Estimating adult age: auricular surface morphology

NoThe auricular surface is located on the os coxae (pelvis) and forms part of the sacro-iliac joint. Changes in appearance of the auricular surface have been used to estimate adult age-at-death. Two main methods are used in bioarcheology: the Lovejoy method and the Buckberry-Chamberlain (revised auricular surface) method. As with many age estimation methods, neither auricular surface method reaches the gold standard of being both accurate and precise, however the age-related changes of the auricular surface do extend into the later decades of life

Influence of activities in the comprehensive community sport clubs on the mental health of children : With special reference to the enjoyment

textabstractThis study deals primarily with the stability of the base of the spine. The sacroiliac joints are vulnerable to shear loading on account of their predominantly flat surfaces. This raises the question of what mechanisms are brought into action to prevent dislocation of the sacroiliac joints when they are loaded by the weight of the upper part of the body and by trunk muscle forces. First a model is introduced to compare load transfer in joints with spherical and with flat joint surfaces. Next we consider a biomechanical model for the equilibrium of the sacrum under load, describing a self-bracing effect that protects the sacroiliac joints against shear according to ‘the sacroiliac joint compression theory’, which has been demonstrated in vitro. The model shows joint stability by the application of bending moments and the configuration of the pelvic arch. The model includes a large number of muscles (e.g. the gluteus maximus and piriformis muscles), ligaments (e.g. the sacrotuberous, sacrospinal, and dorsal and interosseous sacroiliac ligaments) as well as the coarse texture and the ridges and grooves of the joint surfaces

Transfer of lumbosacral load to iliac bones and legs Part 2: Loading of the sacroiliac joints when lifting in a stooped posture

We developed a biomechanical model of load transfer by the sacroiliac joints in relation to posture. A description is given of two ways in which the transfer of lumbar load to the pelvis in a stooped posture can take place. One way concerns ligament and muscle forces that act on the sacrum, raising the tendency of the sacrum to flex in relation to the hip bones. The other refers to ligament and muscle forces acting on the iliac crests, raising the tendency of the sacrum to shift in caudal direction in relation to the hip bones. Both loading modes deal with the self-bracing mechanism that comes into action to prevent shear in the sacroiliac joints. When a person is lifting a load while in a stooped posture, the force raised by gravity acting in a plane perpendicular to the spine and the sacrum becomes of interest. In this situation a belt such as used by weight lifters may contribute to the stability of the sacroiliac joints. Verification of the biomechanical model is based on anatomical studies and on load application to human specimens. Magnetic resonance imaging pictures have been taken to verify geometry in vivo

‘Proclaiming it to Greeks and Natives, along the rows of the chequer-board': readers and viewers of Greek, Latin and Demotic Acrostich inscriptions

Hellenistic and Roman acrostich inscriptions are usually full of verbal and visual clues, which point the reader in the direction of the ‘hidden message’ contained in the vertical lines of the text. The authors of such inscriptions want their audiences to appreciate the skill that has gone into their composition. There are several complementary ways in which the presence of an acrostich might be signalled to the reader or viewer and their attention directed towards it. These include direct verbal statements, or more subtle allusions, within the text of the inscription. But, even without having read its text, the viewer of an inscription containing a ‘hidden message’ is often immediately aware that some kind of wordplay is at work. Acrostichs, palindromes and various kinds of word square are all graphically striking, or their appearance may be enhanced to make them more so. Regular spacing, the repetition of the acrostich in a separate column and the use of painted or incised grids are all ways in which the layout of the text on the stone can invite the viewer to play a word game. In some cases, as I will argue in this paper, acrostich makers envisaged—even intended—the participants in this game to include the illiterate as well as the literate

Understanding peripartum pelvic pain: Implications of a patient survey

Study Design. An analysis was made of the self-reported medical histories of patients with peripartum pelvic pain. Objectives. To compile an inventory of the disabilities of patients with peripartum pelvic pain, analyze factors associated with the risk for development of the disease, and to formulate a hypothesis on pathogenesis and specific preventive and therapeutic measures. Summary of Background Data. Pregnancy is an important risk factor for development of chronic low back pain. Understanding the pathogenesis of pelvic and low back pain during pregnancy and delivery could be useful in understanding and managing nonspecific low back pain. Methods. By means of a questionnaire, background data were collected among patients of the Dutch Association for Patients With Pelvic Complaints in Relation to Symphysiolysis. Results were compared with the general population. Subgroups were compared with each other. Results. Peripartum pelvic pain seriously interferes with many activities of daily living such us standing, walking, sitting, and all other activities in which the pelvis is involved. Most patients experience a relapse around menstruation and during a subsequent pregnancy. Occurrence of peripartum pelvic pain was associated with twin pregnancy, first pregnancy, higher ago at first pregnancy, larger weight of the baby, forceps or vacuum extraction, fundus expression, and a flexed position of the woman during childbirth; a negative association was observed with cesarean section. Conclusions. It is hypothesized that peripartum pelvic pain is caused by strain of ligaments in the pelvis and lower spine resulting from a combination of damage to ligaments (recently or in the past), hormonal effects, muscle weakness, and the weight of the fetus

Oblique abdominal muscle activity in standing and in sitting on hard and soft seats

