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Purpose: Few studies have investigated the influence of posture on the external jugular and diploic venous systems in the head and cranial region. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of posture on these systems using upright computed tomography (CT) scanning. Methods: This study retrospectively analysed an upright CT dataset from a previous prospective study. In each patient, the diameters of the vessels in three external jugular tributaries and four diploic veins were measured using CT digital subtraction venography in both supine and sitting positions. Results: Amongst the 20 cases in the original dataset, we eventually investigated 19 cases due to motion artifacts in 1 case. Compared with the supine position, most of the external jugular tributaries collapsed, and the average size significantly decreased in the sitting position (decreased by 22–49% on average). In contrast, most of the diploic veins, except the occipital diploic veins, tended to increase or remain unchanged (increased by 12–101% on average) in size in the sitting position compared with the supine position. However, the changes in the veins associated with this positional shift were not uniform; in approximately 5–30% of the cases, depending on each vein, an opposite trend was observed. Conclusion: Compared to the supine position, the contribution of external jugular tributaries to head venous drainage decreased in the sitting position, whilst most diploic veins maintained their contribution. These results could enhance our understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of the head region in upright and sitting positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cerebellum plays a critical role in the modulation of vestibular reflexes, dependent on input from proprioceptive afferents. The mechanism of this cerebellar control is not well understood. In a sample of 11 healthy human subjects, we investigated the effects of head orientation on ocular, cervical, postural and cerebellar short latency potentials evoked by impulsive stimuli applied at both mastoids and midline skull sites. Subjects were instructed to lean backwards with the head positioned straight ahead or held rotated in different degrees of yaw towards the right and left sides. Impulsive mastoid stimulation, a potent method of utricular stimulation, produced localised vestibular cerebellar evoked potentials (VsCEPs: P12-N17) which were strongly modulated by head orientation. The response was larger on the side opposite to the direction of head rotation and with stimulation on the side of rotation. In contrast, ocular VEMPs (oVEMPs: n10-p16) were present but showed little change with head posture, while cervical VEMPs (cVEMPs: p15-n23) were larger with the head held rotated away from the side of the recording. Postural effects with lateral vestibular stimulation were strongly modulated by head rotation, with more powerful effects occurring bilaterally with stimulation on the side of rotation. The duration of the postural EMG changes was similar to the post-excitation inhibition of the electrocerebellogram (ECeG), consistent with cerebellar participation. We conclude that head rotation selectively affects evoked vestibular reflexes towards different targets, consistent with their physiological roles. Changes in VsCEPs may contribute to the modulation of postural reflexes by the cerebellum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Rhinosinusitis is one of the most common reasons for a visit to otolaryngology clinics. Some patients are candidates for sinus surgery. Infiltration of 1:100 000 adrenaline in the pterygopalatine fossa was studied, with the aim of evaluating the effect on bleeding in the surgical field. Methods: This double-blind clinical trial was conducted in 2021–2022 on 40 candidates for endoscopic sinus surgery. For each patient, one side of the pterygopalatine fossa was randomly selected to be infiltrated with a vasoconstrictor. Surgical field bleeding on each side was evaluated. Results: Blood loss was 35.8 ± 20.9 ml in the study group and 38.4 ± 23.7 ml for the control group, with no statistically significant difference between groups (p = 0.49). In addition, there was no difference between the two groups in terms of the surgical field based on Boezaart scores. Conclusion: Although there are some recommendations on the usage of vasoconstrictors via the pterygopalatine foramen, debate remains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a novel thresholding and morphology-based skull stripping method for different MRI modalities. The proposed method is designed in a way which is easy to use and generates satisfactory results with minimal parameter adjustments. The method is evaluated on three different benchmark datasets and compared with nine state-of-the-art skull stripping methods. The experimental results suggest that the proposed method generates comparable results to some of the best methods in literature. However, unlike many other methods, it works well on different types of MRI scans. Moreover, this method generates the skull mask along with the brain mask that can be used to study various skull pathologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X‐ray Computed Tomography (CT) images are widely used in various fields of natural, physical, and biological sciences. 3D reconstruction of the images involves segmentation of the structures of interest. Manual segmentation has been widely used in the field of biological sciences for complex structures composed of several sub‐parts and can be a time‐consuming process. Many tools have been developed to automate the segmentation process, all with various limitations and advantages, however, multipart segmentation remains a largely manual process. The aim of this study was to develop an open‐access and user‐friendly tool for the automatic segmentation of calcified tissues, specifically focusing on craniofacial bones. Here we describe BounTI, a novel segmentation algorithm which preserves boundaries between separate segments through iterative thresholding. This study outlines the working principles behind this algorithm, investigates the effect of several input parameters on its outcome, and then tests its versatility on CT images of the craniofacial system from different species (e.g. a snake, a lizard, an amphibian, a mouse and a human skull) with various scan qualities. The case studies demonstrate that this algorithm can be effectively used to segment the craniofacial system of a range of species automatically. High‐resolution microCT images resulted in more accurate boundary‐preserved segmentation, nonetheless significantly lower‐quality clinical images could still be segmented using the proposed algorithm. Methods for manual intervention are included in this tool when the scan quality is insufficient to achieve the desired segmentation results. While the focus here was on the craniofacial system, BounTI can be used to automatically segment any hard tissue. The tool presented here is available as an Avizo/Amira add‐on, a stand‐alone Windows executable, and a Python library. We believe this accessible and user‐friendly segmentation tool can benefit the wider anatomical community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disarticulated human bone fragments can be encountered in various scenarios where fragmented skeletal material has been disturbed by anthropogenic (i.e. grave robbing, disaster recovery), animal scavenging (i.e. with surface deposits), or natural forces (i.e. flooding, erosion). The physical anthropologist should aim to classify as diagnostic as many human bone fragments as possible. The Camposanto cemetery (Venice, Italy) was used to assess a landmark method to determine its applicability to human fragmented assemblages (archaeological, humanitarian, or forensic). A total of 7,330 fragments, of which 59% were smaller than 5 cm and 1.7% were larger than 10 cm, returned a MNI of 24 individuals (16 adults, five children, and three infants). The study concluded that a modified version of the landmark schema, particularly the cranium and pelvis, is required to classify a greater number of fragments as diagnostic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, it is possible to scan faces and automatically register them with high quality. However, the resulting face meshes often need further processing: we need to stabilize them to remove unwanted head movement. Stabilization is important for tasks like game development or movie making which require facial expressions to be cleanly separated from rigid head motion. Since manual stabilization is labor‐intensive, there have been attempts to automate it. However, previous methods remain impractical: they either still require some manual input, produce imprecise alignments, rely on dubious heuristics and slow optimization, or assume a temporally ordered input. Instead, we present a new learning‐based approach that is simple and fully automatic. We treat stabilization as a regression problem: given two face meshes, our network directly predicts the rigid transform between them that brings their skulls into alignment. We generate synthetic training data using a 3D Morphable Model (3DMM), exploiting the fact that 