Septal aperture of the humerus: Aetiology and frequency rates in two European populations.

Analysis of the septal aperture was conducted on two documented European populations. Collections from the National Museum of Natural History Lisbon, Portugal and University of Athens, Greece were used for the study. Both collections are modern and documented for sex and age. The Portuguese sample comprises 297 individuals (149 males and 148 females) between the ages of 18 and 88. A septal aperture was observed in 50 individuals resulting in a frequency of 16.83%. The Greek sample comprises 117 individuals (68 males and 49 females) between the ages of 20 and 65. Twenty-five septal apertures were observed, giving a frequency of 21.37%. Both populations had high frequencies which exceeded those observed in European countries in previous studies. Sex analysis shows that both samples confirm that septal apertures are more common in females. The Portuguese sample also supports that septal apertures are more common in the left humerus, however the Greek sample had a higher frequency of bilateral cases. Measurements of the Portuguese sample were taken to determine whether robusticity correlates with presence of septal apertures. These measurements concluded that there was no difference in robusticity with presence or absence of a septal aperture, challenging previous studies

Demography and Dispersal Ability of a Threatened Saproxylic Beetle: A Mark-Recapture Study of the Rosalia Longicorn (Rosalia alpina)

The Rosalia longicorn or Alpine longhorn (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is an endangered and strictly protected icon of European saproxylic biodiversity. Despite its popularity, lack of information on its demography and mobility may compromise adoption of suitable conservation strategies. The beetle experienced marked retreat from NW part of its range; its single population survives N of the Alps and W of the Carpathians. The population inhabits several small patches of old beech forest on hill-tops of the Ralska Upland, Czech Republic. We performed mark-recapture study of the population and assessed its distribution pattern. Our results demonstrate the high mobility of the beetle, including dispersal between hills (up to 1.6 km). The system is thus interconnected; it contained ∼2000 adult beetles in 2008. Estimated population densities were high, ranging between 42 and 84 adult beetles/hectare a year. The population survives at a former military-training ground despite long-term isolation and low cover of mature beech forest (∼1%). Its survival could be attributed to lack of forestry activities between the 1950s and 1990s, slow succession preventing canopy closure and undergrowth expansion, and probably also to the distribution of habitat patches on conspicuous hill-tops. In order to increase chances of the population for long term survival, we propose to stop clear-cuts of old beech forests, increase semi-open beech woodlands in areas currently covered by conifer plantations and active habitat management at inhabited sites and their wider environs

Normative anthropometry and proportions of the Kenyan-African face and comparative anthropometry in relation to African Americans and North American Whites

Abstract Background There is no normative craniofacial anthropometric data for the Kenyan-African population. The purpose of this investigation was to determine normative anthropometric craniofacial measurements and proportional relationships for Kenyans of African descent and to compare the data with African Americans (AA), North American Whites (NAW), and neoclassical canons. Methods Twenty-five direct facial anthropometric measurements, and 4 angular measurements, were taken on 72 Kenyan-African participants (age range 18–30 years) recruited at the University of Nairobi in Kenya. The data were compared with AA and NAW populations, and neoclassical canons. Descriptive statistics of the variables were computed for the study population. Results Significant differences between both Kenyan males and females were detected in forehead height (~ 5 mm greater for males, ~ 4.5 mm for females), nasal height (reduced by ~ 4 mm in males, ~ 3 mm in females), nasal width (8–9 mm greater), upper lip height (> 3 mm), and eye width (greater by ~ 3 mm) compared to NAW subjects. All vertical measurements obtained were significantly different compared with NAW. Differences were observed in comparison with AA subjects, but less marked. Mouth width was similar in all groups. Angular measurements were variable. Neoclassical canons did not apply to the Kenyan population. Conclusions Anthropometric measurements of NAW showed clear differences when compared with the Kenyan population, and variations exist with comparative AA data. The anthropometric data in terms of linear measurements, angular measurements, and proportional values described may serve as a database for facial analysis in the Kenyan-African population

Betula - komplexní výzkum břízy jako náhradní dřeviny v Krušnohoří:Chemismus březové mízy

Na území východního Krušnohoří a Děčínské pískovcové vrchoviny byly po dva roky odebírány v období rašení pupenů a tvorby listů vzorky mízy břízy (xylémový tok). U vzorků byly stanoveny makroprvky (N, P, Ca, Mg a K), mikroprvky (Mn, Zn, Cu) a ostatní prvky (Pb, Cd, Al). U vzorků roku 2001 byl dále stanoven obsah síranů a dusičnanů

