by lens ablation. In contrast, the shape of the calvariae, the length of the mandible, and the number of mandibular taste buds are unaltered by lens removal. We demonstrate the plasticity of some craniofacial elements and the stability of others in the skull. Furthermore, this study highlights interactions present between sensory systems during early development and sheds light on the cavefish phenotype.     

Carotid thrombosis following surgical release of temporomandibular ankylosis

Temporomandibular ankylosis frequently involves massive bony proliferation which can approach the carotid artery at the base of the skull. During the resection of the bony ankylosis, the artery can be injured. The first such case is reported which led to a thrombosis and hemispheric stroke.     

CT reconstruction of the Glabellar bone

During systematic archaelogical excavations of the early medieval kingdom of Serbia, and adult male skull belonging to the skeleton of a Roman individual was unearthed at Babrež site in the Ras region. A supernumerary bone was found interposed between the frontal bones of the skull and the facial skeleton. Paleopathological investigation and CT reconstruction proved that this skull had been deformed during foetal development due to a disorder or disease affecting the mother. This probably led to the formation of the supernumerary Glabellar bone in the frontal region. This is the first case of Os Glabellae recorded so far.     

Aspects of the biology of the icefish Dacodraco hunteri (Notothenioidei, Channichthyidae) in the Ross Sea, Antarctica

On the basis of five specimens, the icefish Dacodraco hunteri (Notothenioidei, Channichthyidae) is documented for the first time in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Meristic counts and morphometric measurements are provided for this small, streamlined, laterally compressed species. D. hunteri has a weakly ossified skeleton with considerable cartilage in the skull. It has a partially persistent notochord and reduced amounts of bone in the vertebral column since the centra are incompletely constricted. Its weight in seawater averages only 1.28% of its weight in air and, as one of the lightest notothenioids, D. hunteri is probably a permanent inhabitant of the water column. The diet consists of relatively large specimens of the pelagic nototheniid fish Pleuragramma antarcticum. Accepted: 27 September 1998     

Preliminary annotated list of species of the family Chaetodontidae (Actinopterygii) from Ly Son Islands (South China Sea,Central Vietnam)

Butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae) from the reefs of Ly Son Archipelago (northern Central Vietnam) are reviewed. In total, 16 species of chaetodontids from three genera (Chaetodon, Forcipiger, and Heniochus) are found. All species are documented by underwater photos, and they have not been registered off Ly Son Islands before. A comparison of chaetodontid faunas off Ly Son, Cu Lao Cham, and Paracel islands; in the Gulf of Tonkin; and in southern Central Vietnam is conducted.     

At the feet of the dinosaurs: the early history and radiation of lizards

Lizards, snakes and amphisbaenians together constitute the Squamata, the largest and most diverse group of living reptiles. Despite their current success, the early squamate fossil record is extremely patchy. The last major survey of squamate palaeontology and evolution was published 20 years ago. Since then, there have been major changes in systematic theory and methodology, as well as a steady trickle of new fossil finds. This review examines our current understanding of the first 150 million years of squamate evolution in the light of the new data and changing ideas. Contrary to previous reports, no squamate fossils are currently documented before the Jurassic. Nonetheless, indirect evidence predicts that squamates had evolved by at least the middle Triassic, and had diversified into existing major lineages before the end of this period. There is thus a major gap in the squamate record at a time when key morphological features were evolving. With the exception of fragmentary remains from Africa and India, Jurassic squamates are known only from localities in northern continents (Laurasia). The situation improves in the Early Cretaceous, but the southern (Gondwanan) record remains extremely poor. This constrains palaeobiogeographic discussion and makes it difficult to predict centres of origin for major squamate clades on the basis of fossil evidence alone. Preliminary mapping of morphological characters onto a consensus tree demonstrates stages in the sequence of acquisition for some characters of the skull and postcranial skeleton, but many crucial stages--most notably those relating to the acquisition of squamate skull kinesis--remain unclear.     

Distal symphalangism: a report of two families

This study describes distal symphalangism in 36 individuals in two families, one of which is the largest pedigree of this rare defect yet documented. Distal symphalangism is ankylosis or rigidity of the distal interphalangeal joints of the hands and/or feet. The findings of this report substantiate the mutation as an autosomal dominant phenotype. Several manifestations of distal symphalangism were observed, including the lack of cutaneous creases over affected joints, brachydactyly, fourth-finger hypophalangism, absent nails, and rudimentary nails. Variability ranged from just toes affected, to a single finger affected, to all fingers and all lesser toes affected. The most common expression of the mutant gene was rigid index fingers. Craniosynostosis, premature closure of the sutures of the skull, was encountered twice in the larger of the two families. It is a possible pleiotropic effect of distal symphalangism.     

Recommendations for the forensic diagnosis of sex and age from skeletons.

In both diagnostic fields a two-stage strategy is recommended: to first use "field" methods that are quick and easy but more imprecise and then "laboratory" methods that are time consuming but more precise. In preparing skeletal work, individuality of a skeleton should be checked, traces of diseases sought and time since death assessed. For sexing non-adults, the field methods are tooth mineralisation, long bone length and a few morphological skull and pelvis characteristics, for adults it is the morphology of pelvis and skull, and for both age groups the advanced laboratory method is molecular biology. For ageing non-adults the methods are mineralisation of teeth, long bone length and epiphysis development. For ageing adults the advanced laboratory method is aspartic acid racemisation. Less accurate laboratory methods are cement ring counts and histology of bones and teeth. Quick morphological methods using the pubic symphysis and other traits in combinations follow. Finally, cranial sutures and tooth number give a quick and rough impression. For the selection of a method and the assessment of its value the stochastic error produced for the reference sample is the decisive criterion; it should also be used to assess the reliability of a single diagnosis. Prerequisites for all work with skeletons are not only a complete knowledge of the relevant biology as well as specific techniques but also initial detailed instructions and with forensic applications, personal experience.     

Evidence for the longest stratigraphic range of a post-Triassic Ichthyosaur: a Leptonectes tenuirostris from the Pliensbachian (Lower Jurassic) of Switzerland

A three-dimensional well-preserved ichthyosaur skull and parts of the postcranial skeleton are attributed to the species Leptonectes tenuirostris (Conybeare, 1822). It was found vertically embedded in Pliensbachian deposits representing three successive biozones (ibex to margaritatus Zone). The find is dated as early Late Pliensbachian (margaritatus Zone) by a rich ammonite and ostracod fauna. It is the first record of the genus Leptonectes from Switzerland and from the Late Pliensbachian. It is so far the best preserved and most complete ichthyosaur from this time interval worldwide. With diagnostic specimens known from the Rhaetian (Late Keuper) up to the early Late Pliensbachian (Middle Liassic), L. tenuirostris (Conybeare, 1822) has the most extensive stratigraphic range documented for any post-Triassic ichthyosaur so far.