Sexual dimorphism of facial width-to-height ratio in human skulls and faces: A meta-analytical approach

Facial width-to-height ratio (FWHR), defined as the width of the face divided by the upper facial height, is a cue to behaviour. Explanations for this link often involve the idea that FWHR is sexually dimorphic, resulting from intersexual selection pressures. However, few studies have considered sexual dimorphism in skulls since the original paper on this topic, and it is possible that different explanations may be required if faces show sex differences but skulls do not. Here, meta-analyses of skulls found that men did have larger FWHR than women, although this effect was small. However, after categorising samples by ethnicity and geographical origin, meta-analyses only found evidence of sex differences in East Asians, and again, this effect was small. A re-analysis of previous studies after excluding skull samples found little evidence of sexual dimorphism in faces. Again, considering ethnicities separately, I found no differences for White samples but a medium-sized effect with East Asians, although this was not statistically significant with only three samples. Taken together, I found no reason to consider FWHR as a sexually dimorphic measure in skulls or faces, at least not universally, and so accounts based upon this assumption need rethinking if researchers are to explain the relationship between FWHR and behaviour.     

The intramandibular linkage in Astatotilapia elegans (Teleostei: Cichlidae): appearance and function of the meckelian cartilage

During expansion of the bucco-pharyngeal cavity in Astatotilapia elegans , the lower jaws depress and follow the movements of the suspensoria (abduction). Moreover, the angulo-articular part of each ramus rotates around its longitudinal axis in such a manner that the retro-articular process moves laterally (= lateral inclination). As a result, a part of the meckelian cartilage undergoes a torsion.
Elastic moduli of the meckelian cartilage are calculated. It is supposed that during adduction of the head parts, the gained strain energy (due to torsion of the cartilage rod) may be sufficient to move the retro-articular process medially (= medial inclination) by means of elastic resilience. The processes are then held in their resting position, closely to the ventral side of the head. Undoubtedly, the meckelian cartilage acts as a spring, preventing passive lateral movements of the retro-articular processes. In this way, the streamlining of the fish-head is improved when the head parts are in an adducted position.     

The temporal region and the supramastoid ridge in mesolithic skulls from Padina in the Iron Gate Gorge of the Danube

Studies of the morphological features of the temporal region of mesolithic skulls from Padina in the Iron Gate Gorge of the Danube revealed a very prominent and large supramastoid ridge which is the most striking feature in skulls of both sexes. Mastoid processes were larger in male skulls, but in 25% of the cases there was an overlap between the size of the processes in male and female specimens. The mastoid ridge was prominent in both sexes. The digastric fossa was always well defined in both sexes and in the two thirds of the skull specimens it was deep. The posterior root of the zygoma was prominent in all the skulls, but it was better developed in the male specimens. The parietotemporal suture in both sexes rises above the level of the pterion. There were no morphological or anthropometrical differences between the left and the right side of individual skulls outside the limits of natural asymmetry. All these morphological characteristics of the temporal region may help in racial and sexual diagnosis of the Mesolithic skulls from the Iron Gate Gorge.     

Rabbits killing birds: modelling the hyperpredation process

1.  Introduced rabbits are known to have catastrophic effects on oceanic islands, either by direct destruction of the vegetative cover, or by the resulting disturbance of indigenous vertebrates.
2.  Another dramatic effect, less well known, but potentially of major importance, is the hyperpredation process. This process, related to apparent competition, predicts that an introduced prey species, well adapted to high predation pressure, could induce the extinction of an indigenous prey, through the sudden increased population size of an introduced predator. In many island ecosystems, the simultaneous presence of introduced feral cats and rabbits is thus potentially a further threat for small vertebrates endemic of these islands.
3.  Through a mathematical model, we tested this hypothesis, using a tri-trophic system comprising an indigenous prey (birds), an introduced prey (rabbits) and an introduced predator (cats), and we demonstrated the theoretical existence of the hyperpredation process.
4.  In addition, the numerical analysis of the model allowed a quantification of this process. It shows that the conditions required for an indigenous species to cope with the hyperpredation process imply very high intrinsic growth rates and/or carrying capacity, as well as behavioural anti-predator response to the introduced predator. Since these conditions are unlikely to be met, this process is a further potential threat to most indigenous vertebrate prey.
5.  Finally, our model shows that, although it can be induced by both types of adaptation together or alone, behavioural adaptations alone are more powerful in generating the hyperpredation process, than are life history traits adaptations.     

