This is an original study to quantify and grade defect healing in a large animal cranial bone substitute model. The study of various therapies to heal cranial defects requires an appropriate ?critical? animal model. An experimental animal model should be analogous and recognizable as an appropriate challenge to human physiology. In addition, the defect must fail to heal unless treated with the tissue engineering therapy under study. Sheep as a large animal model was chosen because of its ability to tolerate creation of large skull defects analogous to clinical scenario, and its biology of healing as a high order mammal would be closer human beings. There is no agreement on the critical size limits for cranial defects. Various sizes have been termed "critical" in publications utilizing sheep. These ranged from 20-22mm. This study will investigate whether a 20mm defect is adequate. Bilateral circular cranial defects of 10, 20 and 25mm diameters were created in 12 adult sheep. Based on guided tissue engineering principles, defect protection was utilized to prevent in-growth of fibroblasts and other connective tissue cells from the surroundings. As bone tissue regeneration strategies usually involve osteoconduction element, an animal model that considered the defect protection role of osteoconduction would be more appropriate. Repopulation and regeneration of the defect was maximized as an added challenge Bioresorbable polylactic acid co-polymer mesh (MacroPoreTM) and Titanium mesh (TiMeshTM) was used as defect protection. The cranial defects were harvested at 8 and 16 weeks. The end-point analysis included Faxitron X-ray images, DEXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry), and histology. The defects were graded to assess their ability to eventually heal. 10mm defects fully healed at 16 weeks. There was new bone formation spanning the entire defect seen on histology. 25mm defects were spanned by thin fibrous tissue only. There was variability in the healing potential of 20mm defect. Based on presence of bone islands within the defect, half of the 20mm defects demonstrated ability to heal while the other half actually had new bone spanning the defects on histology. Critical size cranial defect in sheep for the study of bone graft substitute has to be larger than 25mm diameter. The model is then utilized to study the use of Pro Osteon and AGF compared with the gold standard of autologous bone graft.

Thesis (M.S.)--Missouri State University, 2008. / "May 2008." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 45-50). Also available online.

Inaug.-Diss.--Königsberg. / Vita. Bibliography: p. 30.

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As primeiras evidências arqueológicas a respeito do povoamento do litoral brasileiro durante a pré-história são a expansão de povos associados a sítios arqueológicos denominados sambaquis. Tais sítios ocorrem na costa brasileira, da Bahia até o Rio Grande do Sul, entre 6500 e 800 anos. Um dos modelos de dispersão inicial desses povos propõe que esta teria ocorrido em dois grandes eixos que se expandiram a partir da divisa entre São Paulo e Paraná. Há cerca de mil anos, ocorre o aparecimento de cerâmica em alguns sítios litorâneos, relacionada a grupos provenientes do interior do país. Modelos baseados na análise da morfologia craniana desses grupos indicam que em Santa Catarina, no seu litoral central, teria ocorrido a interação de dois grupos biológicos distintos antes da chegada da cerâmica, ao passo que no litoral norte de Santa Catarina, a chegada da cerâmica parece coincidir com a chegada de uma nova população. O objetivo da tese é testar as seguintes hipóteses através da análise morfológica craniana: I) os povos dos sambaquis representam, em termos regionais, pelo menos dois grupos com morfologias cranianas distintas, cuja dispersão coincide com dois bolsões regionais, um ao norte e outro ao sul de São Paulo; II) no litoral central de Santa Catarina existiram duas populações pré-cerâmicas com morfologia distinta, e com o aparecimento da cerâmica, ao menos no norte de Santa Catarina, surgiu uma nova morfologia craniana. Os resultados obtidos apontam para uma diferenciação de dois grupos principais, cuja clivagem se dá na região do Paraná. Entretanto, a hipótese de que há dois grupos morfologicamente distintos em Santa Catarina antes da chegada da cerâmica não encontra apoio nos resultados obtidos. Em relação aos grupos ceramistas catarinenses, parece haver uma relativa diferenciação entre estes e as séries sem cerâmica dessa região. / The first archaeological evidence for the prehistoric colonization of the Brazilian coast is the expansion of groups associated with the archaeological sites of “sambaqui” (shellmound). These sites are distributed across the Brazilian coast, from Bahia to Rio Grande do Sul, and date to between 6500 and 800 yBP. An initial dispersion of these groups was proposed from the boundary between São Paulo and Paraná. Pottery is found in some shelmound around 1,000 years ago and is associated to inland groups. Models based on cranial morphology suggest that on the central coast of Santa Catarina, there are two distinct groups before the occurrence of pottery, while on the north coast of Santa Catarina, the advent of pottery seems to coincide with the arrival of a new population. The objective of this study is to test the following hypothesis through cranial metrical and non-metrical analysis: I)the dispersion of shellmound populations in two distinct waves, will be inferred by differences in cranial morphology; II)on the central coast of Santa Catarina two distinct populations were present before the occurrence of pottery, and the arrival of ceramist populations brought a new cranial morphology at least in north Santa Catarina. Our results point to a differentiation of two main groups with a boundary in Paraná region. However, we did not find reasonable evidence for the presence of different cranial morphologies in Santa Catarina before the occurrence of pottery. Nonetheless, the occurrence of pottery coincides with the emergence of two relatively different cranial morphologies in Santa Catarina.

