A5076526270- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Craniofacial Disorders and Treatments
- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Muscle Physiology and Disorders
- Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- dental development and anomalies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Cleft Lip and Palate Research
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Genetics and Physical Performance
- Marine animal studies overview
- Morphological variations and asymmetry
- Facial Trauma and Fracture Management
- Hemispheric Asymmetry in Neuroscience
- Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
- Salivary Gland Disorders and Functions
- Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
- Muscle activation and electromyography studies
- Bone and Dental Protein Studies
- Medical and Biological Sciences
- Scoliosis diagnosis and treatment
Mercer University
2014-2023
Mercer University Health Sciences Center
2015
Indiana University
2015
Indiana University School of Medicine
2015
Augusta University
2003-2008
York University
2008
Museum of Indian Arts and Culture
2007
University of Pittsburgh
2007
The African Plio-Pleistocene hominins known as australopiths evolved a distinctive craniofacial morphology that traditionally has been viewed dietary adaptation for feeding on either small, hard objects or large volumes of food. A historically influential interpretation this hypothesizes loads applied to the premolars during had profound influence evolution australopith form. Here, we test hypothesis using finite element analysis in conjunction with comparative, imaging, and experimental...
ABSTRACT Recent biomechanical analyses examining the feeding adaptations of early hominins have yielded results consistent with hypothesis that hard foods exerted a selection pressure influenced evolution australopith morphology. However, this appears inconsistent recent reconstructions hominin diet based on dental microwear and stable isotopes. Thus, it is likely either diets some australopiths included high proportion these taxa were poorly adapted to consume (i.e., they would not...
ABSTRACT The African Plio‐Pleistocene hominins known as australopiths evolved derived craniodental features frequently interpreted adaptations for feeding on either hard, or compliant/tough foods. Among australopiths, Paranthropus boisei is the most robust form, exhibiting traits traditionally hypothesized to produce high bite forces efficiently and strengthen face against stresses. However, recent mechanical analyses imply that P. may not have been an efficient producer of force morphology...
Abstract The purpose of this study is to test predicted form–function relationships between cranial suture complexity and masticatory muscle mass biomechanics in a mouse model. Specifically, the hypothesis that increased increases sagittal complexity, we measured fractal dimension (FD), temporalis mass, bite force myostatin‐deficient (GDF8 −/− ) mice wild‐type CD‐1 (all male, 6 months old). Myostatin negative regulator show marked increase compared normal mice. We would decrease stiffness....
Abstract Australopithecus africanus is an early hominin (i.e., human relative) believed to exhibit stress‐reducing adaptations in its craniofacial skeleton that may be related the consumption of resistant food items using premolar teeth. Finite element analyses simulating molar and biting were used test hypothesis cranium A. structurally more rigid than Macaca fascicularis, Old World monkey lacks derived australopith facial features. Previously generated finite models crania these species...
The evolution of the modern human ( Homo sapiens ) cranium is characterized by a reduction in size feeding system, including reductions facial skeleton, postcanine teeth, and muscles involved biting chewing. conventional view hypothesizes that gracilization system related to shift toward eating foods were less mechanically challenging consume and/or processed using tools before being ingested. This hypothesis predicts systems should not be well-configured produce forceful bites structurally...
Abstract The biomechanical significance of cranial sutures in primates is an open question because their global impact unclear, and material properties are difficult to measure. In this study, eight suture‐bone functional units representing facial were created a finite element model monkey cranium. All the assumed have identical isotropic linear elastic behavior that varied different modeling experiments, either fused or unfused sutures. values moduli employed these trials ranged over...
The global biomechanical impact of cranial sutures on the face and cranium during dynamic conditions is not well understood. It hypothesized that act as energy absorbers protecting skulls subjected to loads. This hypothesis predicts have a significant patterns strain structural stiffness when analyzed using simulations; this influenced by suture material properties. In finite element model developed from juvenile Rhesus macaque cranium, five different sets properties for zygomaticotemporal...
Abstract Australopithecus sediba has been hypothesized to be a close relative of the genus Homo. Here we show that MH1, type specimen A. , was not optimized produce high molar bite force and appears have limited in its ability consume foods were mechanically challenging eat. Dental microwear data previously interpreted as indicating consumed hard foods, so our findings illustrate mechanical are essential if one aims reconstruct relatively complete picture feeding adaptations extinct...
Abstract GDF‐8, also known as myostatin, is a member of the transforming growth factor‐β superfamily secreted and differentiation factors that expressed in vertebrate skeletal muscle. Myostatin functions negative regulator muscle myostatin null mice show doubling mass compared to normal mice. We describe here morphology lumbar spine knockout (Mstn‐/‐) using histological densitometric techniques. The Mstn‐/‐ examined this study weigh approximately 10% more than controls ( p < 0.001) but...