The activity of the oblique abdominal muscles was investigated with the trunk in unconstrained, symmetrical and static postures. Electromyographic recordings in six healthy subjects revealed that in all subjects the activity of both the internal and the external obliques is significantly higher in unconstrained standing than in supine posture. Activity of the internal oblique was higher than that of the external oblique abdominal. The sacrospinal, gluteus maximus and biceps femoris muscles showed practically no activity in unconstrained erect posture. During unconstrained sitting both oblique abdominals are active. In most subjects the activity of the oblique abdominals was significantly smaller when sitting on a soft car seat than when sitting on an office chair with a hard seat. The possibility is discussed that contraction of the oblique abdominals in unconstrained standing and sitting may help in stabilizing the basis of the spine and particularly the sacroiliac joints. During standing and sitting the oblique abdominal muscles apparently have a significant role in sustaining gravity loads

Multi-Terminal Superconducting Phase Qubit

Mesoscopic multi-terminal Josephson junctions are novel devices that provide weak coupling between several bulk superconductors through a common normal layer. Because of the nonlocal coupling of the superconducting banks, a current flow between two of the terminals can induce a phase difference and/or current flow in the other terminals. This "phase dragging" effect is used in designing a new type of superconducting phase qubit, the basic element of a quantum computer. Time-reversal symmetry breaking can be achieved by inserting a pi-phase shifter into the flux loop. Logical operations are done by applying currents. This removes the necessity for local external magnetic fields to achieve bistability or controllable operations.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure

Mechanical tension in the median nerve: The effects of joint positions

Stretch tests are attractive in the diagnosis of nerve root or peripheral nerve lesion. Interpretation of the test results is often difficult since the distribution of tensile forces along the nerve caused by the test manoeuvre is not known. In this study the effect on median nerve tension of 22 positions of the arm was measured with ‘buckle’ force transducers. With the elbow in full extension and the hand in neutral position, altering the position of the shoulder significantly influenced tension in the proximal part of the median nerve; tension in the distal part was not influenced. With the shoulder in 90 ° abduction, dorsiflexion of the hand combined with an extended elbow resulted in an increased tension in both distal and proximal parts of the median nerve. Dorsiflexion of the hand combined with flexion of the elbow caused an increase in tension only in the distal part. At all sites of the median nerve the median nerve upper limb tension test caused a significantly higher tension than the radial and ulnar nerve upper limb tension tests. This study provides insight in the normal distribution of tensile forces along the median nerve and can have clinical consequences. For differentiating nerve root from peripheral nerve lesions a specific provocative tension test for the median nerve is advocated. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for differentiating between lesions in the proximal and distal parts of the median nerve

De bijdrage van toevoeging van cacao aan tabak aan rookverslaving

In this report the effect of these compounds on the addiction to cigarette smoking was assessed, using currently available information in the literature on psychoactive compounds of cocoa. The investigated psychoactive cocoa compounds were theobromine, caffeine, serotonin, histamine, tryptophan, tryptamine, tyramine, phenylethylamine, octopamine and anandamide. The general conclusion is that the level of these compounds in added cocoa in cigarettes is not sufficient to increase the addiction to cigarette smoking.In dit rapport wordt de mogelijke bijdrage van cacao aan rookverslaving beschreven. Cacao wordt aan tabak toegevoegd om de smaak te verbeteren. Daarnaast bevat cacao tal van psychoactieve stoffen die mogelijk bijdragen aan rookverslaving Dit literatuuronderzoek beschrijft de blootstelling, farmacologie, farmacokinetiek, toxicologie, interacties en verslavende eigenschappen van de tien meest bekende stoffen in cacao. De onderzochte stoffen zijn theobromine, caffeine, serotonine, histamine, tryptofaan, tryptamine, tyramine, fenylethylamine, octopamine en anandamide. Deze stoffen komen ook via dranken en voedsel het lichaam binnen of worden door het lichaam zelf aangemaakt. Dit rapport laat zien dat de aan roken gerelateerde blootstelling aan de psychoactieve stoffen uit cacao gering is ten opzichte van de inname via voeding en dranken en/of de lichaamseigen productie van deze stoffen. Een systemisch effect lijkt derhalve onwaarschijnlijk ook al omdat lichaamseigen stoffen snel worden afgebroken. Daarnaast kunnen deze stoffen, omdat ze geinhaleerd worden, een direct effect op de luchtwegen hebben. Daarmee zou de opname van nicotine beinvloed kunnen worden. De nicotine opname zou bijvoorbeeld kunnen toenemen via luchtwegverwijding door theobromine en cafe6ne of kunnen afnemen door luchtwegvernauwing door histamine. Dit rapport laat zien dat de aan roken gerelateerde blootstelling aan deze stoffen waarschijnlijk te gering is voor een direct effect op de luchtwegen. Verder dient te worden opgemerkt dat de hoeveelheid tryptamine, tyramine en fenylethylamine die via cacao wordt toegevoegd verwaarloosbaar is ten opzichte van de hoeveelheid die in tabak zelf aanwezig is. Tot slot is aandacht besteed aan de verbrandingsproducten van cacao. Amine verbindingen als serotonin, tryptofaan, tyramine, tryptamine en fenylethylamine vormen tijdens het roken stoffen die het enzym mono amine oxidase (MAO) remmen. MAO-remmers hebben een anti-depressieve werking en kunnen op die manier bijdragen aan rookverslaving. De conclusie van dit literatuur onderzoek is dat de afzonderlijke psychoactieve stoffen in tabak als gevolg van toevoeging van cacao niet direct bijdragen aan rookverslaving. De verbrandingsproducten van cacao doen dit, via remming van het enzym mono amine oxidase, mogelijk wel. Ook de smaak van cacao wordt geassocieerd met verslaving. De literatuur biedt geen inzicht in het effect op gezondheid en verslaving van het inhaleren van de combinatie van de 10 onderzochte stoffen uit cacao