Brief communication: The size of the human frontal sinuses in adults presenting complete persistence of the metopic suture

The notion of absence of the frontal sinuses in human individuals presenting a persistence of the metopic suture is considered as classical in many treatises of reference; however, precise studies are very rare and even controversial. The purpose of this study was thus to provide original data to confirm or refute this classical affirmation with the perspective of some original insights into biological significance of the frontal sinuses and the factors influencing their exceptional polymorphism. The material consisted of 143 dry skulls of adult individuals (European Homo sapiens), distributed in two groups: 80 skulls presenting a complete frontal closure with total disappearance of the metopic suture, and 63 skulls presenting a complete persistence of the metopic suture. Each skull was radiographed in oblique projection using the occipitomental view. A simple morphological quantification of the sinus size was defined with four categories: (1) aplasia, (2) hypoplasia, (3) medium size, (4) hyperplasia. Statistically significant difference in frontal sinusal size was found between both groups of skulls. Absent and small sinuses were considerably more frequent in skulls with persistence of the metopic suture (57.9 vs. 11.9%): small frontal sinuses (hypoplasia) were much more frequent (50.8 vs. 9.4%), although the frequency of absence of frontal sinuses (aplasia) was only slightly higher (7.1 vs. 2.5%). Am J Phys Anthropol 154:621–627, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

INFLUENZA VACCINE,ASIAN STRAIN—Reactions Following Its Use in Adults

A study of reactions following influenza vaccine inoculation of 327 employees of Peralta Hospital, 55 men and 272 women, showed a very low value for significant or severe reactions. The reaction rate as observed with the present monovalent vaccine containing 200 CCA units of Asian strain, Type A influenza virus, was considerably lower than that reported with previous polyvalent vaccines containing up to 1,400 or 1,500 CCA units of total virus content.The absenteeism rate was 1.1 per cent for women, nil for men.The incidence of reactions was much greater in women than in men. Local reactions such as pain, swelling, or redness at the site of injection occurred in 29.1 per cent of men and 35.7 per cent of women. The incidence of systemic reactions—fever, aching, chilliness, headache, nausea and vomiting—was 3.6 per cent in men and 8.8 per cent in women. About 9 per cent of men and 30 per cent of women had both local and systemic reaction. Some 58 per cent of men and 25 per cent of women had no reaction.The greater majority of reactions appeared within five hours after inoculation with influenza vaccine.In adults the prevention of anaphylactic reactions due to the small amount of egg protein in influenza vaccine, can be accomplished by screening for history of hypersensitivity to egg, chicken or chicken feather. In questionable cases, intradermal testing can be done.The reaction rate observed in this study for the present influenza vaccine was so low that it ought not deter immunization.     

High incidence of malocclusion in an isolated population of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in the Netherlands

Out of 72 fox skulls ( Vulpes vulpes L.) collected in the North Holland Dune Reserve (NHD) between 1979 and 1985, 12 (16.7%) skulls showed a pronounced protrusion of the maxillary incisors over the mandibular incisors. Comparison of dimensions of affected and normal skulls revealed that this protrusion was the effect of a shortening of the front part of the mandibles. The mode of inheritance of this aberration is thought to be under recessive monogenetic control. This was deduced from the family relations between individual foxes radio-collared or earmarked during five years of ecological research, and from the clear bimodal distribution in mandible length. The high incidence of the aberration can be explained by the history of the fox population in the NHD. Before 1968 the NHD was not inhabited by foxes as a result of its ecological isolation. It is rumoured that in that year four cubs, probably from one litter, were set free. It is believed, therefore, that the present population has originated from a small and isolated gene pool. Compared to normal foxes, affected animals are likely to be at an ecological disadvantage. Hence it is expected that the incidence of the aberration will decline in the future, since the population density reached a stable maximum around 1982 and the selective forces against the aberration will presumably be stronger now than during the phase of rapid population growth.     