3DMM parameters separate skull motion from facial skin motion. Through extensive experiments we show that our approach outperforms the state‐of‐the‐art both quantitatively and qualitatively on the tasks of stabilizing discrete sets of facial expressions as well as dynamic facial performances. Furthermore, we provide an ablation study detailing the design choices and best practices to help others adopt our approach for their own uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obtaining accurate knowledge of the anatomical structure of the skull helps in ontogenetic studies and determining sexual polymorphisms. Objectives: This study uses anatomical dissection and radiography to develop a size standard for the skull of the Saanen goat; information that will be applied to clinical evaluation and decision‐making. Methods: A total of 14 adult Saanen goat skulls (7 male and 7 female goats) were taken from the slaughterhouse and transferred to the clinic of the Faculty of Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran. Radiographs of each skull were prepared in the dorsal–ventral, left and right lateral recumbency. These heads were then brought over to the anatomy department, where the chosen morphometric traits were assessed and their means recorded. Results: According to the findings of this study, the dorsal view of the skull revealed an incisive raphe and a widespread foramen of the nose. In the ventral view, the incisive bones were observed in the most cranial region of the skull. The base of the occipital bone was relatively large, and the jugular process was well‐developed. In the lateral view, the incisive bone was extended to the cranial and had a narrow process on the dorsal surface. Regarding infra‐orbital foramen, it was visible in the maxillary bone. Moreover, the lacrimal bone was perceived as a distinct bone. Conclusion: The precise standards acquired in this study can be utilized to interpret the findings and make clinical decisions about the normal and abnormal size of the bones that make up the skulls of the Saanen goats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the morphometric measurements anatomically and CT images of skulls of healthy male and female rabbits during postnatal development, to analyse the data statistically and to demonstrate the structural changes in bone. A total of 40 rabbits (20 females and 20 males) were divided into four groups including prepubertal period (group I (0–1 month)), period between adolescence and adulthood (group II (3‐5 month)) and later (young adult period as group III (1–3 years) and old adult period as group IV (3–5 years)), with five animals in each group. After the morphometric measurements, the surface area and volume values of the skull were calculated. The skulls were reconstructed using a 3D Slicer (5.0.2), which is used for 3D modelling. The cranial bones in each group were then crushed using a grinder so that the powdered samples were obtained for XRF (X‐ray fluorescence technique). The p‐value was statistically highly significant between group and gender (p < 0.001). In morphometric measurements, males were generally higher than females. Only PL, GBOC and GNB measurements were higher in females. The p‐value between groups (in all measurements), between genders (in TL, GLN, FL, VL, OZB and GBN parameters) and between groups and genders (in TL, DL and VL parameters) was statistically highly significant (p < 0.001). The p‐value between the groups, p‐value between sexes and p‐value between group and sex in Si, P, K, Ca, Ni, Zn, Sr, Sr and Ca/P elements were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Consequently, metric, volume and surface area measurements were taken through 3D modelling of skull bone in prepubertal period (group I), period between adolescence and adulthood (group II) and later (young adult period as group III and old adult period as group IV) of rabbits and the change in the mineral structure during postnatal development and effect of sex on this change were investigated. This might be the first study to assess both metric and mineral changes at four age intervals taken during the life span of rabbits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sheep (Ovis aries) play an important role in the economy of Turkey and the Balkan Peninsula due to their use in farming. As a domesticated species, sheep's morphometric and morphological diversity is likely determined by selective breeding practices rather than geographic distribution. This study aimed to analyse four different sheep breed skulls and reveal skull asymmetry using geometric morphometric methods. For this purpose, 2D images of 52 sheep skulls from different breeds were analysed from the dorsal view of the skull, using 28 landmarks. In the comparison of sheep skulls from the dorsal view, the first principal components for directional asymmetry (DA) and fluctuating asymmetry (FA) were 32.98% and 39.62% of the total variation, respectively. Sharri and Ivesi (Awassi) sheep breeds had the broadest distribution of skull shapes among the breeds, while Lara e Polisit was the most conservative breed. DA was used as a measure of biomechanical constraints, and FA was used as an indicator of environmental stress. Consistent with DA, both differences in centroid size and shape between breeds were statistically significant. No differences between males and females related to asymmetry were revealed. Ivesi sheep revealed the highest fluctuating asymmetry. Geometric morphometric methods proved to be a useful tool for distinguishing differences in the shape of the skull of different sheep breeds and also can be useful for taxonomic purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to evaluate orbital symmetry in goat and sheep skulls. For this purpose, a total of 83 skulls, including 50 sheep and 33 goat skulls, were used in the study. Geometric morphometry method was applied. For symmetric analysis, one side of each orbit was photographed twice and mirror images were created. There were 36 landmards marked to determine the outer limit of the orbita. As a result of the study, asymmetric components (fluctuating asymmetry and directional asymmetry) for shape were statistically significant in both goats and sheep (p < 0.0001). The first three principal components explained 52.558% of the total shape variation in goats and 61.245% in sheep. This value for symmetric components was 59.095% and 67.742% for goats and sheep, respectively, and 66.791% and 71.154% for asymmetric components. As a result of discriminant function analysis, right and left orbital shapes showed grouping characteristics with similar success rates according to species. Although limited, the right orbit in goats (100%) and the left orbit in sheep (96.5%) were grouped more accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cranial measurements have been widely used in various studies in wildlife sciences, ranging from understanding predator ecology to wildlife forensics. However, detailed description of morphometry and sexual dimorphism of the skull of gaur Bos gaurus gaurus is lacking. The present study was undertaken to determine the sexual dimorphism based on the cranial measurements of gaur. A total of 12 individual gaur skulls of male (n = 6) and female (n = 6) were studied in the field from the naturally deceased animals between January 2018 and December 2021 in different ranges of Bandhavgarh tiger reserve (BTR), Madhya Pradesh, India. The skull measurements were analysed using univariate and multivariate statistics to determine whether cranial dimensions could be used to differentiate male and female skulls reliably. A total of 43 morphometrical parameters grouped into nine indices were calculated. Select morphometrical parameters viz PL, GFL, AKI, LBB, LFB, GBEE, GBAN, BPOP and GTCH were significantly different (p < 0.05) between sexes, whereas GBAN were significantly higher in female skulls. The measurements demonstrated that the skull of the gaur was dolichocephalic as the profile length and the otion to otion breath in both male and female were <75% of the length. Overall, 28 linear measurements of both the sexes were statistically significant (p < 0.05; <0.01). The calculated indices revealed that the foramen magnum index in the female gaur were significantly higher. In calculated cranial indices the facial index (a) was higher in female and facial index (b) were higher in males. The two important parameters, facial breadth in facial index (a) and the greatest breadth in facial index (b) were positively correlated, though facial index (a) was statistically not significant between the sexes. The greater inner length of the foramen magnum in female skull resulted in foramen being oval whereas it was circular in males. These parameters were decisive for sexual dimorphism, skull comparison and craniological studies. This study ascertained that the frontal index and skull index had no significant influence and were not good indices for discriminating skulls between male and female. Based on the Principal Component Analysis, it was found that skull of male and female gaurs exhibits differences in cranial morphology viz. cranial profile length or total length (PL) and the least inner height of the temporal groove (LIHT). The findings of the present study