An increasing number of software tools can be used in forensic anthropology to estimate a biological profile, but further studies in other populations are required for more robust validation. The present study aimed to evaluate the validity of MorphoPASSE software for sex estimation from sexually dimorphic cranial traits recorded on 3D CT models (n = 180) from three populations samples (Czech, French, and Egyptian). Two independent observers performed scoring of 4 cranial traits (2 of them bilateral) in each population sample of 30 males and 30 females. The accuracy of sex estimation using traditional posterior probability threshold (pp = 0.5) ranged from 85.6% to 88.3% and overall classification error from 14.4% to 11.7% for both observers, and corresponds to the previously published values of the method. The MorphoPASSE method is also affected by the subjectivity of the observers, as both observers show agreement in sex assignment in 83.9% of cases, regardless of the accuracy of the estimates. Applying a higher posterior probability threshold (pp 0.95) provided classification accuracy of 97.9% and 93.3% of individuals (for observer A and B respectively), minimizing the risk of error to 2.1% and 6.7%, respectively. However, sex estimation can only be applied to 54% and 66% of individuals, respectively. Our results demonstrate the validity of the MorphoPASSE software for cranial sex estimation outside the reference population. However, the achieved classification success is accompanied by a high risk of errors, the reduction of which is only possible by increasing the posterior probability threshold.

• Klíčová slova
• Forensic anthropology, MorphoPASSE software, Posterior probability threshold, Risk of error, Sex estimation,
• MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lebka * anatomie a histologie   diagnostické zobrazování   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• počítačová rentgenová tomografie MeSH
• pravděpodobnost MeSH
• reprodukovatelnost výsledků MeSH
• software * MeSH
• soudní antropologie * metody   MeSH
• určení pohlaví podle kostry * metody   MeSH
• zobrazování trojrozměrné MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• validační studie MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Egypt MeSH
• Francie MeSH

Sex estimation is one of the crucial trends in cases of findings of unknown skeletal remains in forensics and bioarchaeology. The changing nature of sexual dimorphism (population specificity, secular trend, other external and internal factors influence) brings challenges to developing new methods; and there are new aims to be independent of these changes such, as the method by Musilová et al. (2016). These methods need to be evaluated on different datasets to determine if they are truly reliable among populations from different places and times, in the case of bioarchaeology. This study assessed the application of the aforementioned method on non-European contemporary and ancient populations to identify the reliability of the method on this separate dataset. The study sample consisted of 96 CT scans of skulls from contemporary Egyptians and 54 3D models of skulls from the Egyptian Old Kingdom Period (2700-2180 BC). The classifier method, previously tested on both Czech and French populations, yielded high accuracies (over 90 %) for sex estimation. For the contemporary Egyptian skull sample, the classifier was able to determine males versus females with an 89.59 % accuracy rate and an AUC value (area under the curve - a measure of the combined specificity and sensitivity of the test) of 0.99; this proves that the classifier is reliable even with a lower degree of accuracy. Conversely, the Old Kingdom Period sample yielded a lower level of accuracy at around 70 % (61.11 %, precisely), although with an AUC value of 0.92, the result is not considered reliable.

• Klíčová slova
• 3D-scans, Recent and ancient Egypt, Sex estimation, Sexual dimorphism, Skull method testing,
• MeSH
• hlava MeSH
• lebka diagnostické zobrazování   anatomie a histologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pohlavní dimorfismus MeSH
• reprodukovatelnost výsledků MeSH
• soudní antropologie * metody   MeSH
• určení pohlaví podle kostry * metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Janssens et al. (2021, doi: 10.1002/ar.24624) recently commented on our article (Galeta et al., 2021, doi: 10.1002/ar.24500) regarding the morphological differences between putative Paleolithic dog and Pleistocene wolf crania. The authors argued that these differences reflect the normal population variation of wolves, that some of the cranial measurements used do not reflect morphological changes during domestication, and that our canid dataset was small because we inexplicably omitted several specimens we analyzed in our previous publications. In this commentary, we briefly address the issue of within and between morpho-population variability. The results based on our canid sample suggest that the magnitude of morphological differences between distinct morpho-populations (i.e., recent northern dogs and wolves) is at least twice as large as that observed within morpho-populations (between two groups of recent northern wolves segregated by cluster analysis). The morphological differences between putative Paleolithic dogs and Pleistocene wolves are relatively large, which may indicate that they did not likely represent a single Late Pleistocene morpho-population. Finally, we clarified the rationale behind the composition of our 2021 dataset to show that we did not adjust the list of the analyzed specimens. Although the sample size was small, the randomization analysis published in 2021 confirmed that the unbalanced composition of the reference sample did not affect the reliability of the morphological segregation of putative Paleolithic dogs and Pleistocene wolves.