Relationship of ovarian and thyroid function

In an investigation of relationships between ovarian function and thyroid function, three groups of ten women each were studied by means of radioactive iodine uptake. In the first group no significant changes were noted during normal menstrual cycles. The second group, women who had dysfunctional uterine bleeding and were under treatment with diethylstilbestrol, most of the patients had no significant change in the uptake of radioactive iodine. Three patients did show a small increase in the uptake. (A fourth patient had a very bizarre result with a very great increase in the uptake, but it is felt that some undetected error was involved.)The third group was made up of women without evident ovarian function. Under treatment with diethylstilbestrol one patient showed a small increase in iodine uptake. The other nine had no significant change. No convincing evidence was found of any change in thyroid function as measured by the uptake of radioactive iodine-either during normal menstrual cycles or following the administration of diethylstilbestrol in dosages of 3 mg. daily for two to three weeks.     

NEWS AND NOTES

In an investigation of relationships between ovarian function and thyroid function, three groups of ten women each were studied by means of radioactive iodine uptake. In the first group no significant changes were noted during normal menstrual cycles.The second group, women who had dysfunctional uterine bleeding and were under treatment with diethylstilbestrol, most of the patients had no significant change in the uptake of radioactive iodine. Three patients did show a small increase in the uptake. (A fourth patient had a very bizarre result with a very great increase in the uptake, but it is felt that some undetected error was involved.)The third group was made up of women without evident ovarian function. Under treatment with diethylstilbestrol one patient showed a small increase in iodine uptake. The other nine had no significant change.No convincing evidence was found of any change in thyroid function as measured by the uptake of radioactive iodine—either during normal menstrual cycles or following the administration of diethylstilbestrol in dosages of 3 mg. daily for two to three weeks.     

Craniometric variation in Norwegian wolverines Gulo gulo L.

Craniometric variation in Norwegian wolverines was analysed using univariate and multivariate techniques. The wolverine skull seems to be full-grown after about 9 months in both sexes although some dimensions continued to grow at a slow rate after the first year. Size allometry was studied in skulls older than 11 months. Allometric coefficients were calculated from different methods. The multivariate allometric coefficients were found to reflect the same allometric patterns as were found from the reduced major axis and from the direction cosines of PCI, whereas the coefficients seem to be underestimated by the least-square regression method. Sexual dimorphism was found to be highly significant, males being the larger sex. The female skulls were found to be relatively broader and to have a relatively higher coronoid process than the male skulls. It seems that the females have a relatively stronger feeding apparatus than the males, which leads to less absolute differences in strength, as reflected in a very high degree of dietary overlap. Two discriminant functions were calculated which both classified the material into their correct sex with nearly 100% accuracy. Geographical variation between samples from Nordland and Finnmark counties were studied. No significant multivariate variation was found between the female skulls. The male variation was highly significant; the Nordland skulls seem to have longer carnassials than those from Finnmark.     

Incapacity for work of employees of the selected metallurgical plant related to age

Evaluation of the health state of employees in relation to the working environment is one of the main tasks of occupational medicine. The specified results represent a part of a methodically oriented project which was focused on evaluation of: age structures of employees in the metallurgical plant being monitored in comparison with the age structure in the whole region, evaluation of the health status of employees in the plan by means of absolute and relative indicators of morbidity and even their dependence on age. The analysis was carried out during three successive years in approximately 10 000 employees of a metallurgical plant. The selected six groups of diagnoses represented from 40 % to 50 % of all employees suffering from a disease. Particularly the following diagnoses according to the International Classification of Diseases were involved there: I10-I15 (hypertensive disease), I20-I25 (ischaemic heart disease), J00-J06 (acute infections of upper respiratory airways), K20-K31 (diseases of oesophagus, stomach and duodenum), M15-M19 (arthroses) and M50-M54 (dorsopathies). The age structure of employees related to men and women was considerably statistically significantly different from the age structure of the region. From the economic point of view on incapacity for work, we consider the number of days of absence from work for the reason of the disease as an indicator with the highest informative value. We noted two dominative maxima in men and women for this characteristic. A proportion of patients with acute infections of upper respiratory airways ranged from 40 % to 50 % out of total cases of diagnoses we have followed up, the highest number of patients was in men aged 20-24 with a subsequent significant decrease. We did not find any noticeable dependence on age for this diagnosis in women, only a slight increase in older age categories was evident. Dorsopathies are the second most frequent group; they were from 30 to 38 % out of all monitored diseases. The age dependence was evident especially in women aged 40+. Considering duration of incapacity for work and its repeatability, dorsopathies seem to be the most relevant health problem in employees in heavy industry, and especially in women. The participation of the remaining four selected groups of diseases is relatively low. Both in men and women, the hypertensive disease ranged from 1.9 %-3.7 %, ischaemic heart disease from 0.4 %-6.5 %, diseases of oesophagus, stomach and duodenum from 5.3 %-9.0 % and arthroses from 4.7 %-6.8 % in three years in question.     

