HOMO Journal of Comparative Human Biology This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Prenatal and familial factors of caries in first permanent molars in schoolchildren living in urban area of Łódź, Poland
This study contributes to the evidence for the multifactorial nature of dental caries. Material was collected during a 2009–2010 study conducted in randomly selected schools and kindergartens in the city of Łódź (Poland). Only children with first permanent molars present were considered for the analysis, which limited the database to 1131 children. Dental examinations were accompanied by a questionnaire completed by the parents, covering items pertaining to prenatal and familial determinants. The present study shows that there are significant differences in the prevalence of caries in first molars between children of ...
Source: HOMO Journal of Comparative Human Biology - December 19, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: research

On some aspects of Neandertal zygomatic morphology
Publication date: Available online 15 December 2015 Source:HOMO - Journal of Comparative Human Biology Author(s): Ivor Janković, James C.M. Ahern, Fred H. Smith Neandertals are characterized by a series of well-documented facial characteristics, including midfacial prognathism, large nasal and orbital areas, and a marked supraorbital torus. We provide a comparative morphometric study of another part of this facial complex, the frontal process of the zygomatic. We find that European Neandertals have a distinctly columnar form of the frontal process not found in recent modern humans and most Pleistocene modern hum...
Source: HOMO Journal of Comparative Human Biology - December 16, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: research

First evidence of pre-Hispanic dentistry in South America – Insights from Cusco, Peru
We report two upper canines from two pre-Hispanic individuals dated to the Late Horizon Period from Cusco (Peru), each showing a conical perforation on its incisal surface. Analyses were performed using traditional radiography, computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy. The depth and symmetrical location of the perforations at the center of the crown suggest that these two teeth were artificially drilled, rather than affected by taphonomic factors. The poor oral health of the individuals, the location of the perforations on the incisal surface, and evidence of intentional manipulation of the pulp chambers (as su...
Source: HOMO Journal of Comparative Human Biology - December 13, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: research

Dental wear patterns in early modern humans from Skhul and Qafzeh: A response to Luca Fiorenza and Ottmar Kullmer
Publication date: Available online 8 December 2015 Source:HOMO - Journal of Comparative Human Biology Author(s): Rachel Sarig, Anne-marie Tillier (Source: HOMO Journal of Comparative Human Biology)
Source: HOMO Journal of Comparative Human Biology - December 10, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: research

First evidence of pre-Hispanic dentistry in South America - Insights from Cusco, Peru
We report two upper canines from two pre-Hispanic individuals dated to the Late Horizon Period from Cusco (Peru), each showing a conical perforation on its incisal surface. Analyses were performed using traditional radiography, computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy. The depth and symmetrical location of the perforations at the center of the crown suggest that these two teeth were artificially drilled, rather than affected by taphonomic factors. The poor oral health of the individuals, the location of the perforations on the incisal surface, and evidence of intentional manipulation of the pulp chambers (as su...
Source: HOMO Journal of Comparative Human Biology - November 23, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: research

Ecosensitivity and genetic polymorphism of somatic traits in the perinatal development of twins
Publication date: Available online 12 November 2015 Source:HOMO - Journal of Comparative Human Biology Author(s): Małgorzata Waszak, Krystyna Cieślik, Marzena Skrzypczak-Zielińska, Marlena Szalata, Karolina Wielgus, Joanna Kempiak, Grzegorz Bręborowicz, Ryszard Słomski In view of criticism regarding the usefulness of heritability coefficients, the aim of this study was to analyze separately the information on genetic and environmental variability. Such an approach, based on the normalization of trait's variability for its value, is determined by the coefficients of genetic polymorphism (Pg) and eco...
Source: HOMO Journal of Comparative Human Biology - November 13, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: research

Sex determination from fingerprint ridge density and white line counts in Filipinos
This study derived Filipino-specific probability formulae from fingerprints to be used for sex discrimination in human identification cases. Ridge density from three different areas - distal radial area, distal ulnar area, and proximal area–as well as white line counts from fingerprints of 200 male and 200 female Filipinos were collected and analyzed statistically. Ridge densities of radial and ulnar areas emerged as displaying significant differences between the sexes, with 16 ridges/25mm2 or more in radial area and 15 ridges/25mm2 or more in ulnar area being more likely to be female, whereas 13 ridges/25mm2 or less in ...
Source: HOMO Journal of Comparative Human Biology - November 13, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: research

Assessing the effect of manual physical activity on proximal hand phalanges using Hellenistic and modern skeletal samples from Greece
Publication date: Available online 10 November 2015 Source:HOMO - Journal of Comparative Human Biology Author(s): F.A. Karakostis, E. Le Quéré, V. Vanna, K. Moraitis In humans, physical activity is an important regulator of bone size. Furthermore, hand bones have been proposed as a potential avenue for assessing patterns of manual activity. However, there are very few studies presenting a metric comparison of proximal hand phalanges among different populations. Moreover, an osteoarchaeological approach to the manual activities performed by an ancient population is yet to be made. In this framework, this study...
Source: HOMO Journal of Comparative Human Biology - November 10, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: research