• MeSH
• Canidae * MeSH
• domestikace MeSH
• lebka anatomie a histologie   MeSH
• psi MeSH
• reprodukovatelnost výsledků MeSH
• vlci * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• psi MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Diploic veins (DV) run within the cranial diploe, where they leave channels that can be studied in osteological samples. This study investigates overall DV variability in human adults and the effects of sex, age, cranial dimensions, and dysmorphogenesis associated with craniosynostosis (CS). The morphology of macroscopic diploic channels was analyzed in a set of the qualitative and quantitative variables in computed tomography-images of crania of anatomically normal and craniosynostotic adult individuals. Macroscopic diploic channels occur most frequently in the frontal and parietal bones, often with a bilaterally symmetrical pattern. DV-features (especially DV-pattern) are characterized by high individual diversity. On average, there are 5.4 ± 3.5 large macroscopic channels (with diameters >1 mm) per individual, with a mean diameter of 1.7 ± 0.4 mm. Age and sex have minor effects on DV, and cranial proportions significantly influence DV only in CS skulls. CS is associated with changes in the DV numbers, distributions, and diameters. Craniosynostotic skulls, especially brachycephalic skulls, generally present smaller DV diameters, and dolichocephalic skulls display increased number of frontal DV. CS, associated with altered cranial dimensions, suture imbalance, increased intracranial pressure, and with changes of the endocranial craniovascular system, significantly also affects the macroscopic morphology of DV in adults, in terms of both structural (topological redistribution) and functional factors. The research on craniovascular morphology and CS may be of interest in biological anthropology, paleopathology, medicine (e.g., surgical planning), but also in zoology and paleontology.

• Klíčová slova
• computed tomography, craniovascular traits, diploe, premature suture fusion, vascular anatomy,
• MeSH
• kraniosynostózy * diagnostické zobrazování   patologie   MeSH
• lebeční švy MeSH
• lebka * anatomie a histologie   diagnostické zobrazování   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• počítačová rentgenová tomografie MeSH
• vény MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Here, we report on the exceptionally well-preserved deer record from the locality of Pantalla (central Italy), dated in the Early Pleistocene (ca. 2.1-2.0 million years ago). The fossils show a combination of characters that allows an unambiguous attribution to 'Pseudodama' nestii, of which they represent one of the most informative collections to date. Our comparisons-also conducted through CT-based methods on endocranial structures-reveal that the cranial and postcranial skeleton of 'P.' nestii displays a mosaic of intermediate characters between extant Dama and Cervus, but also that the affinities with Dama are prevalent. Some Cervus-like features especially in cranial morphology, can be interpreted as plesiomorphic characters supporting a basal position of 'Pseudodama' among the Cervini. Interestingly, three bone anomalies are described in the two male crania of 'P.' nestii from Pantalla and are interpreted as palaeotraumatological evidence resulting from different injuries suffered by the deer during their life. This allows opening a treasure trove of information on paleobiological aspects, including ontogeny and antler cycle and function.

