Appraisal of traditional and recently proposed relationships between the hard and soft dimensions of the nose in profile

This paper tests six methods of predicting external nasal profile proportions, using the form and dimensions of the bony nasal (piriform) aperture. A sample of 122 lateral cephalograms was measured and traced before each method was attempted, under blind conditions where appropriate. Error was assessed by comparing predicted to actual proportions. Methods used by the following authors were tested: Krogman and Iscan (1986 The Human Skeleton in Forensic Medicine, Springfield: C.C. Thomas), Gerasimov (1955 The Reconstruction of the Face on the Skull), Prokopec and Ubelaker (2002 Forensic Sci. Commun. 4:1-4), Macho (1986 J. Forensic Sci. 31:1391-1403), George (1987 J. Forensic Sci. 32:1305-1330), and Stephan et al. (2003 Am J. Phys. Anthropol. 122:240-250). The two-tangent method by Gerasimov (1955 The Reconstruction of the Face on the Skull) was found to perform best at predicting a point on the nasal tip on male and female preoperative subjects. The method of Krogman and Iscan (1986 The Human Skeleton in Forensic Medicine, Springfield: C.C. Thomas) performed poorly, as did the nasal profile determination method (Prokopec and Ubelaker 2002 Forensic Sci. Commun. 4:1-4). The other methods, all derived by a process of regression calculations, were shown to perform with variable accuracy on this sample, despite the age range and ethnicity of this sample closely resembling that of the samples from which these methods were derived.     

Use of polymethylmethacrylate as permanent filling agent in the jaw, mouth and face regions--implications for dental practice

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2011.00479.x
Use of polymethylmethacrylate as permanent filling agent in the jaw, mouth and face regions – implications for dental practice Objectives: This article is a review of PMMA focusing on its properties, indications, contra‐indications and adverse effects. Background: The search to remain young is a constant attitude among Brazilians. The low cost of filling agents have stimulated its indiscriminate use, especially the bioplasty (non‐incisional method). Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is the cosmetic filling agent of choice, because of its low cost, easy access and simple application technique. The impact on dentistry and orofacial medicine needs further awareness. Conclusion: The article aims to draw the attention of odontology and medical professionals to the product's applicability and its possible complications.     

Turning the tables of sex distinction in craniofacial identification: Why females possess thicker facial soft tissues than males,not vice versa

Males are universally reported to possess larger facial soft‐tissue thickness (FSTT) than females, however, this observation oversimplifies the raw data yielding an underpowered assessment of FSTT sex‐patterning where: differences are small (η² < 5%) and inconsistent (females are routinely larger than males at the cheeks). Here we investigate body‐size normalized data to assess whether more general and improved understanding of FSTT sex‐variation in humans is possible. FSTTs were measured in 52 healthy living Australians aged 18 to 30 years using B‐mode ultrasound. Participants' stature and body mass were also measured. Sex differences were calculated before and after normalization by the aforementioned body‐composition variables. Methods were repeated in three other independent samples to evaluate reproducibility: 100 American Whites and 60 American Blacks measured by B‐mode ultrasound; and 50 Turkish residents measured by regular supine CT. Compared to raw mean differences (F < M, by ?6%), females displayed much thicker FSTTs than males when normalized for body mass (F > M, by +16%). Consequently, while the sexes share similar raw values, females possess much larger FSTTs for their relatively lighter bodies. The relative FSTT difference was 2.7× larger than the raw mean difference. Sex differences in FSTT are of larger magnitude and reversed direction in mass normalized data. Contrary to popular thought, females possess much larger FSTTs than males owing to their generically lighter bodies (?18 kg). These data patterns help explain why the pooling of sex‐categorized FSTT does not jeopardize the sex‐difference—it is encoded more strongly in terms relative to body mass.     

Seed mass and seedling dimensions in relation to seedling establishment

Several experiments have shown that seedlings from larger-seeded species are better able to survive various hazards during establishment. Previous work has suggested a general mechanism might underpin this outcome. Larger-seeded species might tend to mobilize their metabolic resources over a longer period into the autotrophically functioning structures of the seedling. Consequently relatively more resources would remain uncommitted at any given time during the early period of the seedling’s growth, and available to support respiration during carbon deficit. An important aspect of this larger-seed-later-commitment mechanism would be that at a given time, larger-seeded species would hold more resources uncommitted not just absolutely, but relative to the functional seedling structures that needed to be supported. Here we quantify, across a wide range of phanerocotylar species, an allometric pattern that supports the generality of a larger-seed-later-commitment mechanism as an explanation for superior performance by larger-seeded species in face of the hazards of seedling establishment. Larger-seeded species allocate relatively less to cotyledon area, reflecting the initial functional size of the seedling, and relatively more to dry mass per unit area of cotyledon, reflecting stored metabolic reserves. The shift in relative allocation is progressive, rather than seedlings falling into discrete morphological types. The allometry is similar whether considered as correlated evolutionary divergences (phylogenetically independent contrasts) or as correlation across present-day species. Received: 7 April 1999 / Accepted: 29 March 2000     

