对华南地区男性成年颅骨、锁骨、肩胛骨和髋骨与身高关系的研究

作者对近年在华南地区收集的70具成年男性完整骸骨的颅围、锁骨最大长、肩胛骨形态宽及髋骨最大长进行了测量。相关分析表明,各测量项目与身高的相关系数均有非常显著的意义(p<0.01)。进而建立了相应的回归方程。用70例已知生前身高的国人骸骨对这些回归方程进行了检验。结果表明,本文所建立的这些回归方程均有一定的实用价值。     

云南武定节甲类的新材料

文中描述了采自云南武定中泥盆统一新的属种Yinostius maior gen.et sp.nov.属于短胸节甲类Heterosteidae科,这类化石在我国系初次发现。     

Nutrition and immune system: the size of the thymus as an indicator of the newborn's nutrition status

Summary: The thymus is a central lymphatic organ reaching its largest size after the delivery. Its size is significantly affected by endogenous and exogenous negative factors. In our research, we investigated the relationship between the size of the thymus determined by sonography and anthropometric parameters as well as indexes demonstrating the nutritional status. The examined group consisted of 212 full-term newborns, all of which passed an anthropometric examination during the first five days after delivery (birth weight and length, mid-arm and head circumference). The following nutritional status indexes were calculated from estimated anthropometric dimensions: Quételet's index, Rohrer's index, birth weight-to-length ratio and mid-arm-to-head circumference ratio. The size of the thymus was assessed by sonography and expressed as the multiple of transversal width of the cranial thymus part and sagittal area of the major thymus lobe (so-called 'Thymic Index'). The Thymic Index showed a positive correlation with the majority of indicators of the newborn's nutritional status, but all of these correlations are low (Spearman correlation coefficients 0.228-0.409). The correlation of the size of thymus with the birth weight or birth weight-to-length ratio was stronger than the correlation with the Quételet's index or mid-arm circumference. The size of the thymus reflects the newborn's nutritional status assumed by anthropometry and can represent one of the "barometers of nutrition". Normal nutrition in the prenatal period plays a relatively critical role in the development of the immune system.     

男性特小颅一例报告

本例特小颅T1的死者为男性,年龄约40岁,身高168cm,中国人。经颅骨各项指标测量和观察,该颅骨的脑颅特小,尤其是额部特别窄小;而面颅则相对较大,上、下颌骨向前突出。颅骨主要的长、宽、高各径和弧、弦、周长等的测量值均比其他报道中的最小值要小;颅容量为602ml,比已报道的最小颅容量1340ml还要小一倍多,故将其称为特小颅。     

3D虚拟复原精度的差异对头骨测量数值的影响——以Mimics软牛为例

近年来,根据三维软件虚拟复原的头骨来获取测量数据的方法被越来越多地应用在古生物,特别是古人类学的研究中,然而对于三维软件不同精度虚拟复原的头骨,其测量数值是否有差异,研究者并不是很清楚。本文以Mimics软件为例,根据其复原模型简化规则,选择未精简的最佳精度模型作为标准进行配对t检验或非参数检验,通过对43例云南人头骨的顶骨矢状弦长、颅周长、头盖部面积、乳突小房表面积、颅容量、乳突小房体积等六个测量项目的对比和分析,对Mimics软件低、中、高、最佳四种精度3D虚拟复原头骨间的测量差异进行了研究。结果显示：颅周长、头盖部面积、颅容量、乳突小房体积四项的所有简化精度模型的测量数据均与最佳精度模型测量数据的差异具有显著性;而除高精度组外,顶骨矢状弦长及乳突小房表面积的其余精度组测量数据均与最佳精度组差异具有显著性;此外,顶骨矢状弦长、颅周长、头盖部面积、颅容量的简化精度与最佳精度的测量差异占比均小于3%.而乳突小房表面积的低精度与最佳精度测量差异占比可超过50%,乳突小房体积的低精度与最佳精度测量差异占比可超过120%。这一结果提示我们,在测量Mimics复原的三维模型时,体量大差异小的测量项可以在较低精度的复原模型上进行测量;而对头骨内部腔窦这样体量小表面粗糙的结构,复原模型的精度选择及测量数据比较需要格外谨慎。     