The present study analyzes cranial nonmetric traits used in forensic ancestry estimation on contemporary skeletal remains of modern European Americans in order to determine if there are statistically significant differences between males and females in trait expression. Research on cranial nonmetric traits for ancestry estimation has largely ignored the effects of sexual dimorphism on trait expression; however, there is growing evidence that some traits may be impacted by sex, among other variables. The 17 macromorphoscopic traits described in Hefner and Linde (2018) and the six mandibular morphoscopic traits described in Berg (2008) were scored on 97 females and 113 males from the Texas State University Donated Skeletal Collection in San Marcos, Texas. Chi-square tests were used to analyze if there are statistically significant cranial nonmetric trait expressions between males and females. From these tests, the results indicate that 14 out of the 23 cranial and mandibular nonmetric traits are statistically significantly different between the sexes, with a p-value less than 0.05. Gonial angle flare is the most significant feature, while the zygomaticomaxillary suture is the least significant feature. Additionally, correspondence analyses (CA) show the relationship between each cranial nonmetric trait score, that demonstrated significance, and both sexes. Ultimately, this research demonstrates that several nonmetric traits used in ancestry estimation are affected by sex; thus, it may be beneficial to develop sex-specific ancestry models for nonmetric traits.

The phylogenetic position of Panthera atrox within Felidae is still controversial despite many morphological and molecular studies addressing its relationships. This is in part due to the lack of consensus on a tree for Panthera. These inconsistencies suggest the need for further analysis and perhaps even different methodology to better understand pantherine evolution. Morphologic characters from the skull and dentary were analysed within Panthera to elucidate pantherine phylogeny. Extant taxa included Panthera leo (African lion), Panthera tigris (tiger), Panthera onca (jaguar), Panthera pardus (leopard), Uncia uncia (snow leopard) and Neofelis nebulosa (clouded leopard). Four outgroups were used: Crocuta crocuta (spotted hyena), Metailurus spp., Proailurus lemanensis and Pseudaelurus validus. Our study found a clade containing Panthera leo, Panthera tigris and Panthera atrox, suggesting that Panthera atrox is more closely related to the African lion and the tiger than the jaguar, in contrast to what has been recently proposed. Moreover, gross morphological similarities between Panthera atrox and Panthera onca are more likely the result of convergent hunting styles and/or prey selection, rather than phylogenetic affinity.