Effect of vegetables on human phenolsulfotransferases in relation to their antioxidant activity and total phenolics

Epidemiology studies have shown that consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with the prevention of chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Induction of cellular phase II detoxifying enzymes is associated with cancer preventive potential. Phenolsulfotransferases (PSTs) are traditionally known as phase II drug-metabolizing or detoxifying enzymes that facilitate the removal of drugs and other xenobiotic compounds. Phenolic acids are known to increase the activities of PSTs. In the present study, human HepG2 cells were used as model to investigate the influence of twenty vegetables on human PST activity and to evaluate the relationships to their antioxidant activity and total phenolics content. The result showed that PST-P activity was significantly (p < 0.01) induced by asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, celery and eggplant, whereas PST-M activity was induced by asparagus, broccoli, carrot, eggplant and potato at a concentration of 100 microg/ml. The vegetable extracts that induced both forms of PSTs activities were found to have higher antioxidant capacities and total phenolic content in the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and Folin-Ciocalteu assay. The major polyphenols in broccoli, the most potential inducer in both forms of PSTs activities, was antioxidant phenolic acids. HPLC retention times and standard spiked indicated the presence of gallic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, p-coumaric acid, gentisic acid and ferulic acid in broccoli. The overall effect of vegetables tested on the activity of PST-P was well correlated to their ORAC value and total phenolics content (r= 0.82, p < 0.05 and r = 0.78, p < 0.05). These results imply that vegetables have a capability of inducing PST activity, and the PST induction may be possibly ascribed to antioxidant phenolic acids in vegetable extracts.     

Variation in langur social organization in relation to the socioecological model, human habitat alteration, and phylogenetic constraints

The socioecological model is to date the best evolutionary model to explain variation in primate behaviour. Some species or populations, however, deviate from the predictions. These deviations may be due to a disequilibrium between evolutionary causes and behavioural adaptations, caused by recent human changes of the environment. The relationship between human habitat alteration and primate social behaviour is reviewed and investigated for langurs. Provisioning affects the spatial distribution of food. In these areas, but also in areas with natural monopolizable food sources, female dominance relationships are linear, but not nepotistic. This does not fit into the evolutionary model. Provisioning also affects the temporal distribution of food. This reduces the seasonality of mating, increases female monopolizability and gives rise to more one-male groups than in undisturbed areas. A human reduction of the number of predators leads to fewer males per group. It also results in female philopatry. Infanticide risk was higher in disturbed than in undisturbed areas. This was not caused by the lower proportion of one-male groups in disturbed areas, but by the lack of female dispersal. Thus, female behaviour was affected by human habitat disturbance in a way that does not fit the socioecological model. However, the extension of habitat disturbance does not explain all results. We could say that the model is refuted. Phylogenetic constraints, however, do explain the behaviour of despotic Hanuman langurs. Such phylogenetic constraints complement the socioecological model. To understand the evolutionary history of a current set of features, these two approaches should be studied simultaneously.     

Female common lizards (Lacerta vivipara) do not adjust their sex-biased investment in relation to the adult sex ratio

Sex allocation theory predicts that facultative maternal investment in the rare sex should be favoured by natural selection when breeders experience predictable variation in adult sex ratios (ASRs). We found significant spatial and predictable interannual changes in local ASRs within a natural population of the common lizard where the mean ASR is female-biased, thus validating the key assumptions of adaptive sex ratio models. We tested for facultative maternal investment in the rare sex during and after an experimental perturbation of the ASR by creating populations with female-biased or male-biased ASR. Mothers did not adjust their clutch sex ratio during or after the ASR perturbation, but produced sons with a higher body condition in male-biased populations. However, this differential sex allocation did not result in growth or survival differences in offspring. Our results thus contradict the predictions of adaptive models and challenge the idea that facultative investment in the rare sex might be a mechanism regulating the population sex ratio.     

Conformational changes in human fibrinogen after in vitro phosphorylation and their relation to fibrinogen behaviour

The far-ultraviolet circular dichroism spectra of fibrinogens phosphorylated by protein kinase C or casein kinase II indicated a conformational change corresponding to an increase in ordered secondary structure. The spectra of protein kinase A- or casein kinase I-phosphorylated fibrinogens did not differ substantially from the control. Fluorescence studies indicated changes in the tertiary structure around tryptophan residues for protein kinase A- or C-phosphorylated fibrinogens, but failed to show any such change for fibrinogen phosphorylated by either of the casein kinases. This latter result was also confirmed by circular dichroism measurements in the near-ultraviolet region. The apparent increase in ordered structure was proposed as an explanation for the slower rate of plasmin degradation seen in fibrinogens after phosphorylation by protein kinase C [6], and casein kinase II, especially as both spectral changes and plasmin degradation rate were unaffected by alkaline phosphatase.     

Variation in Greek phrygana vegetation in relation to soil and climate

Abstract. Variation in species composition and community structure in nine Greek phrygana (dwarf-shrub) sites was related to soil and climate variables by using Canonical Correspondence Analysis. The distribution of the Greek phrygana communities appeared to be related to soil rather than to climate. It is postulated that human action has eliminated the original variability related to climate factors in western Greek ecosystems; as a result, phrygana communities in this part of Greece are the result of human impact.     

Cell death and tissue reorganization in Rhynchosciara americana (Sciaridae: Diptera) metamorphosis and their relation to molting hormone titers

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a focal topic for understanding processes underlying metamorphosis in insects, especially so in holometabolous orders. During adult morphogenesis it allows for the elimination of larva-specific tissues and the reorganization of others for their functionalities in adult life. In Rhynchosciara, this PCD process could be classified as autophagic cell death, yet the expression of apoptosis-related genes and certain morphological aspects suggest that processes, autophagy and apoptosis may be involved. Aiming to reveal the morphological changes that salivary gland and fat body cells undergo during metamorphosis we conducted microscopy analyses to detect chromatin condensation and fragmentation, as well as alterations in the cytoplasm of late pupal tissues of Rhynchosciara americana. Transmission electron microscopy and confocal microscopy revealed cells in variable stages of death. By analyzing the morphological structure of the salivary gland we observed the presence of cells with autophagic vacuoles and apoptotic bodies and DNA fragmentation was confirmed with the TUNEL assay in salivary gland. The reorganization of fat body occurs with discrete detection of cell death by TUNEL assay. However, both salivary gland histolysis and fat body reorganization occur under control of the hormone ecdysone.     

Shifts from specialised to generalised pollination systems in Miconieae (Melastomataceae) and their relation with anther morphology and seed number

Most species in Melastomataceae have poricidal anthers related to specialised bee buzz‐pollination, while some have anthers with large openings associated to non‐bee pollination systems. We tracked the evolution of anther morphology and seed number on the Miconieae phylogenetic tree to understand the evolutionary shifts in such pollination systems. Anther morphometric data and seed number were recorded for 54 taxa. Pollinators (bees, flies, wasps) were recorded for 20 available species. Ancestral state reconstruction was made using Maximum Likelihood from nrITS sequences. We used phylogenetic eigenvector regressions to estimate phylogenetic signal and the adaptive component for these traits. Species pollinated by bees or bees and wasps tend to have smaller pores and fruits with more seeds. Species pollinated by flies or flies and bees and/or wasps tend to have larger pores and fruits with less seeds. Independent evolution occurred three times for anthers with large pores and twice for fruits with few seeds. We detected a phylogenetic signal in both traits, and negative correlated evolution between them. In actinomorphic small‐flowered Miconieae, changes in anther morphology can be related to generalisation in the pollination system incorporating flies and wasps as pollinators and lessening the importance of buzzing bees in such process. Differences in pollen removal and deposition may explain differences in anther morphology and seed number in Miconieae.     

Ca2+-induced biochemical changes in human erythrocytes and their relation to microvesiculation.

1. Human erythrocytes were treated with Ca2+ and ionophore A23187 and measurements were made of K+ efflux, polyphosphoinositide breakdown, 1,2-diacylglycerol accumulation, phosphatidate synthesis, changes in membrane polypeptide pattern and release of microvesicles. 2. It was shown that neither transamidase-mediated protein cross-linking, proteolysis of polypeptides 2.1 (ankyrin) or 4.1, nor accumulation of diacylglycerol or phosphatidate appeared to be necessary for microvesiculation to occur. 3. Microvesicles were released only under conditions where KCl efflux leading to cell shrinkage occurred and where polyphosphoinositides were broken down. These circumstances were sufficient to cause microvesiculation only in the presence of increased intracellular concentrations of Ca2+.     

Destruxin production by the entomogenous fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Metarhizium anisopliae</Emphasis> in insects and factors influencing their degradation

There is much public interest in the use of fungal biological control agents as alternatives to chemical pesticides. However, there are some concerns as to whether the metabolites produced by these fungi pose a risk to humans and the environment. Destruxins are the main metabolites produced by the insect pathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorok. The production of these compounds in two different insect hosts and their subsequent fate in the soil were assessed as a case study. Destruxin profiling revealed that the amount and type of destruxin produced was dependant upon the fungal strain and insect host and that these compounds decomposed shortly after host death. Destruxin decomposition was presumably due to the activity of hydrolytic enzymes in the cadavers and appeared to be independent of host or soil type and biota. Temperature strongly influenced destruxin decomposition. Our studies are the first to show that the destruxins are essentially restricted to the host and pathogen and are unlikely to contaminate the environment or enter the food chain.