Patterns of morphospace occupation and mechanical performance in extant crocodilian skulls: A combined geometric morphometric and finite element modeling approach

Extant and fossil crocodilians have long been divided into taxonomic and/or ecological groups based on broad patterns of skull shape, particularly the relative length and width of the snout. However, these patterns have not been quantitatively analyzed in detail, and their biomechanical and functional implications are similarly understudied. Here, we use geometric morphometrics and finite element analysis to explore the patterns of variation in crocodilian skull morphology and the functional implications of those patterns. Our results indicate that skull shape variation in extant crocodiles is much more complex than previously recognized. Differences in snout length and width are the main components of shape variation, but these differences are correlated with changes in other regions of the skull. Additionally, there is considerable disparity within general classes such as longirostrine and brevirostrine forms. For example, Gavialis and Tomistoma occupy different parts of morphospace implying a significant difference in skull shape, despite the fact that both are traditionally considered longirostrine. Skull length and width also strongly influence the mechanical performance of the skull; long and narrow morphotypes (e.g., Tomistoma) experience the highest amount of stress during biting, whereas short and broad morphotypes (e.g., Caiman latirostris) experience the least amount of stress. Biomechanical stress and the hydrodynamic properties of the skull show a strong relationship with the distribution of crocodilians in skull morphospace, whereas phylogeny and biogeography show weak or no correlation. Therefore, ecological specializations related to feeding and foraging likely have the greatest influence on crocodilian skull shape. J. Morphol., 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Functional relationship between skull form and feeding mechanics in Sphenodon, and implications for diapsid skull development

The vertebrate skull evolved to protect the brain and sense organs, but with the appearance of jaws and associated forces there was a remarkable structural diversification. This suggests that the evolution of skull form may be linked to these forces, but an important area of debate is whether bone in the skull is minimised with respect to these forces, or whether skulls are mechanically "over-designed" and constrained by phylogeny and development. Mechanical analysis of diapsid reptile skulls could shed light on this longstanding debate. Compared to those of mammals, the skulls of many extant and extinct diapsids comprise an open framework of fenestrae (window-like openings) separated by bony struts (e.g., lizards, tuatara, dinosaurs and crocodiles), a cranial form thought to be strongly linked to feeding forces. We investigated this link by utilising the powerful engineering approach of multibody dynamics analysis to predict the physiological forces acting on the skull of the diapsid reptile Sphenodon. We then ran a series of structural finite element analyses to assess the correlation between bone strain and skull form. With comprehensive loading we found that the distribution of peak von Mises strains was particularly uniform throughout the skull, although specific regions were dominated by tensile strains while others were dominated by compressive strains. Our analyses suggest that the frame-like skulls of diapsid reptiles are probably optimally formed (mechanically ideal: sufficient strength with the minimal amount of bone) with respect to functional forces; they are efficient in terms of having minimal bone volume, minimal weight, and also minimal energy demands in maintenance.     

Body size and craniometry of the herb field mouse from Lithuania in the context of species range

We present morphometric and craniometric measurements of the herb field mouse (Apodemus uralensis) from Lithuania and analyze variation of body and skull size across species range. We suppose species is characterized by high size variability, not following Bergmann’s or Murphy’s rules. Preliminary, distinct size differences have been registered in the eastern and southern edges of the distribution range, with these populations having largest individuals according to average body and skull size. In terms of tail length and condylobasal length of the skull, Lithuanian mice on the north-western edge of the species range are among the largest, but in terms of body weight, body length, zygomatic skull width and the length of maxillary toothrow, adult A. uralensis from Lithuania are small and correspond to those from populations on the western edge of the range. The relative skull width (ratio of zygomatic skull width to condylobasal length) of Lithuanian A. uralensis is the smallest across the entire range. In A. uralensis from Lithuania, sex dimorphism is weakly expressed, with hind foot length and postorbital constriction larger in adult males, while the height of the mandibula and length of the mandibular diastema is larger in adult females. Juvenile and subadult A. uralensis from Lithuania differ in body weight, but not in size.     