Neuromuscular paralysis caused by salivary proteins of ticks is a well-known complication after tick bites in Australia, North America, and South Africa. Symptoms may include general weakness, difficulty walking, ascending paralysis, and bulbar paralysis with diplopia, culminating in respiratory failure. In Europe, toxin-mediated paralysis has rarely been noted. We report a case of cranial nerve paralysis with delayed onset after a tick bite in northern Germany.

The purpose of this research is to analyze intentional cranial modification at the site of Túcume located in Peru. Intentional cranial modification is the permanent alteration of the infant cranium through the use of apparatuses that will alter the shape of the skull resulting in lifelong implications. This analysis serves to answer three research questions through testing the hypotheses in regards to the variation among individuals, the sex-based differences in the population, and how cranial modification patterns differentiate normal burials from sacrificed individuals at Túcume. The data include a total of 480 individuals with 375 crania observable. It was found that 26% of individuals with crania were modified. A sex-based pattern was identified since 47% of females were modified while only 18% of males were modified. There were 99 sacrificed individuals with only 6% of them being also modified. The data indicates that there was not a statistically significant difference in the modifications between the sacrificed and non-sacrificed individuals. There is also not enough evidence to indicate that the sacrificed individuals were from other locations. The individuals that were sacrificed were most likely from Túcume. In regards to classification type, it was found that fronto-occipital vault modification was the most prevalent at 56% regardless of sex or age. Fronto-occipital and lambdoidal modifications were more frequently performed on females while occipital was more frequent among males. From the data, this indicates that this was not a common practice at Túcume. There was enough variation in the types of modification that suggests it was not a universal practice. The practice of head shaping in past societies is an important aspect because it holds social implications. It is clear that this thesis provides important insight into Túcume’s past and contains important information in regards to sex-based patterns of head shaping as a marker of group identity.

Objective: To characterize the effect of the Ruby Joint Stabilization System (Ruby) on the motion of the cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) deficient stifle. To compare the motion with the Ruby to that of the CrCL-intact and CrCL-deficient stifle. Study Design: Each canine pelvic limb was mounted in a loading jig under 30% body weight. Motion data was collected using an electromagnetic tracking system at stifle angles of 125o, 135o and 145o with the CrCL-intact, CrCL-deficient and the Ruby applied. Results: Total translation of the CrCL-deficient stifle following the Ruby was reduced, but remained greater than the CrCL-intact stifle at angles of 125o, 135o and 145o. Internal rotation of the Ruby groups was greater than the CrCL-intact group at 145o, but not 125o and 135o. Varus motion of the Ruby group was decreased compared to the CrCL-deficient group, but increased compared to the CrCL-intact group at angles of 125o, 135o and 145o. Conclusion: Total translation and internal rotation of the CrCL-deficient stifle following the Ruby differed from that of the CrCL-intact stifle. However, the Ruby reduced total translation and internal rotation of the tibia relative to the femur in the CrCL-deficient stifle to levels that may yield clinically acceptable results. / Master of Science / Cranial cruciate ligament disease is a common pathology of the canine stifle. Loss of this ligament results in instability of the stifle that results in pain and osteoarthritis, and can lead to damage of other intra-articular structures like the menisci. An abundant number of surgical procedures are described, with the goal of surgery being the restoration of normal stifle stability and function. A common surgical procedure for treatment is the lateral suture technique, which is an extracapsular method of stabilization. This procedure faces many complications; however, it remains a popular choice of stabilization due to its lower cost and less invasive nature. The Ruby Joint Stabilization procedure is a method of extracapsular repair that aims to restore stifle stability and circumvent several complications that plague the lateral suture. This cadaveric study sought to investigate how stifle motion of the normal canine stifle compared to that of the cranial cruciate ligament deficient stifle with the Ruby Joint Stabilization System applied. The results of this investigation demonstrated that the Ruby Joint Stabilization System adequately restored stifle motion to a level that could yield clinically acceptable results, as was demonstrated in a previously published clinical investigation of this technique.