provide baseline information on various craniometrical measurements of skull of gaur, indices and parameters for sex identification that can be effectively used in understanding sex biased predation ecology, provide base line information to describe variation across its geographic range, and in identifying skulls recovered in wildlife offence cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Our primary objective was to monitor nonprogressive unilateral vestibular schwannomas (VSs) to assess the efficiency of rapid bedside examinations, such as the video head impulse test (vHIT) and skull vibration-induced nystagmus test (SVINT), in identifying vestibular damage. Methods: An observational study was conducted from March 2021 to March 2022 on all adult patients (>18 years old) with a confirmed nonprogressive VS (no active treatment). The SVINT (using a 100 Hz vibrator with two (SVINT2) or three (SVINT3) stimulation locations) and vHIT (for the six semicircular canals (SCCs)) were performed on all patients. The asymmetry of function between the vestibules was considered significant when the gain asymmetry was greater than 0.1. Rapid and repeatable assessment of VSs using two- and three-stimulation SVINT plus vHIT was performed to quantify intervestibular asymmetry. Results: SVINT3 and SVINT2 triggered VIN in 40% (24/60) and 65% (39/60) of patients, respectively. There was significant asymmetry in the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), as shown by a VS-side gain < healthy-side gain in 58% (35/60) of the patients. Among the patients with significant gain asymmetry between the two vestibules according to the vHIT (VS-side gain < healthy-side gain), the proportion of patients expressing vestibular symptomatology was significantly greater than that of patients without any symptoms [67% (29/43) vs. 35% (6/17), respectively; p = 0.047]. Conclusions: The SVINT2 can be combined with the vHIT to form an interesting screening tool for revealing vestibular asymmetry. This work revealed the superiority of mastoid stimulation over vertex stimulation for SVINT in patients with unilateral vestibular loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study aimed to analyse morphological parameters related to the bite apparatus in representatives of seven families of captive animals. Thirty-three measurements were taken of the skull, mandible, and surfaces of the masseter and temporalis muscles. Some were used to calculate the bite force on the maxillary canine and molar teeth. A high correlation between bite force and animal size was confirmed. The bending strength of the upper canines was determined using their lateromedial and anteroposterior dimensions. The aim of this study was to analyse the bite forces of seven species from three carnivore families: Canidae, Felidae, and Ursidae. The material consisted of complete, dry crania and mandibles. A total of 33 measurements were taken on each skull, mandible, temporomandibular joint, and teeth. The area of the temporalis and masseter muscles was calculated, as was the length of the arms of the forces acting on them. Based on the results, the bite force was calculated using a mathematical lever model. This study compared the estimated areas of the masticatory muscles and the bending strength of the upper canines among seven species. A strong correlation was found between cranial size and bite force. The results confirmed the hypothesis that the weight of the animal and the size of the skull have a significant effect on the bite force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Geometric morphometrics allows the examination of the shape variation of structures. In this study, the skull, mandible, and teeth of three different strains of rats were examined. The results showed that the strains significantly differed in shape. The most important shape difference in the skull was the variation of the cranium from an oval to an elongated structure. In this respect, Sprague Dawley rats showed a more elongated skull, while WAG/Rij rats had a more oval skull. Wistar Albino rats showed a more moderate shape variation. WAG/Rij rats showed very different shapes of the mandible and teeth compared to the other strains. But statistically, it was seen that all strains were completely separated from each other. This research utilizes geometric morphometrics to investigate shape variation in the skull, mandible, and teeth among three rat strains: Wistar Albino (WA), Sprague Dawley (SD), and WAG/Rij (WR). Through the analysis of 48 rats using 2D geometric morphometric techniques, significant differences in their skull morphology were identified. This study indicates a shift from a rectangular to an oval cranial shape across strains, with notable size and morphological variances. Particularly, the WR strain's skull shape significantly differs from the SD and WA strains, suggesting distinct ecological or genetic pathways. Compared to the skull, mandible shape differences are less pronounced, but still significant. The WR strain exhibits a distinct mandible shape, potentially reflecting ecological adaptations like dietary habits. The teeth shape of WR rats is the most distinct. SD rats consistently exhibited larger sizes in both skull and mandible measurements, while WR rats were notably smaller. Interestingly, sexual dimorphism was not statistically significant in skull and teeth sizes, aligning with findings from previous studies. However, the mandible showed clear size differences between sexes, underscoring its potential for adaptive or behavioral studies. In summary, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of morphological variations in rat strains, highlighting the intricate interplay of size, shape, and ecological factors. These findings lay a foundation for deeper explorations into the adaptive, ecological, or genetic narratives influencing rat morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The common shrew (Sorex araneus) is one of the most studied shrew species of the Western Palaearctic. Despite this, the general drivers underlying morphological variation still remain unclear. Here we provide evidence for contradictory effects of climatic and geographical factors on the mandible of the common shrew. At the continental scale there is a negative correlation between body- and skull-size and latitude and longitude but at regional scales such an association is often not apparent; in fact, in some cases body size and skull size follow the opposite trend and observations at various scales yielded contradictory results. We studied shrew mandibles using geometric morphometrics and tested for correlations of their size and shape with selected geographical and climatic variables. We examined 1155 mandibles from 29 European localities and found significant interpopulation differences in both size and shape. Centroid size negatively correlated with latitude. We also found that centroid size was significantly correlated with altitude and annual precipitation. Our results confirmed an inverse Bergmann's rule relationship in S. araneus along the transect from the Baltic to the Adriatic Sea. Regarding mandible shape, Slovenian shrews were the most distant from all other studied populations. We discuss how altitude and precipitation can influence the morphology of the common shrew. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disarticulated human bone fragments can be encountered in various scenarios where fragmented skeletal material has been disturbed by anthropogenic (i.e. grave robbing, disaster recovery), animal scavenging (i.e. with surface deposits), or natural forces (i.e. flooding, erosion). The physical anthropologist should aim to classify as diagnostic as many human bone fragments as possible. The Camposanto cemetery (Venice, Italy) was used to assess a landmark method to determine its applicability to human fragmented assemblages (archaeological, humanitarian, or forensic). A total of 7,330 fragments, of which 59% were smaller than 5 cm and 1.7% were larger than 10 cm, returned a MNI of 24 individuals (16 adults, five children, and three infants). The study concluded that a modified version of the landmark schema, particularly the cranium and pelvis, is required to classify a greater number of fragments as diagnostic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) is a diagnostic surgery that implants electrodes to identify areas of epileptic onset in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). SEEG is effective in identifying the epileptic zone; however, placement of electrodes in very young children has been considered contraindicated due to skull thinness. The goal of this study was to evaluate if SEEG is safe and accurate in young children with thin skulls. Methods: Four children under the age of two years old with DRE underwent SEEG to locate the region of seizure onset. Presurgical planning and placement of electrodes were performed using ROSA One Brain. Preoperative electrode plans were merged with postoperative CT scans to determine accuracy. Euclidean distance between the planned and actual trajectories was calculated using a 3D coordinate system at both the entry and target points for each electrode. Results: Sixty-three electrodes were placed among four patients. Mean skull thickness at electrode entry sites was 2.34 mm. The mean difference between the planned and actual entry points was 1.12 mm, and the mean difference between the planned and actual target points was 1.73 mm. No significant correlation was observed between planned and actual target points and skull thickness (Pearson R = − 0.170). No perioperative or postoperative complications were observed. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that SEEG can be safe and accurate in children under two years of age despite thin skulls. SEEG should be considered for young children with DRE, and age and skull thickness are not definite contraindications to the surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The estimation of ancestry is important not only towards establishing identity but also as a required precursor to facilitating the accurate estimation of other attributes such as sex, age at death, and stature. The present study aims to analyze morphological variation in the crania of Japanese and Western Australian individuals and test predictive models based on machine learning for their potential forensic application. The Japanese and Western Australian samples comprise computed tomography (CT) scans of 230 (111 female; 119 male) and 225 adult individuals (112 female; 113 male), respectively. A total of 18 measurements were calculated, and machine learning methods (random forest modeling, RFM; support vector machine, SVM) were used to classify ancestry. The two-way unisex model achieved an overall accuracy of 93.2% for RFM and 97.1% for SVM, respectively. The four-way sex and ancestry model demonstrated an overall classification accuracy of 84.0% for RFM and 93.0% for SVM. The sex-specific models were most accurate in the female samples (♀ 95.1% for RFM and 100% for SVM; ♂91.4% for RFM and 97.4% for SVM). Our findings suggest that cranial measurements acquired in CT images can be used to accurately classify Japanese and Western Australian individuals into their respective population. This is the first study to assess the feasibility of ancestry estimation using three-dimensional CT images of the skull. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vision is one of the most important senses for animals, allowing them to interact with their environment and with further implications for evolutionary histories. However, relevant soft tissues, such as the eye and associated structures, are not preserved in fossil vertebrates, limiting our knowledge of their visual capabilities. Here, we quantified absolute and relative orbit size for 400 species of dinosaurs and other extinct archosaurs using linear measurements of the preserved skeletal elements as a proxy for visual capabilities. Our results demonstrate that the orbit makes up on average 20% of skull size with a strong and consistent correlation across all sampled groups. This trend is largely independent of temporal distribution, species richness, and phylogeny. In fact, relative orbit size is narrowly constrained and did not surpass 45% of skull size, suggesting physiological and functional controls. Estimated eye size was found to be absolutely larger in herbivores, whereas carnivores tended to have smaller eyes absolutely and compared with skull size. Relatively large eyes only occurred in small-bodied species and vice versa. However, eye size alone was not sufficient to discriminate between different activity patterns or to characterize visual capabilities in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote Devonian exposures in central Australia have produced significant but highly fragmentary remains of fish-grade tetrapodomorphs. We describe a new tetrapodomorph from the Middle–Late Devonian (Givetian–Frasnian) Harajica Sandstone Member of the Amadeus Basin, Northern Territory, which is represented by several nearly complete skulls along with much of the body and postcranial skeleton. The new form has a posteriorly broad postparietal shield, broad, triangular extratemporal bones, and a lanceolate parasphenoid. The spiracular openings are particularly large, a character also recorded in elpistostegalians and Gogonasus, demonstrating that these structures, suggestive of spiracular surface air-breathing, appeared independently in widely differing nodes of the stem-tetrapod radiation. A phylogenetic analysis resolves the new form within a cluster of osteolepidid-grade taxa, either as part of a polytomy or as the most basally branching representative of a clade containing 'osteolepidids,' canowindrids, and megalichthyids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Unusual clinical course. Background: Rapidly involuting congenital hemangioma (RICH) of the fetal skull is an extremely rare vascular disease which undergoes proliferation only in utero and progresses with maximal size at birth. RICH can be detected by prenatal imaging but is easily misdiagnose. Case Report: A 28-year-old nulliparous woman was referred at 38 weeks of gestation for routine screening with obstetric ultrasonography. The ultrasonography revealed a female fetus with a previously undetected head tumor (32×22 mm). Certain unusual sonographic features were observed: the lesion was fusiform, with a wide base adjacent to the frontal bone. Tumor growth appeared to be toward the brain parenchyma rather than outwards (ie, toward the skull), which suggested that the mass may have been derived from the skull. The mass may have remained undiagnosed due to its small size or due to the superimposition of the skull in poor quality ultrasound images. On the basis of ultrasound findings, the lesion was diagnosed as an intracranial tumor, but fetal MRI findings led to the suspicion of RICH of the fetal skull. Finally, the patient was followed up until 1 year after birth, by which time the lesion had completely disappeared. Conclusions: Careful evaluation of prenatal ultrasound is necessary to ensure detection of any mass adjacent to the skull, and the ultrasonography technician should carefully examine the features of any suspected mass to diagnose it correctly to avoid affecting the treatment strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scaphocephaly is the most common type of craniosynostosis and various surgical techniques are used for treatment. Due to late postoperative changes of the head shape, long-term outcome data is important for evaluating any new surgical technique. At our institution, minimally invasive strip craniectomy without regular helmet therapy is the standard treatment in scaphocephalic patients. Between October 2021 and February 2023, we retrospectively examined the skull shape of patients who underwent minimally invasive strip craniectomy for scaphocephaly using a 3D surface scan technique. The cephalic index (CI), the need for helmet therapy and additional cosmetic outcome parameters were investigated. We included 70 patients (72.5% male). The mean follow-up time was 46 (10–125) months and the mean CI was 75.7 (66.7–85.2). In 58 patients, the final cosmetic result was rated as "excellent/good" (mean CI: 76.3; 70.4–85.0), in 11 as "intermediate" (mean CI: 73.3; 66.7–77.6), and in one case as "unsatisfactory" (CI 69.3). The presence of a suboccipital protrusion was associated with a "less than good" outcome. The CI correlated significantly with the overall outcome, the presence of frontal bossing, and the interval between scan and surgery (age at scan). Minimally invasive strip craniectomy is an elegant and safe method to correct scaphocephaly. Our data show good cosmetic results in the long term even without regular postoperative helmet therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: There are few descriptions of bat skulls, and most are incomplete. In the representatives of the order Chiroptera, interosseous sutures disappear over a few months after birth. Conversely, the skull forms a nearly continuous structure in adult specimens, which makes analyzing it difficult. The work describes 28 bones, 30 bone sutures, 13 bone processes and 5 holes in the skull. The presence of the lacrimal bone, os lacrimale, was confirmed. The study concerned the structural elements of the skull and their sutures. The aim of this study was to produce a detailed description of the bat skull in order to fill in the gaps in knowledge on skeletal structures and provide descriptive material for use in anatomical research. Few studies analyze the morphology and anatomy of the bat skull, and most of them are incomplete. Some of the difficulties stem from the fact that, in the representatives of the order Chiroptera, the interosseous sutures disappear by fusing together before active flight begins, which takes place over only a few months. This study presents a detailed morphological and anatomical description of the skull of a juvenile specimen of Myotis myotis (Borkhausen, 1797). Juvenile skulls are difficult to preserve and often incomplete. Previously inconsistent terminology related to bones, sutures, and other cranial structures was unified, which will provide insight on the distribution of each structure in both juvenile and adult specimens to be investigated. The description fill in the gaps in knowledge about the cranial structures of Myotis myotis and the representatives of the family Vespertilionidae. This will allow for precise descriptions of