Dynamic shape of tapered skeletal muscle fibers

The muscle fibers of the feline biceps femoris have tapered ends, across which tension is transmitted to the endomysium. The angle of taper of 11 ends, measured on scanning electron micrographs, varied between 0.16 degrees and 1.18 degrees. The muscle fibers are highly variable in cross-sectional shape. The shape of the fibers has been quantified as the ratio (form factor [FF]) of the measured perimeter to the calculated circumference of a circle having an area equal to that contained by the fiber perimeter. The FF for 173 terminal portions of fibers varied between 1.06 and 1.85 and was found to have a highly significant negative correlation with sarcomere length. The slope of the regression line suggests that the fibers maintain both volume and surface area as they change length. These studies suggest that isovolumic muscle fibers maintain a constant surface area by changing shape as they change length.     

重齿当归形态数量性状的分级研究

为明确重齿当归（Angelica biserrata）数量性状的分布规律,对6份种质资源的14个数量性状指标进行测定与分析。结果表明,6份种质资源的8个数量性状存在显著差异,在6个数量性状的差异不显著。14个数量性状的变异系数为6.47%~33.34%,最大的是叶面积,最小的是复叶回数。复叶回数不符合正态分布,叶序数近似于正态分布,其余数量性状均符合正态分布。叶宽、叶长、叶面积、叶周长间呈极显著正相关,相关系数为0.568~0.925,其余数量性状间的相关系数均低于0.560;主成分分析表明,10个数量性状在2个以上主成分中起主要决定作用。概率分级结果表明,去除复叶回数、叶周长、叶面积、叶长、叶序数等5个数量性状,8个数量性状被分为5个连续分布的分级,1个数量性状被分为3个连续分布的分级。     

Methodological considerations on the study of sexual dimorphism in past human populations

The degree of sexual dimorphism in human populations is influenced by stress, social role and by labour division. However, studies on ethnographic populations provided contradictory results. Unfortunately, most of these studies were based on stature only, which, as we could observe in a survey on pre-protohistoric circum-Medirerranean samples, is a poor indicator of functionally related dimorphism. A number of skeletal measurements were examined: skull, stature, transverse trunk diameters, long bones length, circumference and section, in order to assess their usefulness as indicators of functionally related dimorphism. The best indicators were represented by section and circumference of the long bones of the limbs, followed by cross-shoulder breadth (biclavicular length), stature and limb bone length, facial measurements, cranial measurements and sacral breadth. From the methodological point of view, it was found that:

1. It is better to calculate the index of dimorphism for each trait or set of traits within each sample. Then a weighted average of all the available samples is taken. The index derived from pooling a number of samples does not make biological sense. In pooled samples the distinction of between versus within sample differences is obscured;
2. It is better to combine an index which is based on the difference between averages and one which takes variability into account, because variability can also be an aspect of sexual dimorphism;
3. It is better to apply some allometric correction to the measurements used. For instance, the log transformation produces clearer trends of differential dimorphism among the various traits.

     

The cranial anatomy,ontogeny, and relationships of Karpinskiosaurus secundus (Amalitzky) (Seymouriamorpha,Karpinskiosauridae) from the Upper Permian of European Russia

The Upper Permian seymouriamorph tetrapod Karpinskiosaurus from European Russia includes two species: Karpinskiosaurus secundus and Karpinskiosaurus ultimus. Karpinskiosaurus secundus is represented by two specimens with skull lengths of about 75 mm. All specimens of K. ultimus are smaller than those of K. secundus. Revision of the cranial anatomy of all previously known and several new specimens of Karpinskiosaurus shows that the specimens of K. secundus and most of the specimens of K. ultimus represent the ontogenetic series of one species: K. secundus. The holotype specimen of K. ultimus requires revision, with the aim to find out whether it represents a second species of Karpinskiosaurus or not. The available material permits new reconstructions of the largest, holotype skull, and one smaller skull with a length of about 36 mm. Karpinskiosaurus secundus is included in a cladistic analysis for the first time here. The analysis shows it to form a sister taxon to Discosauriscidae. The clade comprising Karpinskiosaurus secundus plus Discosauriscidae forms a sister group to Seymouriidae. Karpinskiosaurus secundus has a large postorbital and a short preorbital region, and the orbits are placed in the posterior portion of the anterior half of the skull length. Among all seymouriamorphs, such cranial proportions are exhibited only by the largest known specimens of Discosauriscus austriacus. None of the specimens of K. secundus described here exhibits the presence of sensory grooves; thus, all specimens composing the ontogenetic sequence of K. secundus are considered to be terrestrial. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010.     