Sexual dimorphism in the facial morphology of adult humans: A three-dimensional analysis
The objective of this study was to demonstrate sexual dimorphism in the entire three-dimensional facial surface form of adult humans. The sample consisted of female and male groups (n=200; age range, 18–35 years). Three-dimensional images of each participant's face at rest were recorded. A total of 185 variables that described facial surface configuration features were extracted from each image. The variables were compared between the groups using t-tests, and those exhibiting P-values <0.0001 were entered into a stepwise discriminant function analysis for sex determination. Wire mesh fitting was also performed on...
Source: HOMO Journal of Comparative Human Biology - November 3, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: research

A case of semi-combusted pregnant female in the Phoenician-Punic necropolis of Monte Sirai (Carbonia, Sardinia, Italy)
We present a case of a pregnant woman with the fetus skeletal remains in situ, belonging to the Phoenician-Punic necropolis of Monte Sirai (Sardinia, Italy). The burial dates back to the late 6th to early 5th century BCE. Of the unborn fetal cases documented in the literature this is amongst the oldest four and it represents the first documented case of a pregnant woman in the Phoenician and Punic necropolis literature. A physico-chemical investigation of bones combining X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy suggests that the female skeleton and fetus were subjected to an incomplete heat treatment a...
Source: HOMO Journal of Comparative Human Biology - October 2, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: research

Geographical and temporal changes of anthropometric traits in historical Yemen
This study investigates secular changes of anthropometric variables among four geographic groups in historical Yemen, to evaluate possible regional differences in the evolution of living standards. Nineteen somatic and cephalic measures collected by Coon in 1939, and 8 anthropometric indices in 1,244 Yemenite adult males were analysed. The individuals were divided into 10-year age groups. Within-group variations were tested by One-way ANCOVA (age as covariate). ANCOVA (controlling for age), and Forward stepwise discriminant analysis were used to evaluate and represent regional differences. ANCOVA and discriminant analysis ...
Source: HOMO Journal of Comparative Human Biology - September 29, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: research

Electrophoretic mobility of cell nuclei (EMN index) as a biomarker of the biological aging process: Considering the association between EMN index and age
This report considers findings from cross sections of females (n=1273) aged 18 to 98 years, and males (n=506) aged 19 to 93 years. A Biotest apparatus was used to perform intracellular microelectrophoresis on buccal epithelial cells collected from each individual. EMN index was calculated on the basis of the number of epithelial cells with mobile nuclei in reference to the cells with immobile nuclei per 100 cells. Regression analyses indicated a significant negative association between EMN index value and age for men (rho= -0.71, p<0.001) and women (rho= -0.60, p<0.001); demonstrating a key requirement that m...
Source: HOMO Journal of Comparative Human Biology - September 26, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: research

Fingerprint ridge density in the Argentinean population and its application to sex inference: A comparative study
In conclusion females consistently exhibit narrower epidermal ridges than males, which may evidence a universal pattern of sexual dimorphism in this trait that can be useful in forensics in the identification of individuals. (Source: HOMO Journal of Comparative Human Biology)
Source: HOMO Journal of Comparative Human Biology - September 23, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: research

Morphometric analyses of hominoid crania, probabilities of conspecificity and an approximation of a biological species constant
Publication date: Available online 18 September 2015 Source:HOMO - Journal of Comparative Human Biology Author(s): J.F. Thackeray, S. Dykes Thackeray has previously explored the possibility of using a morphometric approach to quantify the “amount” of variation within species and to assess probabilities of conspecificity when two fossil specimens are compared, instead of “pigeon-holing” them into discrete species. In an attempt to obtain a statistical (probabilistic) definition of a species, Thackeray has recognized an approximation of a biological species constant (T= -1.61) based on the log-transformed sta...
Source: HOMO Journal of Comparative Human Biology - September 20, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: research

A case of semi–combusted pregnant female in the Phoenician-Punic necropolis of Monte Sirai (Carbonia, Sardinia, Italy)
We present a case of a pregnant woman with the fetus skeletal remains in situ, belonging to the Phoenician-Punic necropolis of Monte Sirai (Sardinia, Italy). The burial dates back to the late 6th to early 5th century BCE. Of the unborn fetal cases documented in the literature this is amongst the oldest four and it represents the first documented case of a pregnant woman in the Phoenician and Punic necropolis literature. A physico-chemical investigation of bones combining X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy suggests that the female skeleton and fetus were subjected to an incomplete heat treatment a...
Source: HOMO Journal of Comparative Human Biology - September 13, 2015 Category: Biology Source Type: research