Betula - komplexní výzkum břízy jako náhradní dřeviny v Krušnohoří:Změna v obsahu prvků v listech břízy v průběhu vegetačního období

Cílem výzkumné zprávy je posoudit změny v obsahu makro-, mikro- a cizorodých prvků v listech náhradních porostů transektu Litvínov (LS Osek) v průběhu vegetačních období let 1999 a 2000 a posoudit zákonitosti a příčiny průběhu změn obsahu prvků v jednotlivých letech

Hominin footprints from Early Pleistocene deposits at Happisburgh, UK

The research was funded by the Calleva Foundation as part of the Pathways to Ancient Britain Project. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Investigations at Happisburgh, UK, have revealed the oldest known hominin footprint surface outside Africa at between ca. 1 million and 0.78 million years ago. The site has long been recognised for the preservation of sediments containing Early Pleistocene fauna and flora, but since 2005 has also yielded humanly made flint artefacts, extending the record of human occupation of northern Europe by at least 350,000 years. The sediments consist of sands, gravels and laminated silts laid down by a large river within the upper reaches of its estuary. In May 2013 extensive areas of the laminated sediments were exposed on the foreshore. On the surface of one of the laminated silt horizons a series of hollows was revealed in an area of ca. 12 m2. The surface was recorded using multi-image photogrammetry which showed that the hollows are distinctly elongated and the majority fall within the range of juvenile to adult hominin foot sizes. In many cases the arch and front/back of the foot can be identified and in one case the impression of toes can be seen. Using foot length to stature ratios, the hominins are estimated to have been between ca. 0.93 and 1.73 m in height, suggestive of a group of mixed ages. The orientation of the prints indicates movement in a southerly direction on mud-flats along the river edge. Early Pleistocene human fossils are extremely rare in Europe, with no evidence from the UK. The only known species in western Europe of a similar age is Homo antecessor, whose fossil remains have been found at Atapuerca, Spain. The foot sizes and estimated stature of the hominins from Happisburgh fall within the range derived from the fossil evidence of Homo antecessor.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Betula - komplexní výzkum břízy jako náhradní dřeviny v Krušnohoří:Trendy změn v obsahu prvků v listech břízy (1995-1998-2001)

Ve východním Krušnohoří a Děčínské pískovcové vrchovině se stala bříza Betula pendula Roth nejvýznamnější dřevinou v porostech náhradních dřevin pro svoji stanovištní nenáročnost, meliorační význam a malé ohrožení zvěří. Zpráva hodnotí výsledky listových analýz, obsahy živinových a cizorodých prvků v listech břízy odebraných v roce 2001 v závislosti na stáří stromu, nadmořské výšce a imisním zatížení transektu; posuzuje odchylky od normálního obsahu prvků v listech břízy; hodnotí změny v období let 1995 - 2001 z hlediska obsahu prvků v listech a možné návaznosti na změny emisní, resp. imisní zátěže porostů

Betula - komplexní výzkum břízy jako náhradní dřeviny v Krušnohoří

V rámci komplexního výzkumu břízy v Krušných horách je sledován zdravotní stav a jeho dynamika zvláště po roce 1997, kdy byla bříza postižena nevyrašením. K hodnocení entomofauny březových porostů jsou využívány trvalé výzkumné plochy založené v roce 1986 na LS Sněžník. Stupeň poškození břízy fytofágy, míra narušení vitality je odvozována od roku 1995 z analýzy listů na obsah živinových a cizorodých prvků, aminokyselin, epikutikulárních vosků v 56 porostech na 165 trvalých vzorníkových stromech situovaných do výškových transektů ve východním Krušnohoří. Souběžně jsou vyhodnocovány půdní a imisní podmínky, které mohou přispět k vysvětlení zdravotního stavu i procesu revitalizace v letech 1995-2001 s prognózou míry ohrožení porostů břízy a její perspektivy využití v obnově lesních porostů Krušných hor. V roce 2001 se výzkumné aktivity soustředily na zdokumentování zdravotního stavu lesů se zvláštním zřetelem na břízu a míru jejího ohrožení biotickými, abiotickými a antropogenními vlivy a prostřednictvím družicové fotogrametrie doložit vývoj zdravotního stavu porostů břízy. Výroční zpráva obsahuje souhrny závěrů dílčích zpráv, oponentské posudky a protokoly z kontrolních dnů