the skulls of bats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study investigates the relationship between genomic alterations and preoperative olfactory function in patients with olfactory groove meningioma (OGM), often associated with olfactory impairment. Utilizing next-generation sequencing on 22 individuals with OGM, the research identified mutations with SMO/SUFU, with AKT1, and as wild type. The presence of planum sphenoidale hyperostosis (PSH) correlated with significant variations in tumour morphology and negatively impacted olfactory function, affecting odour threshold, discrimination, identification, and overall olfactory performance. Additionally, perifocal oedema was linked to decreased olfactory performance. The study also found that age over 65 and female gender were associated with reduced olfactory capabilities. Despite these findings, no direct link between olfactory impairment and tumour mutations was established, possibly due to the limited sample size. The research suggests further investigation with a larger participant group in order to better understand the impact of OGM driver mutations on olfactory function. Purpose: The study aims to examine the possible correlation between genomic alterations and preoperative olfactory function in patients with olfactory groove meningioma (OGM), due to the frequent presence of olfactory impairment. Methods: We utilised next-generation sequencing to analyse samples from 22 individuals with OGM in order to detect driver mutations. Tumour morphology was assessed using preoperative imaging, whereas olfactory function was examined using Sniffin' Sticks. Results: In a study of 22 OGM patients, mutations were as follows: 10 with SMO/SUFU, 7 with AKT1, and 5 as wild type. Planum sphenoidale hyperostosis (PSH) was present in 75% of patients, showing significant variation by mutation (p = 0.048). Tumour volumes, averaging 25 cm3, significantly differed among groups. PSH negatively impacted olfaction, notably affecting odour threshold, discrimination, identification, and global olfactory performance score (TDI) (p values ranging from <0.001 to 0.003). Perifocal oedema was associated with lower TDI (p = 0.009) and altered threshold scores (p = 0.038). Age over 65 and female gender were linked to lower thresholds and discrimination scores (p = 0.037 and p = 0.019). Conclusion: The study highlights PSH and perifocal oedema's significant effect on olfactory function in OGM patients but finds no link between olfactory impairment and tumour mutations, possibly due to the small sample size. This suggests that age and gender affect olfactory impairment. Additional research with a larger group of participants is needed to explore the impact of OGM driver mutations on olfactory performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oviraptorosaurians were a theropod dinosaur group that reached high diversity in the Late Cretaceous. Within oviraptorosaurians, the later diverging oviraptorids evolved distinctive crania which were extensively pneumatised, short and tall, and had a robust toothless beak, interpreted as providing a powerful bite for their herbivorous to omnivorous diet. The present study explores the ability of oviraptorid crania to resist large mechanical stresses compared with other theropods and where this adaptation originated within oviraptorosaurians. Digital 3D cranial models were constructed for the earliest diverging oviraptorosaurian, Incisivosaurus gauthieri, and three oviraptorids, Citipati osmolskae, Conchoraptor gracilis, and Khaan mckennai. Finite element analyses indicate oviraptorosaurian crania were stronger than those of other herbivorous theropods (Erlikosaurus and Ornithomimus) and were more comparable to the large, carnivorous Allosaurus. The cranial biomechanics of Incisivosaurus align with oviraptorids, indicating an early establishment of distinctive strengthened cranial biomechanics in Oviraptorosauria, even before the highly modified oviraptorid cranial morphology. Bite modelling, using estimated muscle forces, suggests oviraptorid crania may have functioned closer to structural safety limits. Low mechanical stresses around the beaks of oviraptorids suggest a convergently evolved, functionally distinct rhamphotheca, serving as a cropping/feeding tool rather than for stress reduction, when compared with other herbivorous theropods. Finite element analysis shows distinctive strengthened cranial biomechanics in Oviraptorosauria compared with other herbivorous theropod dinosaurs, established prior to the highly modified oviraptorid cranial morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional Dipodomys (sub)species identification uses geography, phenotype, and external/skull measurements. Such measurements are correlated with size and thus redundant. I assessed the value of scaled cranial shape, based on two‐dimensional landmarks (analyzed using geometric morphometric methods) in distinguishing Dipodomys taxa, and in summarizing their variation. My dataset includes 601 adult specimens from 20 species (49 operational taxonomic units ‐ OTUs) across 190 localities. Cranial shape was highly useful in classifying Dipodomys taxa without considering geography. The auditory bulla was the most variable region—taxa differed in its hypertrophy, accompanied by different degrees of nearby structure crowding. Cranial shape was weakly allometric, with no significant sexual dimorphism. Weak size dimorphism was detected. (Sub)specific taxonomy is not reflective of shape variation, as the number of subspecies per species is not associated with disparity. Shape had significant phylogenetic signal, but subspecies did not always cluster with conspecifics and species did not always cluster according to phylogenetic relationship/taxonomy. Shape variation was correlated with climate, and species differed in morphological disparity and degree of specialization, which may contribute to divergence in shape variation patterns from phylogeny. D. deserti was the most specialized species, diverging greatly from the genus mean; D. heermanni was the least specialized. This study provides new insights into morphological variation of North American keystone species, several of conservation interest, for example, D. heermanni berkeleyensis, D. h. dixoni, D. nitratoides brevinasus, and D. n. nitratoides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional power-integrated wireless neural recording devices suffer from bulky, rigid batteries in head-mounted configurations, hindering the precise interpretation of the subject's natural behaviors. These power sources also pose risks of material leakage and overheating. We present the direct printing of a power-integrated wireless neural recording system that seamlessly conforms to the cranium. A quasi-solid-state Zn-ion microbattery was 3D-printed as a built-in power source geometrically synchronized to the shape of a mouse skull. Soft deep-brain neural probes, interconnections, and auxiliary electronics were also printed using liquid metals on the cranium with high resolutions. In vivo studies using mice demonstrated the reliability and biocompatibility of this wireless neural recording system, enabling the monitoring of neural activities across extensive brain regions without notable heat generation. This all-printed neural interface system revolutionizes brain research, providing bio-conformable, customizable configurations for improved data quality and naturalistic experimentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adverse impact of particle adhesions and agglomerations on gas flow performance is a prominent concern in high volume extraction systems. The formation of severe skull deposits, involving agglomeration and adhesion processes, particularly at elevated operation temperatures, necessitates laborintensive and costly manual removal. Consequently, investigating conditions that promote increased skull generation and exploring mechanisms for spontaneous removal through crack formation and chipping are of great significance. This study comprehensively documents the operational conditions of an industrial extraction system, accom panied by elemental gas phase composition analyses. Additionally, the chemical compositions of agglomerated adhesion samples were assessed using Xray diffraction (XRD) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICPOES), and their inner structure was examined through SEM. Subsequently, mechanisms leading to these buildups were simulated on laboratory scale by covering original wall surface samples with agglomeration powder screened for a defined particle size. In experiments conducted at various high temperatures ranging from 800 °C to 1200 °C, while varying the CaCO3 content levels in the powders, a layered structure similar to the real system was successfully acquired. Moreover, under certain defined conditions and different atmospheres, crack formation, significantly impacting the chipping behavior of the skull formations from wall surfaces during application, was observed and the compressive strength was examined. Through our laboratory experiments, specific operating conditions within the calcination cycle were revealed, leading to a substantial enhancement of autonomous discharge of large particle--wall agglomerations. Based