• MeSH
• lebka anatomie a histologie   MeSH
• parohy * MeSH
• vysoká zvěř * anatomie a histologie   MeSH
• zkameněliny MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Itálie MeSH

Untangling the factors of morphological evolution has long held a central role in the study of evolutionary biology. Extant speciose clades that have only recently diverged are ideal study subjects, as they allow the examination of rapid morphological variation in a phylogenetic context, providing insights into a clade's evolution. Here, we focus on skull morphological variability in a widely distributed shrew species complex, the Crocidura poensis species complex. The relative effects of taxonomy, size, geography, climate and habitat on skull form were tested, as well as the presence of a phylogenetic signal. Taxonomy was the best predictor of skull size and shape, but surprisingly both size and shape exhibited no significant phylogenetic signal. This paper describes one of the few cases within a mammal clade where morphological evolution does not match the phylogeny. The second strongest predictor for shape variation was size, emphasizing that allometry can represent an easily accessed source of morphological variability within complexes of cryptic species. Taking into account species relatedness, habitat preferences, geographical distribution and differences in skull form, our results lean in favor of a parapatric speciation model within this complex of species, where divergence occurred along an ecological gradient, rather than a geographic barrier.

• MeSH
• ekosystém * MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• lebka anatomie a histologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• podnebí MeSH
• rejskovití * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

BACKGROUND: Reptiles exhibit a large heterogeneity in teeth morphology. The main variability comprises the different tooth shape, the type of tooth attachment to the underlying bone, or the ability to replace the teeth. FINDINGS: Here, we provide full datasets of microtomography scans and 3D models of reptilian dentitions and skulls. We selected representative species for each of 9 reptilian families on the basis of their characteristic dental features. Because there are ≥4 different types of tooth-bone attachments, ranging from the mammalian-like thecodont attachment found in crocodilians to the simple acrodont implantation observed in some lizards, we aimed to evaluate species with different types of tooth-bone attachments. Moreover, another interesting feature varying in reptilian species is the complexity of tooth shape or the number of tooth generations, which can be associated with the type of tooth attachment to the jawbone. Therefore, selected model species also include animals with distinct tooth morphology along the jaw or different number of tooth generations. The development of tooth attachment and relationship of the tooth to the jaw can be further analysed in detail on a large collection of pre-hatching stages of chameleon. Next, we introduce different possibilities for how these datasets can be further used to study tooth-bone relationships or tooth morphology in 3D space. Moreover, these datasets can be valuable for additional morphological and morphometric analyses of reptilian skulls or their individually segmented skeletal elements. CONCLUSIONS: Our collection of microcomputed tomography scans can bring new insight into dental or skeletal research. The broad selection of reptilian species, together with their unique dental features and high quality of these scans including complete series of developmental stages of our model species and provide large opportunities for their reuse. Scans can be further used for virtual reality, 3D printing, or in education.

• Klíčová slova
• 3D imaging, craniofacial bones, micro-CT, reptiles, skull, tooth replacement, tooth-bone attachment,
• MeSH
• dentice MeSH
• ještěři * anatomie a histologie   MeSH
• lebka anatomie a histologie   diagnostické zobrazování   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• rentgenová mikrotomografie MeSH
• savci MeSH
• zuby * anatomie a histologie   diagnostické zobrazování   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Biomechanical load and hormonal levels tended to change just like the soft and skeletal tissue of the elderly with age. Although aging in both sexes shared common traits, it was assumed that there would be a reduction of sexual dimorphism in aged individuals. The main goals of this study were (1) to evaluate age-related differences in cranial sexual dimorphism during senescence, (2) to determine age-related differences in female and male skulls separately, and (3) to compare skull senescence in Czech and French adult samples as discussed by Musilová et al. (Forensic Sci Int 269:70-77, 2016). The cranial surface was analyzed using coherent point drift-dense correspondence analysis. The study sample consisted of 245 CT scans of heads from recent Czech (83 males and 59 females) and French (52 males and 51 females) individuals. Virtual scans in the age range from 18 to 92 years were analyzed using geometric morphometrics. The cranial form was significantly greater in males in all age categories. After size normalization, sexual dimorphism of the frontal, occipital, and zygomatic regions tended to diminish in the elderly. Its development during aging was caused by morphological changes in both female and male skulls but secular changes must also be taken into account. The most notable aging changes were the widening of the neurocranium and the retrusion of the face, including the forehead, especially after the age of 60 in both sexes. Sexual dimorphism was similar between the Czech and French samples but its age-related differences were partially different because of the population specificity. Cranial senescence was found to degrade the accuracy of sex classification (92-94%) in the range of 2-3%.