Determination of human brain weight in vivo by skull measurements

The length, width as well as the axial, sagittal and transversal circumferences of the skull were measured before autopsy in 112 cadavers. The brain was weighed immediately after removal. A residual analysis of the correlations between skull measurements and the true brain weight was carried out, resulting in the formula: brain weight, g = (21.8 x axial circumference, cm) + (13.9 x transversal circumference, cm) + (2.105 x length x width, cm) - 890. The mean brain weight as calculated by this formula was within 1.5% of the true weight in the male and within 0.08% in the female cadavers examined.     

Organizational features and morphometric characteristics of the hemomicrocirculatory bed of the human brain dura mater

By means of silver nitrate impregnation and hematoxylin -- eosin staining the microcirculatory bed of the human brain dura mater (the second half of the mature age) has been investigated. Owing to the analysis of the morphometrical data of module organization of the hemomicrocirculatory bed, an objective quantitative characteristics of its peculiarities in various layers and areas of the dura mater is presented. In three layers of the dura mater in the fornix and skull basis area, falx cerebri and tentorium cerebelli venular links predominate. Most of all morphometrical parameters of the venular vessels increase in the internal layer of the dura mater in the skull basis area. Conditions of functioning for the human brain dura mater are reflected in its blood bed, its specificity manifesting at the microcirculatory level.     

Quantitative distribution of muscle fiber types in the scup Stenotomus chrysops

Because the mass-specific power generated by myotomal muscle during swimming varies along the length of the fish, a realistic assessment of total power generation by the musculature requires integrating the product of mass-specific power and muscle mass at each position over the length of the fish. As a first step toward this goal, we examined the distribution of red, pink, and white muscle along the length of Stenotomus chrysops (scup) using histochemical and image analysis techniques. The largest cross-sectional area of red fibers occurs at 60% of total fish length and declines both anteriorly and posteriorly. By contrast, white fibers have the largest cross-sectional area in the anterior and decline dramatically moving posteriorly. The proportion of the fishes' cross-section occupied by red fibers increases from 1.37% to 8.42% moving posteriorly along the length of the fish. In contrast, the proportion of cross-sectional area occupied by pink fibers is constant (1.19%), while the proportional cross-sectional area of white fibers falls from 82.5% to 66.3%. The red, pink, and white fibers comprise 2.09, 0.73, and 51.1%, respectively, of total fish weight. We also compared the distribution of muscle in 10°C-and 200°C-acclimated animals. The value for red fiber volume, though slightly higher (13%) in cold-acclimated fish, is not statistically different. No difference was found in pink or white fibers. Finally, the finding that most of the red muscle is in the posterior half of the fish further supports the notion that most power for steady swimming at moderate speeds comes from posterior rather than anterior musculature. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Ecological correlates and determinants in the geographical variation of deer morphology

Previous studies on patterns in ungulate size variations have emphasized the effect of a particular environmental factor such as Bergmann's rule and the island rule. However, although multiple environmental factors may influence the body size, these studies focused on a single factor, and various measurements that may be influenced by different environmental factors (at least partly) were used as indices of body size. In this study, we used several skull and limb measurements to examine size variations among island populations of sika deer (Cervus nippon) in southern Japan considering the effects of multiple environmental factors. We found that all measurements differed markedly between populations. We focused on the skull and limb condylobasal length (CBL) and metacarpal length because they had the most important variations among the populations and the largest sample sizes. The common environmental factors influencing CBL and metacarpal length were island area and precipitation. Since these environmental factors reflect the availability of food resources, the causal factor of body size variation may be food resources. Interpopulation variation in metacarpal length was greater than that of CBL, indicating that metacarpal length may be affected by additional factors besides the common factors shared with CBL. Specific environmental factors influencing relative (CBL adjusted) metacarpal length were precipitation and slope. A common direct cause of those environmental factors was discussed in relation to topography. Analyses of phenotypic variation using multiple measurements with multiple environmental factors are useful to gain insight into underlying causes and can lead to identification of a measurement-specific variation with a specific driving force.     