on these findings, we propose general process optimization steps to improve the overall performance of the extraction system, such as reduction of fine CaCO3 particles and reduction of the gas flow temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being vivacious and colourful members of the medieval and Renaissance courts, jesters served for a variety of recreational purposes in addition to having the oblique subaltern voices in the administration of the kingdoms. Despite their ostentatious clothing and jaunty manners, which they manifested while delivering jokes and tricks, their contribution to the royal administration had to be indirect and clever. Indeed, these men of great observation and acute cunning used their humour in order to voice what cannot be expressed by the others. In their peculiar kind of way that was also associated with their divergent nature, jesters were inclined to act as the advocates of truth which had to be suppressed or ignored at times in face of royal hegemony. As a rather skilled playwright, who was also familiar with the conventions of the court manners, Shakespeare spared an exceptionally subtle role for the character of the jester in his plays. This role reveals itself through witty jokes of criticism masked by the jolly words of a fool. Nevertheless, Shakespeare ascribes a markedly grim condition for his late jester Yorick who has to deliver his criticism through his deceased body, a skull per se. Deriving mobility from the Derridean sense of decentralizing the meaning, the article employs a deconstructionist reading of Hamlet through the absence of a jester to exhibit how the lack of a critical perspective may yield catastrophic dim-sightedness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study showed a descriptive anatomical study of the parts of the axial skeleton in the ostrich (Struthio camelus) in addition to a morphometric study of each bone. We studied 7 male ostriches aged from 1 to 3 years with an average weight of 120.00 kg. The cranium exhibited two vast orbits supported by a sclerotic ring. Hyoid apparatus was fine delicate horseshoe-shaped and comprised Basihyale, Urohyale, and Cornu branchiale. Cornu branchiale were paired and long rod-shaped, consisting of a proximal bony part Ceratobranchiale and slightly curved distal cartilaginous process, the Epibranchiale located on either side of the hyoid apparatus. The whole vertebral column comprised 54 vertebrae, including 18 cervical vertebrae, 7 separated thoracic vertebrae, a synsacrum, and 9 separated caudal vertebrae. Atlas had a butterfly-shape with a narrow width and large vertebral foramen. Axis had a protruded dens with a rounded tip that arose from the cranial surface of the body for articulation with the Incisura fossae of atlas. Several Pneumatic foramina were found in the cervical vertebrae. The transverse foramen was found in all the cervical vertebrae except atlas. The ribs were nine pairs in number, the sternal ribs extended from the third to the seventh rib while the rest were asternal floating ribs. The sternum was a broad quadrilateral extensive bone, lacking the keel bone. It had dorsally several Pneumatic foramina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe 3 new species of shrews (Eulipotyphla, Soricidae, Crocidura) from West Sumatra, Indonesia. Two of these taxa were found above 1,800 m on Mt. Singgalang. The third taxon was found above 1,660 m on Mt. Talamau, 65 km northwest of Mt. Singgalang. We also resurrect Crocidura aequicauda based on 2 specimens from Mts. Tujuh and Kerinci, which lie near the border between West Sumatra and Jambi provinces. Several methodological approaches support our findings: linear cranial morphometrics, landmark-based 2D geometric morphometrics, and molecular phylogenetics using both mtDNA and 6 nuclear exons. A multilocus species-tree analysis places the 3 new species and C. aequicauda in a clade with the Javan endemics C. monticola and C. umbra. Although the 2 taxa from Mt. Singgalang are recovered as sister species, 1 is nearly twice the size of the other, and they are divergent in several other morphological characters, such as tail length, cranium size, and pelage color and texture. Recently diverged yet morphologically disparate sister taxa living syntopically in an isolated habitat "island," like the montane forests of Mt. Singgalang, is unusual in mammals but documented in other Crocidura on neighboring Java and Borneo; these 2 new taxa represent the first known case of this phenomenon on Sumatra. Our results bring the number of Sumatran Crocidura to 10, 9 of which are endemic to the island. All 3 of the new species appear to be endemic to a single mountain and were not detected in similar surveys of nearby mountains. If this local endemism pattern is common, it would indicate that Sumatra's mammal diversity may be severely underestimated, largely due to the paucity of small-mammal surveys and museum specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genetic architecture of trait variance has long been of interest in genetics and evolution. One of the earliest attempts to understand this architecture was presented in Lerner's Genetic Homeostasis (1954). Lerner proposed that heterozygotes should be better able to tolerate environmental perturbations because of functional differences between the alleles at a given locus , with each allele optimal for slightly different environments. This greater robustness to environmental variance, he argued, would result in smaller trait variance for heterozygotes. The evidence for Lerner's hypothesis has been inconclusive. To address this question using modern genomic methods, we mapped loci associated with differences in trait variance (vQTL) on 1,101 individuals from the F34 of an advanced intercross between LG/J and SM/J mice. We also mapped epistatic interactions for these vQTL in order to understand the influence of epistasis for the architecture of trait variance. We did not find evidence supporting Lerner's hypothesis, that heterozygotes tend to have smaller trait variances than homozygotes. We further show that the effects of most mapped loci on trait variance are produced by epistasis affecting trait means and that those epistatic effects account for about a half of the differences in genotypic-specific trait variances. Finally, we propose a model where the different interactions between the additive and dominance effects of the vQTL and their epistatic partners can explain Lerner's original observations but can also be extended to include other conditions where heterozygotes are not the least variable genotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegavis iaai is without any doubt the most complete and well-known Mesozoic bird from Antarctica. In spite of being known by several specimens, its highly specialized postcranial anatomy has obscured the recognition of its phylogenetic affinities. Skull material from Vegavis is scarce, and the lower jaw is known by a relatively well-preserved articular region of a partially articulated specimen (MACN-PV 19.748). The aim of the present contribution is to describe this articular region and to analyze its potential phylogenetic information. The articular region of Vegavis shows a unique combination of characters that separates it from most Mesozoic lineages. On the contrary, its anatomy is congruent with that of neornithine birds, and particularly from the neoavian clade Aequorlitornithes. Detailed comparisons led to the recognition of several shared features, including a well-developed transverse crest posterior to the articular cotyles, that bears a well-developed lateral tubercle; a short and ventrally deflected retroarticular process; a dorsally exposed posterior fossa; tree cotyles for jaw articulation, with a well-developed caudal cotyle fused to the medial cotyle; and lateral crest anteriorly projected with respect to the lateral cotyle. The three-cotyle articulation of the jaw of Vegavis invited us to review skull anatomy of its close kin Polarornis. A review of the bones of Polarornis indicates that the element previously identified as a quadrate is an uncertain bone, and thus, skull-jaw articulation of this taxon remains unknown. In contrast with previous contributions, we were not able to find diagnostic features of the Galloanserae clade on Vegavis jaw. The neoavian-like jaw of Vegavis contrasts with the anseriform signature of its postcranium, suggesting that this bird held some kind of morphological mosaicism on its skeleton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, many aquariums and zoos around the world keep walruses in captivity. However, the presence of tusks in walruses creates difficulties in their maintenance and preservation of their health since they wear them down on the structure of the pools. In this study, the morphometric parameters of walrus skulls from captivity and wild of similar age were examined (35 skull measurements and 21 mandible measurements were taken). An examination of the skulls of three female walruses that were kept in the Moscow Zoo for 8, 11, and 22 years, respectively during the period of 1953–2005 was conducted. The tusks of one walrus, at the age of 4 years, were surgically removed, while the tusks of the others were not. There were slight deviations in