ABSTRACT In a broad range of evolutionary studies, an understanding intraspecific variation is needed in order to contextualize and interpret the meaning between species. However, mechanical analyses primate crania using experimental or modeling methods typically encounter logistical constraints that force them rely on data gathered from only one few individuals. This results lack knowledge concerning significance shape limits our ability infer interspecific differences. study uses geometric...
GDF-8 (myostatin) is a negative growth regulator of skeletal muscle, and myostatin-deficient mice are hypermuscular. Muscle size force production thought to influence the craniofacial skeleton. To test this relationship, we compared masticatory muscle dimensions in wild-type CD-1 control mice. Myostatin-deficient had significantly (p < 0.01) greater body (by 18%) masseter weight 83%), with controls. Significant differences 0.05) were noted for cranial vault length, maxillary mandibular...
Abstract We use an outbred laboratory mouse strain (ICR/CD‐1, Charles River Laboratories, Inc.) to model a type of preprimate locomotion associated with rudimentary pedal grasping. Ten male mice were assigned either control or climbing groups ( n = 5 per group). Climbing lived within specialized terrarium that included ∼7.5 m thin branches (5 and 10 cm long) thickness 3.3mm, arranged in reticulated canopy. Food, water, nest site placed among the branches. To discourage from palmigrade...
This study investigates the role of bone resorption in defining interdigitations characteristic cranial suture waveform. Male mice from CD-1 (ICR) background were analyzed at six age groups (n = 5 per group) order to ontogenetic changes osteoclast counts using tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-stained histological sections sagittal sutures. Additionally, complexity lines measured ectocranially same image capture and fractal geometry (ruler dimension method). The results suggest that is a...
Abstract More than 70 h of positional behaviour data were collected on the red‐shanked douc langur Pygathrix nemaeus , Delacour's Trachypithecus delacouri Hatinh laotum and white‐cheeked crested gibbon Hylobates leucogenys in January February 2001 at Endangered Primate Rescue Center Cuc Phuong National Park, Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam. Equal amounts instantaneous continuous bout for each four species. All animals housed enclosures 10×5×3.5 m with similar substrates, lived small,...
Abstract Primates are typically subdivided into two fundamentally different groups: S trepsirrhini and H aplorrhini. These suborders differentiated by several anatomical characteristics, among which features of the wrist hand. Whereas strepsirrhines characterized an ectaxonic hand with a longer fourth digit, haplorhines display mesaxonic third digit. Two complementary studies suggest that (1) ulnarly deviated respect to forearm during locomotion is typical for hands thin branches whereas...
Dynamic changes in jaw movements and bite forces depend on muscle architectural neural factors that have rarely been compared within the same muscle. Here we investigate how regional architecture dynamics-fascicle rotation, shortening, lengthening gear ratio (AGR)-vary during chewing across a functionally heterogeneous We evaluate whether timing dynamics relates to gape, food material properties and/or activation. also examine static estimates of temporalis fibre track variation dynamic...
Abstract It is well recognized that masticatory muscle function helps determine morphology, although the extent of on final form still debated. GDF‐8 (myostatin), a transcription factor negative regulator skeletal growth. A recent study has shown mice homozygous for myostatin mutation had increased mass and craniofacial dysmorphology in adulthood. However, it unclear whether such present at birth. This examines onset relationship between hypermuscularity morphology neonatal adult with...
The oral cavity houses a diverse consortium of microorganisms, heavily influenced by host diet, that can mediate dental health and disease. While the impact dietary carbohydrates to microbiome has been well-documented, effect fiber as mechanical influence on is unexplored. We performed 16S rRNA gene analysis investigate response presence increased in terms microbial taxonomic abundance diversity. Dental community structure was significantly different mice fed diet supplemented with and/or...
Abstract The midfacial skeleton in the human lineage demonstrates a wide spectrum of variation that may be consequence different environmental and mechanical selective pressures. However, facial configurations develop under comparable regimes. For example, Neanderthal high projected face Inuit broad flat are hypothesized to (1) life cold climate, (2) excessive paramasticatory stresses focused on anterior dentition. In this study, second these two hypotheses is tested using finite element...
Abstract Objectives Pygathrix is an understudied Asian colobine unusual among the Old World monkeys for its use of arm‐swinging. Little data exists on anatomy and mechanics brachiation in this genus. Here, we consider to gain insight into parallel evolution suspensory behavior primates. Materials methods This study compares axial appendicular morphological variables with other colobines. Additionally, assess functional consequences limb anatomy, kinematic kinetic during arm‐swinging are...
Abstract In order to exploit the three‐dimensional, discontinuous and unstable arboreal milieu, most mammals employ efficient foot (pedal) grasping that establishes firm contact with substrate enables secure safe locomotion postures. Such pedal grasp can be performed in variable ways relation characteristics. investigate interplay between modes, locomotor postural behavior, size inclination mammals, we filmed quantitatively analyzed these behaviors captive A frican woodland dormice. Our...