回归方程法测定两个龙眼品种叶面积研究

以‘储良’和‘石硖’2个龙眼品种的成熟叶为材料,对叶片的周长、长、宽、长/宽、宽×宽、长×长、长×宽等指标与叶面积的相关性进行分析,建立9种模拟回归方程。结果表明,‘储良’和‘石硖’的叶面积均可用叶片的周长、长、宽、长/宽、宽×宽、长×长、长×宽等指标进行估算,基于叶长×叶宽建立的9种叶面积回归方程R2均最高,拟合效果最好,且相关性最大,因此叶片长×宽可作为龙眼叶面积估测的首选指标。基于叶长×宽建立的9个回归方程中,一元线性方程、二次方程、三次方程、幂函数能较好拟合,其中以幂函数估算的精度最高,较适合用来估测龙眼的叶面积。‘储良’和‘石硖’叶面积对应的较为精准的叶面积幂函数方程分别为:y=0.751x1.006和y=0.986x0.973。最适合两个龙眼品种的总叶面积幂函数方程为y=0.869x0.988。     

胎儿体重相关因素分析以及多元回归方程的建立

目的:寻找更为准确的预测胎儿体重的方法,并探讨腹围增加值在预测胎儿体重中的价值。方法:回顾性分析山东省烟台市芝罘区妇幼保健院2010年3月至12月期间出生的280例新生儿的临床资料,将孕妇身高、体重、孕期增重、宫高、足月腹围、孕期腹围增加值及胎儿的双顶径、股骨长等,与新生儿出生体重进行相关及回归分析,得出回归方程并检验其显著性和与实际出生体重的符合率,并与以往临床常用方法比较。结果:宫高、腹围增加值、双顶径和股骨长与胎儿体重显著相关,建立的多元回归方程计算胎儿体重预测值与实际胎儿体重符合率达70.71%,远高于其它方法。结论:采用宫高、腹围增加值、双顶径、股骨长建立的多元回归方程对胎儿体重预测符合率高,有较好的临床应用价值。     

Ossification and midline shape changes of the human fetal cranial base

An appreciation of ontogenetic changes to the cranial base is important for understanding the evolution of modern human skull form. Using geometric morphometric techniques, this study explores midline shape variations of the basicranium and midface during human prenatal ontogeny. In particular, the analysis sets out to explore shape variations associated with endochondral ossification and to reassess shape variations previously observed on the basis of angular measures.Fifty-four formalin-preserved human fetuses were imaged using high-resolution MRI. Coordinates for 10 landmarks defining the midline basicranium and midface were acquired and areas of ossification in the midline basioccipital, basisphenoid, and presphenoid cartilages were measured as percentages of overall cranial base area. The results show shape variations with increasing fetal size that are consistent with cranial base retroflexion, anterior facial projection and dorsal facial rotation. These growth variations are centered on the midsphenoid area and are associated with disproportionate variations of sphenoid height and length. Small but significant correlations were observed between ossification of the presphenoid cartilage and components of shape that described, among other variations, sphenoid shortening. While ossification cannot be directly linked with the shape variations observed, it seems likely that bone formation plays a role in modulating the influence of other factors on the fetal cranial base.     

Body size estimators in primate skeletal material

A series of twenty-three skeletal variables are tested for their utility as estimators of body size, measured as partial skeletal weight, over 286 Old World anthropoids. Several variables proved to be consistently accurate in this for the present sample: bizygomatic breadth, bicondylar femoral width, skull length, orbital width, basioninion, femoral circumference and vertebral area. The only reasonably acceptable mandibular measurement was mandibular breadth. Other variables that have been used as size estimators in previous studies proved to be less accurate.