Bioanthropological analysis of human occipital condyles using geometric morphometric method

Sex differences are present in all parts of the body, including the skeletal system. Several methods are used to analyze the sex differences of skeleton, while more recently, a new method called geometric morphometry has been used. The aim of this study was to examine the sexual dimorphism of occipital condyles on human skulls originating from the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina using the geometric morphometric method.Material and methodsThe study was conducted on 214 human skulls of known gender from Bosnian population. For analysis of sexual dimorphism of occipital condyles, we used geometric morphometry, where all the skulls were scanned to obtain three-dimensional skull models. On the obtained models, we marked anthropometric points on occipital condyles in a Landmark Editor program from which we exported data in the form NTSYS file and analyzed it in MorphoJ program.ResultsFirst principal component PC1 describes 26.917% of total variability, the second principal component PC2 describes 20.992% of total variability, while the first eight principal components together describe 100% of total variability. The greatest variability between the male skulls and female skulls was present in the anterior-posterior diameter (length of occipital condyles). Discriminant functional analysis of the shape and size of the occipital condyles was possible with 69.50% accuracy for male skulls and with 60.27% accuracy for female skulls. The size of the occipital condyles showed a statistically significant effect on sexual determination. Discriminant functional analysis of the shape of the occipital condyles without affecting size enabled the determination of gender with with 65.96% accuracy for male skulls and with 63.01% accuracy for female skulls.ConclusionAnalysis of sexual dimorphism of occipital condyles using geometric morphometry showed statistically significant differences in the shape and size of occipital condyles between the sexes. The accuracy of sex determination based on occipital condyles was higher for male gender.     

An Osteologic Study of Twenty-Nine Human Skulls from the Guajira Peninsula Region of Colombia-Venezuela

Abstract

Craniometric data is presented for two series of skulls.

In the year 193 5 a joint anthropological survey undertaken by Columbia University and the University Museum of the University of Pennsylvania uncovered 29 human skulls on the Guajira Peninsula of Colombia-Venezuela (Fig. 1) during research sponsored by the Latin-American Institute. The members of the expedition included: Dr. Vincenzo Petrullo, field director, and Mr. Lewis Korn, archeologist. Other members were Dr. Paul Kirchoff, Mrs. Hanna Kirchoff, Mrs. Gwyneth Browne Harrington, and Miss Lydia duPont. The skeletal material obtained by this expedition has been measured by Agogino, 1 and the results are presented in this paper.

The skeletal material for this study was divided into two major groups; the 35-30 series from Valera, Venezuela, and the 35-32 series from Cuzi, Venezuela. With the exception of three skulls, these two series were used for our calculations of means and for comparisons with other South American skull series.     

Physical Evidence on the Origin and Fate of the Panhandle Aspect People

Abstract

Comparison of the populations of four Panhandle Aspect sites (Alibates, Antelope Creek, Matthews Ranch, Footprint) using 28 non-metric traits of the skulls indicates generally close similarity among them, but the Panhandle groups show little similarity to Upper Republican. Antelope Creek and Matthews Ranch show some resemblance to the Fort Coffee skulls of the Fulton Aspect. The same two Panhandle site samples also resemble the Washita River people. Footpnnt is even more similar to Washita River.     

High incidence of missing posterior upper molars in hares (Lepus europaeus) in New Zealand

Abstract

Of 140 skulls, 11 (7.9%) had one or both M³s reduced or missing. Males and females were affected, in both the North Island and the South Island.     

Ear Disease in Skulls From the Sully Burial Site

Abstract

A study was made of 358 skulls (255 Arikara from a single burial area) visually and with X-rays looking for evidence of disease in and about the ears with special reference to infection and OTOSCLEROSIS with fixation of the stapes footplate. No stapes fixation was found. X-rays showed altered mastoid cell development in 139 of 255 ears (55o/o). Osteomas were found in l 7 external auditory canals of ll individuals (3. Oo/o).     

Prevalence of skull pathologies in European harbor seals (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phoca vitulina</Emphasis>) during 1981–2014

Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) inhabit the seas surrounding Denmark and are an important top predator in the marine food chain. This trophic position exposes them to environmental contaminants with disease epidemics and hunting being additional threats to this population. It is therefore important to study how environmental pollution at the current order of magnitude affects the health of the population. Earlier studies have shown that occurrence of periodontitis could be linked to the amount of pollution the seals were subjected to. In order to investigate this further, 380 skulls and 141 mandibles of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) from the Wadden Sea, the Limfjord, and Kattegat collected during the period 1970–2014 were examined. The skulls were examined for pathological lesions. The Hounsfield Units (HU) which are correlated to the bone mineral density (BMD) were measured in a subsample (n = 34) using CT scans. The macroscopic examination revealed (with the exception of the Swedish part of Kattegat) a significant increase of pathological lesions over the study period of 1981–2014. The examination of HU showed that median HU measured at multiple sites was highest in the healthy skulls compared to the skulls with one or more of the lesions. A discriminant analysis allowed high discriminatory capacity to separate healthy skulls from the skulls with pathologies, simply by the utilization of the HU data. Former studies of BMD in marine mammals have shown that exposure to environmental chemicals alter BMD and cause periodontitis. The present study, based on temporal and spatial trends in BMD, confirms the results of previous studies.     

我国二级及以上医疗机构开展公共卫生工作现况分析

目的 对二级以上医疗机构疾病预防控制等公共卫生工作现况进行评估。方法 对全国10个省163家医院进行二级以上医疗机构公共卫生工作开展基本情况调查和人员基本情况调查的问卷调查;对全国34个省、自治区、直辖市和新疆生产建设兵团进行函调以及对浙江、河南、辽宁和甘肃4个省进行实地调研。结果（1）医疗机构应承担的公共卫生职能与落实情况相差甚远。（2）医疗机构从事公共卫生工作积极性不高。（3）医疗机构在公共卫生工作中接受多个部门管理,但在工作中缺乏协调。结论（1）弥合临床医疗服务体系与公共卫生体系的割裂状态。（2）增强医疗机构从事公共卫生工作积极性。（3）加强督察考核,促进公共卫生工作的落实。     

公立医院卫生资源配置和服务利用效率的分析及思考

?????? 目的 了解我国公立医院的卫生资源配置与利用效率情况。方法 运用数据包络分析法(DEA)对6家公立医院2010的投入与产出情况进行分析。结果 2家二级公立医院的效率评价排名优于4家三级医院。结论 加大对基层医疗单位的卫生资源投入力度,加强对三级公立医院卫生资源的整合重组,以提高公立医院的卫生资源配置与利用效率。     

Betrachtungen an Schädeln von Goldfischen (Carassius gibelio f. auratus)

Studies on skulls of goldfishes (Carassius gibelio f. auratus) The aim of the study is to analse skulls of some races of goldfish, the domesticated form of Carassius gibelio Bloch, 1782. The problem: are changes of these skulls parallelisms to skulls of other domesticated animals originating from different species. Parallelism is a most interesting phenomenon of phylogeny abundant but not regular, very frequent in domesticated animals. Skulls of normal goldfish, of frinetail and tigerhead have been compared. In total the skulls of fringetail and especially tigerhead are broader, higher, stouter, the faceart shortened. Remarkable in detail: the opercula are slender and higher in fringetail and tigerhead than in normal goldfish, the preopercula shortened and their ventral art bended upwards, influencin the position of the mouth. In comparison with normal goldfish the skulls of fringetail and tigerhead have to be classified als parallelisms to skulls of some races of other domesticated secies. Finally: some remarks on parallelism, convergence and pluripotenz and agout modern viewpoints on the relations between genes and complex organismal patterns.     

The emissary foramina: Their value in platyrrhine systematics

A discriminant analysis was performed on 226 ceboid skulls using data on emissary foramina size and shape. The purposes of the study are to 1) measure the success with which these discriminating variables can distinguish among platyrrhine genera and 2) derive a set of classification functions which will permit the classification of new cases with unknown group membership (i.e., fossil skulls). This technique is able to correctly classify 80% of the 226 ceboid skulls. Support is given to the allocation of Chiropotes, Cacajao, and Pithecia into one morphologically unified subfamily, Pitheciinae. Alouatta, Ateles, and Lagothrix also share many similarities in emissary foramina size and shape and their inclusion into one subfamily, Atelinae, is probably warranted. The distinctiveness of Cebus in these same morphological features is apparent. Possibilities for extending this procedure to study fossil lineages in platyrrhines are discussed.     

The Vore Site Local Fauna

Abstract

Twelve species of vertebrate animals have been recorded for the Vore Site Local Fauna, Bison being the most common form with estimates of individuals present lying between 15,000 and 25,000 animals. Candidae are the second most common group. Discriminant function analyses performed on the canid skulls has shown them to be part of a local population of wolf Idog hybrids with incipient domestication of that population appearing to be ongoing throughout the occupation of the site. No major shift in ecological zones or species distribution has occurred in the region since the occupation of the site except for those species extripated by the white man.     

Notes on some summer birds of Syria by Wolfgang Baumgart and Max Kasparek

Abstract

A sample of 10 skulls of Vulpes vulpes arabica from the southeastern part of the Sultanate of Oman was investigated craniologically. The measurements fit well into the known datascts of the subspecies. The foxes show the same secondary teeth losses as animals from Europe, but no paradental disease or dental caries. Age structure of the population is more natural than in Europe due to the lower or almost non-existent pressure from human hunting. In relation to the slight seasonal change in climatic conditions, the incremental lines of the tooth cement are more clearly visible than expected.     

取消药品加成对县级公立医院经济运营的影响分析

目的 探讨取消药品加成政策的实施对县级公立医院经济运营所产生的影响。方法 运用对比研究的方法对四川省6家试点县级公立医院的经济运行状况进行分析。结果 取消药品加成政策实施后县级公立医院收支结余下降，补偿渠道发生变化。结论 加强政府财政投入和相关政策的落实力度，警惕医院将取消药品加成损失向其他收费项目转移。     

四川省医院分级管理评审方法研究及实践

目的 回顾和总结四川省医院分级管理评审工作,研究医院分级管理评审的发展,探讨医院分级管理评审的新方法。 方法 对四川省开展医院分级管理评审工作以来的资料进行统计和分析,并对相关资料采用EXCEL软件建立数据库,进行统计和归纳,作回顾性描述分析和总结。 结果 四川省在医院分级管理评审工作中坚持标准、兼顾现实、全面考核、突出重点,采用统一数学模型、统一评审程序、统一考核检查程序、统一检查方法和公开评审标准,公开评审程序、公开检查方法的评审方法。有力地推动了四川省医院分级管理评审工作的开展,促进了各级医院的发展,取得了良好的效果。结论 实践证明,四川省采取的“四统一”和“三公开”及坚持“两原则”的评审方法是可行、有效的。     

二级及以上医疗机构公共卫生职能承担现况调查

目的 了解我国二级及以上医疗机构公共卫生职能的承担情况。方法 对4个省进行实地调研,对180家二级及以上医院进行问卷调查。结果 上报医疗机构对15项公共卫生职能的承担数为0.78,发文组与设置组承担数更高。各项公共卫生工作在医疗机构的开展情况不尽相同。院内公共卫生职能管理分散。结论 建议在二级及以上医院内部单独设置公共卫生科（处）,统筹全院公卫工作,并对各级各类医疗机构的公卫职责进行重新划分。     

Predominant Leptospiral Serogroups Circulating among Humans,Livestock and Wildlife in Katavi-Rukwa Ecosystem,Tanzania

BackgroundLeptospirosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease and a serious, under-reported public health problem, particularly in rural areas of Tanzania. In the Katavi-Rukwa ecosystem, humans, livestock and wildlife live in close proximity, which exposes them to the risk of a number of zoonotic infectious diseases, including leptospirosis.ConclusionsThe results of this study demonstrate that leptospiral antibodies are widely prevalent in humans, livestock and wildlife from the Katavi-Rukwa ecosystem. The disease poses a serious economic and public health threat in the study area. This epidemiological study provides information on circulating serogroups, which will be essential in designing intervention measures to reduce the risk of disease transmission.     

公立医院公共卫生服务项目分类研究

目的 对公立医院公共卫生服务项目科学分类,为公共卫生服务补偿机制的改革提供理论基础。 方法 运用Delphi法、层次分析法对所调查城市目前所开展的67项公共卫生服务进行科学分类。 结果 将上述公共卫生服务项目划分为突发紧急及传染病类、支农支边与义诊类、疾病预防类、保健类,并对其附加权重。 结论 政府可根据不同等级公立医院提供不同类别公共卫生服务,对各级公立医院具有针对性的财政补偿。     

A Multi-country Study of the Household Willingness-to-Pay for Dengue Vaccines: Household Surveys in Vietnam,Thailand, and Colombia

BackgroundThe rise in dengue fever cases and the absence of dengue vaccines will likely cause governments to consider various types of effective means for controlling the disease. Given strong public interests in potential dengue vaccines, it is essential to understand the private economic benefits of dengue vaccines for accelerated introduction of vaccines into the public sector program and private markets of high-risk countries.Conclusions/SignificanceKnowing that dengue vaccines are not yet available, our study provides critical information to both public and private sectors. The study results can be used to ensure broad coverage with an affordable price and incorporated into cost benefit analyses, which can inform prioritization of alternative health interventions at the national level.     

社会资本进入公立医院政策演进分析

目的 对我国公立医院利用社会资本的有关政策进行阐述和分析。方法 基于国内公立医院发展现况,通过个案调查、访谈、文献查阅等形式,对公立医院的融资过程进行政策分析。结果 公立医院对社会资本引入的尝试,已形成了一些具有若干特点的融资模式,如银行贷款、融资租赁、慈善捐赠等。结论 我国公立医院为实现可持续发展,多渠道引入社会资本已经成为必然的发展趋势。但从整体上讲,还未形成满足各种社会资本状况的政策体系。     

潍坊市公立医院卫生人才流失的现状分析及对策研究

目的 对公立医院卫生人才流失现状进行实证研究,分析其原因并提出相应对策。方法 采用分层抽样方法对潍坊市29家公立医院卫生人才进行问卷调查。结果 公立医院卫生人才流失现象较为普遍,流失率为30.9%,流失原因多为个人发展、薪酬、执业环境。结论 应采取相应对策提高公立医院卫生人才的稳定性,完善相应的管理机制,规范人才的合理流动。