Craniometric variation in Norwegian wolverines Gulo gulo L.

Craniometric variation in Norwegian wolverines was analysed using univariate and multivariate techniques. The wolverine skull seems to be full-grown after about 9 months in both sexes although some dimensions continued to grow at a slow rate after the first year. Size allometry was studied in skulls older than 11 months. Allometric coefficients were calculated from different methods. The multivariate allometric coefficients were found to reflect the same allometric patterns as were found from the reduced major axis and from the direction cosines of PCI, whereas the coefficients seem to be underestimated by the least-square regression method. Sexual dimorphism was found to be highly significant, males being the larger sex. The female skulls were found to be relatively broader and to have a relatively higher coronoid process than the male skulls. It seems that the females have a relatively stronger feeding apparatus than the males, which leads to less absolute differences in strength, as reflected in a very high degree of dietary overlap. Two discriminant functions were calculated which both classified the material into their correct sex with nearly 100% accuracy. Geographical variation between samples from Nordland and Finnmark counties were studied. No significant multivariate variation was found between the female skulls. The male variation was highly significant; the Nordland skulls seem to have longer carnassials than those from Finnmark.     

Multiple miscarriages are associated with the risk of ovarian cancer: results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition

While the risk of ovarian cancer clearly reduces with each full-term pregnancy, the effect of incomplete pregnancies is unclear. We investigated whether incomplete pregnancies (miscarriages and induced abortions) are associated with risk of epithelial ovarian cancer. This observational study was carried out in female participants of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). A total of 274,442 women were followed from 1992 until 2010. The baseline questionnaire elicited information on miscarriages and induced abortions, reproductive history, and lifestyle-related factors. During a median follow-up of 11.5 years, 1,035 women were diagnosed with incident epithelial ovarian cancer. Despite the lack of an overall association (ever vs. never), risk of ovarian cancer was higher among women with multiple incomplete pregnancies (HR(≥4vs.0): 1.74, 95% CI: 1.20-2.70; number of cases in this category: n?=?23). This association was particularly evident for multiple miscarriages (HR(≥4vs.0): 1.99, 95% CI: 1.06-3.73; number of cases in this category: n?=?10), with no significant association for multiple induced abortions (HR(≥4vs.0): 1.46, 95% CI: 0.68-3.14; number of cases in this category: n?=?7). Our findings suggest that multiple miscarriages are associated with an increased risk of epithelial ovarian cancer, possibly through a shared cluster of etiological factors or a common underlying pathology. These findings should be interpreted with caution as this is the first study to show this association and given the small number of cases in the highest exposure categories.     

Free dorsoulnar perforator flap transfers for the reconstruction of severely injured digits

The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of transferring the free dorsoulnar perforator flap nourished by the cutaneous perforator branched dorsoulnar artery to reconstruct severely injured fingers under upper arm anesthesia. Between April of 2001 and April of 2002, 13 free dorsoulnar perforator flaps were used in 13 patients. There were 11 men and two women ranging in age from 18 to 64 years, with an average age of 38 years. The affected fingers were one thumb, four index fingers, five middle fingers, two ring fingers, and one little finger. All cases were performed under upper arm anesthesia combined with intravenous local anesthesia. The operative time ranged from 103 to 140 minutes, with an average time of 120 minutes. The flap size ranged from 1 x 3 to 3 x 4 cm, and was transferred from the same forearm of the injured finger. All donor sites were closed primarily without a skin graft. The aim of reconstruction for fingers was to repair a traumatic defect (five cases), partial necrosis following replantation (two cases), and soft-tissue defects resulting from resection of a scar (three cases) and to revascularize ischemic fingers (three cases). All flaps survived completely. After repair of the flow-through circulation of the common digital artery and ischemic finger, a postoperative angiogram showed the vascular patency and hypervascularity of the reconstructed fingers, and the patients' complaints were reduced. The free dorsoulnar perforator flap under regional anesthesia is first reported; it may become one valuable option as a very small flap for the treatment of repairing intercalated or segmental defects as a flow-through flap for soft-tissue defects and ischemic fingers.     

Differences in the iliolumbar ligament and the transverse process of the L5 vertebra in young white and black people

The anatomy of the iliolumbar ligament (ILL) and the spatial orientation of the transverse process of the L5 vertebra were studied in 62 young black (n = 29) and white (n = 33) men and women during routine autopsy. The aim of the study was to determine possible racial differences in the structure and attachments of the iliolumbar ligament. The present study also investigated the spatial orientation of the transverse process of the L5 vertebra since the ILL has been reported to attach to the transverse process. The measurements of the iliolumbar ligament were carried out with a digital vernier caliper while the transverse process angles were measured with an adjustable protractor. The ligament in black people was made up of a single, markedly longer band compared to white people, where the ligament was made up of two shorter bands. The ILL measured 61.8 +/- 1.3 mm in black and 33.2 +/- 1.5 mm white men, and in black women 61.3 +/- 0.9 mm versus 32.2 +/- 1.2 mm in white women (p <0.01). Further, the ILL was markedly wider in black than white subjects (p <0.01). The horizontal and vertical angle also varied greatly between black and white subjects (p <0.01). These are previously unrecognized observations. Albeit unsubstantiated, these findings may have implications for understanding the etiology of various low back stress problems.     

Sex differences in left-side infant holding: Results from “family album” photographs

Humans tend to cradle infants on the left side of the body. However, it is controversial as to whether left-side cradling is characteristic of women and not of men. Photographic surveys of women and men holding infants have suffered because of underrepresentation of men and lack of accurate information of infants' age. Sampling from “family albums” overcomes these difficulties. A sample of photographs of 1119 women and 577 men indicated (a) left-holding frequencies of 61% women and 47% men, (b) women tended to pose with younger infants, (c) left-side holding was greatest for very young infants (3 months or less) but women showed consistently higher left-side holding for all infant age groups, (d) the distribution of frequency of cradling per individual is skewed towards left-holding for women but for men it is rectangular or perhaps skewed towards right-holding, and (e) there may be family trends in left-holding for women.     

Community study of the causes of "natural" sudden death.

Three hundred and fifty cases of "natural" sudden death within six hours of onset of symptoms in people ranging in age from 18 to 69 years in Wandsworth were studied using a detailed necropsy protocol to determine the cause of death. Sudden death occurred in 28 (8%) Asians and blacks, but because of the small number they were excluded from the study, leaving 322 cases. Ischaemic heart disease accounted for 189 (59%) of the 322 sudden deaths (155 (65%) men; 34 (41%) women) and no proportional increase in instantaneous compared with non-instantaneous sudden death was found. Non-ischaemic cardiac disease was the cause of sudden death in 24 cases (7.5%). Non-cardiac disease included pulmonary emboli, aortic aneurysms, and intracerebral haemorrhage and caused 89 (27.6%) deaths. Alcohol was the cause of nine deaths (2.8%) and in 11 (3.4%) cases (six men and five women) no cause of death was found. This study shows that although ischaemic heart disease is the single largest cause of sudden natural death there are other major causes.     

Immunoglobulins and the X-chromosome

Serum levels of immunoglobulins (Ig) G, M, and A were determined in 28 women with an additional X-chromosome (XXX), and in equal numbers of age-matched normal women and men. Mean IgM levels were found to be highest in the XXX group, intermediate in normal women, and lowest in men; these differences were statistically significant. Mean IgM values obtained from seven XXY and three XXXY cases were almost identical with those of normal women and XXX women respectively. No such sex linkage was observed for IgA and IgG levels. These results support the suggestion that the serum level of IgM is related to the number of X chromosomes present.