the skull development of these walruses. The skull of captive walruses is slightly smaller in the mastoid processes and zygomatic arches, and facial part, and the lower jaw is smaller in width and symphysis circumference compared to wild walruses. The surface of the skull and lower jaw is smoother in comparison to wild walruses. Diseases such as odontogenic osteomyelitis, pulpitis, periodontitis, dental calculus and caries are observed. Due to frequent inflammations and surgical interventions, early fusion of sutures is noted, leading to skull deformities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skull base osteomyelitis is a vicious infection of temporal bone associated with very high morbidity and mortality. But few studies have been undertaken recently for eliciting its increasing incidence. Hence this study aims to describe the clinical profile of skull base osteomyelitis and changes noted in the post-covid period, and encourage a uniform treatment policy globally. This descriptive study was conducted among 140 patients diagnosed with skull base osteomyelitis. Data was collected using semi-structured proforma, HRCT temporal bone findings, microbiological reports, histopathology of granulation tissue, ESR and House-Brackmann grading. Male patients in 61–70 age group were most commonly affected and all patients had uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, usually presenting with nocturnal otalgia, ear canal granulation and cranial nerve palsy. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common isolate followed by Staphylococcus aureus. Among fungal pathogens, candida albicans were the most common. 29.3% patients had extensive disease according to Thakar et al. staging and on follow up, 43.75% patients showed a satisfactory response. Coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular accidents were the leading cause of death. More atypical organisms, extensive disease and changes in antibiotic sensitivity were noted in the post-covid period. Prolonged treatment with culture sensitive antibiotic is the main stay of treatment. A uniform treatment guideline is needed for proper management of such patients. Level of Evidence 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a rare finding of the arachnoid matter invaginating into the base of middle cranial fossa and creating an abnormal space. Presented entity was incidentally found in head CT scan of 12-year-old male. Based on the radiological characteristics in CT scans and MR images, the diagnosis of intradiploic arachnoid cyst (AC) was suggested. After surgical intervention and histopathological analysis of the specimen, the diagnosis was confirmed. We assume this is the first description of large intrasphenoid AC without any traumatic or iatrogenic cause. The literature provides many different terms for the phenomenon. We are proposing the term intradiploic arachnoid diverticulum as the more accurate for capturing the essence of the phenomenon. It provides clear differentiation of the entities from classical arachnoid cysts since they are of different anatomical localization (intradural vs. extradural) and etiopathogenesis. Management with arachnoid diverticulum is not yet established, but observation with serial imaging studies should be recommended as primary management in case of asymptomatic cyst. When cyst is symptomatic, surgical treatment may be required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The holotype of Sinosaurus triassicus is poorly preserved, and no previous research has focused exclusively on its anatomy. This research reports a new specimen recovered near the locality of the holotype of S. triassicus including a complete skull with mandible and 11 cervical vertebrae. Three newly identified traits are proposed to be unique of the species – (1) a vertical crest developed dorsoventrally from the ventral portion of the maxilla to the nasal crest; (2) ventral border of the antorbital fenestra formed mostly by the anterior process of the jugal; and (3) a fenestra between the nasal, the lacrimal and the prefrontal. This research provides new information on the cranial anatomy of this species as well as the genus Sinosaurus, offering more accessibility for later research concerning the evolution of early deriving neotheropods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mammalian cranium (skull without lower jaw) is representative of mammalian diversity and is thus of particular interest to mammalian biologists across disciplines. One widely retrieved pattern accompanying mammalian cranial diversification is referred to as 'craniofacial evolutionary allometry' (CREA). This posits that adults of larger species, in a group of closely related mammals, tend to have relatively longer faces and smaller braincases. However, no process has been officially suggested to explain this pattern, there are many apparent exceptions, and its predictions potentially conflict with well‐established biomechanical principles. Understanding the mechanisms behind CREA and causes for deviations from the pattern therefore has tremendous potential to explain allometry and diversification of the mammalian cranium. Here, we propose an amended framework to characterise the CREA pattern more clearly, in that 'longer faces' can arise through several kinds of evolutionary change, including elongation of the rostrum, retraction of the jaw muscles, or a more narrow or shallow skull, which all result in a generalised gracilisation of the facial skeleton with increased size. We define a standardised workflow to test for the presence of the pattern, using allometric shape predictions derived from geometric morphometrics analysis, and apply this to 22 mammalian families including marsupials, rabbits, rodents, bats, carnivores, antelopes, and whales. Our results show that increasing facial gracility with size is common, but not necessarily as ubiquitous as previously suggested. To address the mechanistic basis for this variation, we then review cranial adaptations for harder biting. These dictate that a more gracile cranium in larger species must represent a structural sacrifice in the ability to produce or withstand harder bites, relative to size. This leads us to propose that facial gracilisation in larger species is often a product of bite force allometry and phylogenetic niche conservatism, where more closely related species tend to exhibit more similar feeding ecology and biting behaviours and, therefore, absolute (size‐independent) bite force requirements. Since larger species can produce the same absolute bite forces as smaller species with less effort, we propose that relaxed bite force demands can permit facial gracility in response to bone optimisation and alternative selection pressures. Thus, mammalian facial scaling represents an adaptive by‐product of the shifting importance of selective pressures occurring with increased size. A reverse pattern of facial 'shortening' can accordingly also be found, and is retrieved in several cases here, where larger species incorporate novel feeding behaviours involving greater bite forces. We discuss multiple exceptions to a bite force‐mediated influence on facial proportions across mammals which lead us to argue that ecomorphological specialisation of the cranium is likely to be the primary driver of facial scaling patterns, with some developmental constraints as possible secondary factors. A potential for larger species to have a wider range of cranial functions when less constrained by bite force demands might also explain why selection for larger sizes seems to be prevalent in some mammalian clades. The interplay between adaptation and constraint across size ranges thus presents an interesting consideration for a mechanistically grounded investigation of mammalian cranial allometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cephalometry is the measurement and study of the proportions of the head and face, and infant skull deformities have been the subject of many clinical studies over the last 30 years. Clinical protocols to document change are especially critical during periods of growth and development, but reference values and norms are lacking for infants, especially in the first year after birth. Discussion: Key publications were reviewed by the authors to provide a narrative review of the 1) origin of the cephalic index (CI), 2) adaptations of the measure over time, 3) anatomical landmarks and alignments used, 4) clinical tools, 5) necessary considerations for different ethnic, sex, and cultural influences, 6) value and limitations of CI measurements, and 7) appropriate use of the CI in the documentation of infant skull deformities. The CI calculation has remained constant since the 1840s, although the cranial shape classifications have changed many times over the years. Conclusions: Used in isolation, the two-dimensional (2D) and linear nature of the CI fails to describe the magnitude of the three-dimensional (3D) head deformity. However, the CI can and should be used in conjunction with other 2D and 3D measurements to provide a more detailed description and understanding of the entire cranial deformity. For today's cranial clinicians and allied health care professionals, the commonly referenced CI chart fails to reflect 1) the natural