• Klíčová slova
• Age-related changes, Aging, Cranium, Geometric morphometrics, Sexual dimorphism,
• MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lebka anatomie a histologie   diagnostické zobrazování   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• počítačová rentgenová tomografie MeSH
• pohlavní dimorfismus * MeSH
• remodelace kosti fyziologie   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• stárnutí fyziologie   MeSH
• určení pohlaví podle kostry * MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Francie MeSH

The antiquity of the wolf/dog domestication has been recently pushed back in time from the Late Upper Paleolithic (~14,000 years ago) to the Early Upper Paleolithic (EUP; ~36,000 years ago). Some authors questioned this early dog domestication claiming that the putative (EUP) Paleolithic dogs fall within the morphological range of recent wolves. In this study, we reanalyzed a data set of large canid skulls using unbalanced- and balanced-randomized discriminant analyses to assess whether the putative Paleolithic dogs are morphologically unique or whether they represent a subsample of the wolf morpho-population. We evaluated morphological differences between 96 specimens of the 4 a priori reference groups (8 putative Paleolithic dogs, 41 recent northern dogs, 7 Pleistocene wolves, and 40 recent northern wolves) using discriminant analysis based on 5 ln-transformed raw and allometrically size-adjusted cranial measurements. Putative Paleolithic dogs are classified with high accuracies (87.5 and 100.0%, cross-validated) and randomization experiment suggests that these classification rates cannot be exclusively explained by the small and uneven sample sizes of reference groups. It indicates that putative Upper Paleolithic dogs may represent a discrete canid group with morphological signs of domestication (a relatively shorter skull and wider palate and braincase) that distinguish them from sympatric Pleistocene wolves. The present results add evidence to the view that these specimens could represent incipient Paleolithic dogs that were involved in daily activities of European Upper Paleolithic forager groups.

• Klíčová slova
• Europe, Pleistocene, discriminant analysis, dog, domestication, morphology, randomization, wolf, zoology,
• MeSH
• domestikace * MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• lebka anatomie a histologie   MeSH
• psi anatomie a histologie   MeSH
• vlci anatomie a histologie   MeSH
• zkameněliny MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• psi anatomie a histologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH

Frontal sinus analysis has potential utility for detecting biologically related individuals. However, the methodological approach to its evaluation, as well as its informative value, have been questioned. The aim of this work is to introduce a new approach to evaluating the frontal sinus using the 'external supraorbital line' (ESOL) and to determine whether there are sex differences within families in frontal sinus measurements and whether frontal sinus similarity reflects known genetic relationships in both measurements and morphology. We examined the skeletal remains of 41 adult individuals (25 males, 16 females), all members of one family over four generations (19th to 20th centuries), including individuals with very close consanguinity. CT images of skulls were acquired, and both the dimensions and morphology of the frontal sinuses were analyzed using their portions above the ESOL. No significant sex differences were found within families based on frontal sinus dimensions. Significant relationships were found between biological distance and the maximum height and morphology of the frontal sinuses. The greatest degree of similarity was found among closely related individuals. Additionally, in several cases, there was a greater degree of similarity between first cousins or grandparents and their grandchildren than among siblings or parents and their children. Total surface, volume and width are not significant indicators of relatedness. Known genetic relationships are also supported by individual morphological features. Variability within families with very close consanguineous relationships was lower than within families with common degrees of consanguinity, although differences are significant only for some variables.

• Klíčová slova
• dimensions, frontal sinus anatomy, genealogical documented sample, inbreeding, morphology,
• MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lebka anatomie a histologie   diagnostické zobrazování   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• počítačová rentgenová tomografie MeSH
• pohlavní dimorfismus * MeSH
• pokrevní příbuzenství MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• sinus frontalis anatomie a histologie   diagnostické zobrazování   MeSH
• tělesné pozůstatky * MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH