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Objectives: Dental anthropological investigations into sexual dimorphism have conventionally concentrated on evaluating the dimensions and configuration of the enamel cap of canines. However, the morphology of the crown dentine surface can be closely linked to that of the enamel surface. This link can facilitate examination of crown morphology even when the enamel surface is slightly worn. Here, we determine if the morphology of the enamel‐dentine junction (EDJ) differs within (maxillary vs. mandibular) and between a sample of male (n = 26) and female (n = 21) contemporary human permanent canines from Europe. Methods: The morphological data of the EDJ were gathered employing a template comprising 96 landmarks and sliding semilandmarks. Subsequently, the data underwent analysis through form space principal component analysis following Procrustes registration, utilizing standard 3D geometric morphometric techniques. Results: Significant differences in the morphology of the EDJ were observed between the sexes, particularly concerning the overall shape of the crown, the symmetry of the mesial and distal edges, and the development of the distal accessory ridge. Conclusions: Sex differences in the morphology of the EDJ could relate in part to retention of the canine‐premolar honing complex in males. Our results indicate that analyses of the permanent canine EDJ may potentially provide a novel method for estimating the sex of adult and nonadult skeletons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Musculoskeletal disorders are common occupational diseases that have become a major social problem. Mechanization has been promoted as a solution to this problem. However, several tasks still require manual labor, such as fruit harvesting in orchards, making the introduction of machinery difficult in many cases. Recently, from the viewpoint of worker protection and ergonomics, various wearable robots for work support have attracted attention. In Europe and the US, there has been much development of arm-lifting assistive devices that support upward work while holding tools in the hands for industrial applications. However, most of the devices currently on the market are expensive compared to their assistive capabilities. Against this background, we developed three types of arm-lifting assistive devices with different concepts (an exoskeleton arm-lifting assistive device utilizing a gas spring, an exoskeleton arm-lifting assistive device utilizing McKibben-type artificial muscles, and an arm-lifting assistive suit utilizing rubber) to develop inexpensive, high-power devices. Furthermore, comparative verification of the assist effectiveness of each device was conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ranids represent an important part of the extant anuran diversity of Europe. One of the best-known genera is Pelophylax (green-water frog). This genus is considered to have arrived in Europe during the Eocene/Oligocene transition, with numerous occurrences of the genus throughout European Oligocene sites. Unfortunately, most of the specimens are isolated bones, hampering our understanding of the diversity and evolution of the genus during this time. We here present the description of an incomplete but articulated anuran skeleton from the lowest Oligocene of Chartres-de-Bretagne (western France). This specimen, missing its head, preserves almost all postcranial bones articulated and skin impressions. The osteological description allows to assign this specimen to Pelophylax kl. esculentus, making it one of the oldest known occurrences of the genus. We also suggest that specimens assigned to the late Oligocene "Rana" aquensis should be referred to the genus Pelophylax. The presence of a Pelophylax in western Europe during the early Oligocene indicates that the genus had already spread throughout Europe, no later than 5 Ma after its emergence in the eastern part of the continent. It suggests that Pelophylax benefitted from the extinction of ranoids during the "Grande Coupure." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ranids represent an important part of the extant anuran diversity of Europe. One of the best-known genera is Pelophylax (green-water frog). This genus is considered to have arrived in Europe during the Eocene/Oligocene transition, with numerous occurrences of the genus throughout European Oligocene sites. Unfortunately, most of the specimens are isolated bones, hampering our understanding of the diversity and evolution of the genus during this time. We here present the description of an incomplete but articulated anuran skeleton from the lowest Oligocene of Chartres-de-Bretagne (western France). This specimen, missing its head, preserves almost all postcranial bones articulated and skin impressions. The osteological description allows to assign this specimen to Pelophylax kl. esculentus, making it one of the oldest known occurrences of the genus. We also suggest that specimens assigned to the late Oligocene "Rana" aquensis should be referred to the genus Pelophylax. The presence of a Pelophylax in western Europe during the early Oligocene indicates that the genus had already spread throughout Europe, no later than 5 Ma after its emergence in the eastern part of the continent. It suggests that Pelophylax benefitted from the extinction of ranoids during the "Grande Coupure." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The settlement of Great Britain by Germanic-speaking people from continental northwest Europe in the Early Medieval period (early 5th to mid 11th centuries CE) has long been recognised as an important event, but uncertainty remains about the number of settlers and the nature of their relationship with the preexisting inhabitants of the island. In the study reported here, we sought to shed light on these issues by using 3D shape analysis techniques to compare the cranial bases of Anglo-Saxon skeletons to those of skeletons from Great Britain that pre-date the Early Medieval period and skeletons from Denmark that date to the Iron Age. Analyses that focused on Early Anglo-Saxon skeletons indicated that between two-thirds and three-quarters of Anglo-Saxon individuals were of continental northwest Europe ancestry, while between a quarter and one-third were of local ancestry. In contrast, analyses that focused on Middle Anglo-Saxon skeletons suggested that 50–70% were of local ancestry, while 30–50% were of continental northwest Europe ancestry. Our study suggests, therefore, that ancestry in Early Medieval Britain was similar to what it is today—mixed and mutable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our current knowledge on the crocodyliform evolution is strongly biased towards the skull morphology, and the postcranial skeleton is usually neglected in many taxonomic descriptions. However, it is logical to expect that it can contribute with its own phylogenetic signal. In this paper, the changes in the tree topology caused by the addition of the postcranial information are analysed for the family Allodaposuchidae, the most representative eusuchians in the latest Cretaceous of Europe. At present, different phylogenetic hypotheses have been proposed for this group without reaching a consensus. The results of this paper evidence a shift in the phylogenetic position when the postcranium is included in the dataset, pointing to a relevant phylogenetic signal in the postcranial elements. Finally, the phylogenetic relationships of allodaposuchids within Eusuchia are reassessed; and the internal relationships within Allodaposuchidae are also reconsidered after an exhaustive revision of the morphological data. New and improved diagnoses for each species are here provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Magdalenian (∼23.5–∼13.5 kBP) is one of the two major technocomplexes identified in Europe during the late Upper Palaeolithic and is notable for its complex worked bone and lithic industries, and both artistic and ritualistic behaviours. Magdalenian funerary behaviours, however, remain enigmatic, with human assemblages often represented by scattered and fragmented remains showing evidence of post-mortem manipulation that has been associated with cannibalism. To best clarify any patterns of funerary behaviour during the Magdalenian, an exhaustive literature review was performed to identify Magdalenian sites that have delivered human remains. Of the 59 sites identified, it was possible to ascertain funerary behaviour at 25 sites, with 10 deposits attributed to primary burial, 13 showing evidence of anthropic modification indicative of cannibalism, and two sites combining both behaviours. Given the similarities of the anthropic modifications observed on the cutmarked and cannibalised human remains across sites, the high frequency and geographic distribution of this practice, and the association, in some of the sites, of cannibalism with the ritualistic manipulation of human remains, it is proposed that cannibalism during the Magdalenian was practiced as a form of funerary behaviour rather than for necessity or as gastronomic cannibalism. Funerary cannibalism appears in greater abundance during the Middle Magdalenian whilst primary burials are more common during the Upper and terminal Magdalenian. Further, although genetic data are limited, we identify a relationship between funerary behaviour and genetic ancestry, with all cannibalised individuals showing ancestry associated with the GoyetQ2 cluster, indicative of Magdalenian human groups, whilst sequenced individuals found in a primary burial context show a genetic affinity with the Epigravettian (Villabruna associated ancestry), the other major technocomplex of the period. We hypothesise that cannibalism is a funerary behaviour indicative of GoyetQ2 associated Magdalenian populations, and that differences in funerary behaviours during the Magdalenian reflect distinct genetic ancestries indicative of known population movements during the terminal Upper Palaeolithic. This interpretation must be tempered however given that limited taphonomic or genetic study has been performed at the majority of Magdalenian sites, and thus to fully clarify the funerary behaviours of Magdalenian groups additional focus on understudied Magdalenian assemblages needs to be established. • Primary burial and funerary cannibalism are identified as the mortuary practices of the Magdalenian Upper Palaeolithic culture. • It is proposed that funerary cannibalism was a widespread funerary behaviour of the culture, given its recurrent appearance across sites and close association with the ritualistic manipulation of human remains with the shaping of skull-cups and engravings. • An association between funerary behaviour and genetic ancestry is identified, with individuals showing GoyetQ2 ancestry (associated with the Magdalenian) found solely in a funerary cannibalism context, and those carrying a Villabruna ancestry component (associated with the Epigravettian) found in a primary burial context. • When considered alongside prior studies that have identified widespread replacement of Magdalenian groups by Epigravettian groups during the late Upper Palaeolithic, results intimate that the shift from cannibalism to primary burial behaviour may be further indication of widespread population turnover in late Upper Palaeolithic Europe. • Further taphonomic and genetic study on as yet unstudied Magdalenian and Epigravettian human skeletal assemblages is required to fully clarify these relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical imaging for forensic age estimation in living adolescents and young adults continues to be controversial and a subject of discussion. Because age estimation based on medical imaging is well studied, it is the current gold standard. However, large disparities exist between the centers conducting age estimation, both between and within countries. This review provides an overview of the most common approaches applied in Europe, with case examples illustrating the differences in imaging modalities, in staging of development, and in statistical processing of the age data. Additionally, the review looks toward the future because several European research groups have intensified studies on age estimation, exploring four strategies for optimization: (1) increasing sample sizes of the reference populations, (2) combining single-site information into multifactorial information, (3) avoiding ionizing radiation, and (4) conducting a fully automated analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We here describe the first fossil remains of a green lizard of the Lacerta group from the late Miocene (MN 13) of the Solnechnodolsk locality in southern European Russia. This region of Europe is crucial for our understanding of the paleobiogeography and evolution of these middle-sized lizards. Although this clade has a broad geographical distribution across the continent today, its presence in the fossil record has only rarely been reported. In contrast to that, the material described here is abundant, consists of a premaxilla, maxillae, frontals, parietals, jugals, quadrate, pterygoids, dentaries and vertebrae. The comparison of these elements to all extant green lizard species shows that these fossils are indistinguishable from Lacerta trilineata. Thus, they form the first potential evidence of the occurrence of this species in the Miocene. This may be also used as a potential calibration point for further studies. Together with other lizard fossils, Solnechnodolsk shows an interesting combination of survivors and the dawn of modern species. This locality provides important evidence for the transition of an archaic Miocene world to the modern diversity of lizards in Europe. In addition, this article represents a contribution to the knowledge of the comparative osteological anatomy of the selected cranial elements in lacertids. This study gives special emphasis to the green lizards, but new data are also presented for related taxa, e.g., Timon lepidus, Podarcis muralis or Zootoca vivipara. Although the green lizards include several cryptic species for which determination based on isolated osteological material would be expected to be difficult, our comparisons show several important morphological differences, although a high degree of variability is present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exceptionally well-preserved Neanderthal skeleton discovered in October 1993 within the Lamalunga cave near Altamura (Puglia, Italy) has been recently dated to a late Middle Pleistocene chronology, bracketed between 128.2 and 187.0 ka. Although the skeleton is still sealed in situ , in 2009 and 2015 a large part of its fragmentary right scapula was removed from the cave in three pieces, following a protocol aimed at preventing any biological contamination prior to aDNA extraction and analysis. The three fragments taken together preserve the glenoid fossa, the roots of both the coracoid and acromial processes, the superior two-thirds of the axillary border, portions of the spine, and part of the supraspinous fossa. This scapula is described here in detail for the first time. Morphological analyses show that it falls within the range of Neanderthal variability and also approaches the Mid-Pleistocene sample from Atapuerca Sima de los Huesos. However, the scapula from Altamura exhibits a bisulcate/ventral pattern of the axillary border: a feature that is uncommon for a Neanderthal and, more in general, among the European archaic humans of the Middle and Late Pleistocene. The scapula from Altamura expands our knowledge of the postcranial variability along the Neanderthal lineage. • The Altamura skeleton is the most complete Neanderthal ever found. • Discovered in 1993 and dated to more than 130 ka, it is still preserved in situ. • Fragments of the right scapula have been extracted from the cave and described here. • Metrically the restored scapula falls within the Neanderthal variability. • Morphologically, it exhibits a bisulcate/ventral pattern of the axillary sulcus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this article, we present the first results on the large mammal fauna from the new open-air Lower Palaeolithic locality Marathousa 1 (MAR-1) (Megalopolis Basin, Peloponnesus, Greece). MAR-1 belongs to the Marathousa Member of the Choremi Formation and its large mammal faunal list (collection 2013–2016) includes the castorid Castor fiber , the mustelids Mustela sp. and Lutra simplicidens , the felid Felis sp., the canids Vulpes sp. and Canis sp., the elephantid Palaeoloxodon antiquus , the hippopotamid Hippopotamus antiquus , the bovid Bison sp., and the cervids Dama sp. and Cervus elaphus. This faunal association is common in the Galerian (Middle Pleistocene) mammal communities of Europe (ca. 0.9–0.4 Ma). The MAR-1 fauna is consistent with a temperate climate and is indicative of a landscape with substantial woodland components with more open areas, close to permanent and large freshwater bodies. Of particular interest are an elephant cranium and numerous postcranial elements, which were found in close anatomical association and are attributed to a single individual of the straight-tusked elephant Palaeoloxodon antiquus. The skeleton belonged to a male individual in its late adulthood close to or in its sixties, with live skeletal height around 3.7 m at the shoulder and body mass around 9.0 tonnes. The good state of preservation of the MAR-1 bones allows the identification of taphonomic modifications. Cut marks on the elephant skeleton, and on other elephant and mammal bones, indicate human exploitation by means of butchering activities, in accordance with the traits of the lithic assemblage and its spatial association with the bones. Carnivore activity is also recorded on some elephant and cervid bones. Marathousa 1 is among the oldest elephant butchering sites in Europe and the only one known in Southeastern Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The Cervical Spine Research Society Europe (CSRS-E) actively promotes scientific activities, the annual meeting being the most evident of them. The publication rate of oral and poster presentations at the annual meeting could be a measure for the success of the promotional activities. The publication rates of abstracts presented at the annual European meetings of the CSRS are unknown. The quality of the abstracts presented at a conference is reflected by the publication rate. A high publication rate is usually interpreted as representative of high scientific value of the conference.Methods: Poster and podium presentations from the 2007 to 2012 annual meetings were identified. Pubmed was used to search for the abstract title and/or the combination of authors to verify whether the data were published in a peer-reviewed journal. Abstracts were considered published if the data presented at the meeting were identical to that in the publication. The journals in which the data were published were identified, as well as the origin of the research centre.Results: From 2007 to 2012 826 abstracts were featured at the CSRS Europe annual meetings. There were 236 podium presentations and 590 poster presentations. 42 % of the podium presentations resulted in a publication, and 28 % of the poster presentations led to a publication. Overall, 32 % of accepted abstracts effectuated a publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. Abstracts from European research groups had a publication rate of 29 % compared to 34 % for abstracts from non-European research groups. Spine, European Spine Journal, Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques and J Neurosurgery Spine were the most common publication journals for the abstracts. The mean impact factor of the journals in which was published was 2.2.Conclusion: 42 % of the abstracts that were accepted for podium presentation at the CSRS Europe resulted in a publication in peer-reviewed MEDLINE indexed journals. Publication rates are at the high end of the publication rate spectrum of abstracts accepted for European scientific meetings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning is a gold standard for bone mineral density measurement and diagnosis of primary and secondary osteoporosis in living persons. DXA is becoming widespread when analysing archaeological material, and is considered to provide an accurate diagnosis of osteoporosis in skeletal samples. The aim of this study was to explain the differences in results between bone mineral density (obtained with DXA) and chemical determination of calcium and phosphorus concentrations in skeletal remains. We examined bone mineral density (BMD) and mineral content of femoral bone samples exhumed from mass graves of the Second World War. BMD was determined by Hologic QDR 4500 C (S/N 48034) Bone Densitometer. Concentrations of calcium and phosphorus were determined with AAS (Atomic absorption spectroscopy) and UV/VIS (Ultraviolet–visible) spectroscopy. The results obtained in this study do not support the hypothesis according to which BMD measured by DXA scan has positive correlation with chemically determined concentrations of calcium and phosphorus in bones, especially in acidic soils where there was significant impact of diagenesis observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the 1960s, a remarkable collection of rhinoceros postcranial remains was recovered in a Late Pleistocene karst cavity at Valle Radice near Sora (Frosinone, Central Italy). Based on the morphological characters, the specimens are ascribed to Stephanorhinus hemitoechus . This record is the only one with abundant postcranial elements in Italy and Southern Europe; it enables a careful analysis of the most important morphometric features in the postcranial skeleton of the species. The palaeobiogeographic boundaries and the relative biochronological importance of the evolutionary stages of the species in Europe are investigated. The new data suggest the morphometric variability of the species is strictly related to the geographic area; the evolutionary trends described during the past for the postcrania of the species are not confirmed. In Italy, the species is characterised by the presence of large-sized specimens during the Middle and Late Pleistocene, as well as in Great Britain. In Central Europe, the species is characterised by a fluctuation in size with the occurrence of relatively small-sized specimens during MIS 11-8. In the Iberian Peninsula, during the late Middle and Late Pleistocene S. hemitoechus is characterised by the presence of relatively small-sized specimens with respect to those from other European localities; this feature could be related to a geographic isolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]