skull changes noted with supine sleeping infants, and 2) the cultural diversity of the infant population currently treated. Although the CI provides information about one of the most obvious features of the dysmorphology, clinicians must also document and report other distinct features such as frontal flattening or bossing, parietal shape or involvement, sloping, displacement, and/or posterior asymmetry. Clinical Relevance: The CI should be used in conjunction with other 2D and 3D anthropometric measurements to provide a more detailed assessment of the entire cranial deformity. The CI results should be discussed with the medical team along with a complete review of other 2D and 3D measurements to determine the best course of action for orthotic treatment or nontreatment of the head shape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone density is one of many interacting variables that influence fracture initiation and propagation. Thus, average density values of the human neurocranium are an important consideration in skull trauma interpretation. However, neurocranial bone density has not previously been systematically evaluated. This study aimed to develop reference ranges for average neurocranial bone density and correlate this density with previously recorded average bone thickness. Using post-mortem computed tomography head scans of 604 deceased individuals, bone density (Hounsfield units) was measured at 20 locations across the neurocranium. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to establish bone density means; assess how age, sex and ancestry interact with density, and correlate density with thickness means. Mean density ranged from 78 Hu (mastoid process) to 1323 Hu (temporal squama); age, sex and ancestry significantly affected density, and a moderate negative correlation was found between density and thickness. Subsequently, reference measurements for density are presented here by age, sex and ancestry and are based upon a 95% confidence interval about the mean. These data provide a baseline for neurocranial density measurements that may be of use to forensic practitioners to assess if a cranium is of average (within the interval) or atypical (outside the interval) density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering that the Asian group is huge and consists of many sub-populations in terms of genetics and geographic locations, it is imperative to develop population-specific standards for forensic practice. However, baseline data for a Malaysian population are not readily available. We wish to apply the methodology of Gill et al. (1988) on linear measurements of the mid-facial skeleton observed in physical skulls of North Americans to post-mortem computed tomographic images of Malaysian individuals, together with cephalic and nasal indices. A total of 300 skull scans of equal distribution according to sex and ethnic groups were examined by an experienced observer. Mean values (±SD) in mm for maxillofacial breadth, mid-orbital breadth, alpha cord, naso-maxillofrontal subtense, naso-zygoorbital subtense, naso-alpha subtense, maximum cranial length, maximum cranial breadth, nasal height and nasal breadth in males are 24.98 ± 0.54; 54.84 ± 1.72; 25.20 ± 1.26; 12.52 ± 0.44; 19.70 ± 1.23; 21.33 ± 1.09; 180.36 ± 4.78; 143.02 ± 3.47; 51.76 ± 1.18; 24.99 ± 0.35; respectively. Findings for their female counterparts are 23.58 ± 0.69; 52.74 ± 2.36; 23.38 ± 1.21; 11.19 ± 0.5; 17.71 ± 1.36; 17.55 ± 1.19; 170.45 ± 24.18; 137.75 ± 16.95; 49.19 ± 0.99; 23.87 ± 0.39; respectively. Even though these craniofacial measurements are not able to confidently separate the three different ethnic groups, our study presented the preliminary measurements of Malaysian individuals comparatively to other global populations specifically in the Asian region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The dura mater and skull are physically and functionally related, although there have been few investigations on primary extraction of dura mater and cranial cells, as well as co-culture of the two. The use of primary cells to investigate the influence of the dura mater on the skull is novel, and it is hoped that it may give a theoretical foundation for therapeutic therapy. OBJECTIVE: Rat dura mater and cranial bone cells were retrieved in situ to observe the influence of dura mater on cranial bone proliferation and differentiation, as well as to get a basic knowledge of the involvement of Twist1 in this process. METHODS: The enzyme digestion method was used in conjunction with the tissue block method to extract dural cells and cranial osteoblasts from rats within three days of birth. Immunofluorescence staining was used to identify the extracted cells, and alizarin red staining was used to identify and evaluate cranial osteoblasts and their mineralization ability. After co-culturing dural cells and cranial osteoblasts, real-time PCR was utilized to identify the expression of genes associated to cranial osteoblast proliferation and osteogenesis, as well as Twist1. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Morphology: The retrieved dural cells had morphological traits similar to fibroblasts, while the osteoblasts were spindle-shaped. (2) Cell identification: immunofluorescence staining revealed that extracted dural cells expressed high levels of vimentin and cranial osteoblasts expressed high levels of alkaline phosphatase; cranial osteoblasts were stained with alizarin red 28 days after osteogenic induction, and obvious mineralized nodules were observed. (3) Real time PCR detection showed that the co-culture group had higher levels of PCNA, alkaline phosphatase, and RUNX2 mRNA expression than the control group (P < 0.01); however, Twist1 mRNA expression was lower (P < 0.01). (4) The findings showed that the primary extracted cranial osteoblasts had a high mineralization capacity, and that the dura mater was a key factor in promoting cranial growth and development and osteogenic differentiation, with Twist1 playing a key role in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lens constructed by optimally arranging point-like scatterers on a lattice was proposed according to the Fresnel lens concept and showed superior performance focusing an incident plane wave on a focal point and suppressing the sound field except in the vicinity of the focal point. In the present study, we investigated the transcranial focusing performance of the scatterer-array lens which is a kind of Fresnel acoustic lens. The arrangement of the scatterers was optimized by minimizing an objective function so that the sound field vanishes within the skull except at the focal point(s) and becomes higher at the focal point(s) than in the surrounding area. It was confirmed that the lens focused the incident plane wave with sufficient intensity and contrast with the surroundings, even transcranially. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fordisc is a discriminant function computer program used to study ancestry, although it lacks representation from a Malaysian sample. Our aim was to evaluate ancestry estimates of Fordisc 3 with Malaysian crania of known sex and ethnicity. A dataset from Hisham and Ibrahim of 300 individuals was included in this study. They had undergone full-body computed tomographic scanning prior to post-mortem examination with scan resolutions of 1.0 mm. Maximum cranial length, maximum cranial breadth, nasal height, nasal breadth, and midorbital width were obtained from these images. Measurements were fed into the Fordisc 3 program and were analysed using the Forensic Anthropology Data Bank (FDB) and Howells’ reference populations according to sex, however midorbital width was excluded in all analyses. Ancestry assessment was evaluated on the basis of percentage of correctly classified individuals. Based on Howells database, 50.67% of the sample are correctly classified into Asian, in contrast to only 32.33% according to FDB. These classification trends are limited by the number of measurements, reference populations available in Fordisc and population history of the sample itself. We need to collect standard anthropological measurements in future research and potentially contribute to the database in Fordisc to improve its performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Induction skull melting (ISM) technology could melt metals with avoiding contamination from crucible. A long-standing problem of ISM is that the low charge energy utilization and inhomogeneous fields have obstructed its application in many critical metal materials and manufacturing processes. The present work investigated the problem through the structure optimization strategy and established a numerical electromagnetic-field model to evaluate components' eddy current loss. Based on the model, the effect of crucible and inductor structure on charge energy utilization, etc. was studied. Furtherly, the charge energy utilization was increased from 27.1 to 45.89% by adjusting the system structure. Moreover, structure modifications are proposed for enhancing electromagnetic intensity and uniformity, charge soft contact and uniform heating. The work constructed a basis for framing new solutions to the problem through ISM device structure optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]