{"title":"Evolutionary Perspectives, Comparative Approaches, and the Lived Experience of Menopause.","authors":"Lynnette Leidy Sievert","doi":"10.1002/ajpa.25067","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajpa.25067","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The purpose of this synthesis is to review age at menopause, symptom experience at midlife, and the evolution of menopause in a way that is helpful for biological anthropologists who are interested in the study of this challenging time of life. The synthesis begins with the biology of menopause, then shifts to the evolution of menopause with an emphasis on phylogenetic and adaptationist perspectives. Discussion of the biology and evolution of menopause incorporates a cross-species perspective, with particular attention to whales and primates. The synthesis continues with a cross-population review of variation in age at menopause. The final section is about symptom experience across populations with attention to the medical context of midlife, a focus on hot flashes, and consideration of the strengths and limitations of ethnographic and questionnaire-based research. The review ends with suggestions for where biological anthropology can make important contributions to the research of midlife and menopause.</p>","PeriodicalId":29759,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Biological Anthropology","volume":"186 Suppl 78 ","pages":"e25067"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143606384","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Computational Genomics and Its Applications to Anthropological Questions.","authors":"Kelsey E Witt, Fernando A Villanea","doi":"10.1002/ajpa.70010","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajpa.70010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The advent of affordable genome sequencing and the development of new computational tools have established a new era of genomic knowledge. Sequenced human genomes number in the tens of thousands, including thousands of ancient human genomes. The abundance of data has been met with new analysis tools that can be used to understand populations' demographic and evolutionary histories. Thus, a variety of computational methods now exist that can be leveraged to answer anthropological questions. This includes novel likelihood and Bayesian methods, machine learning techniques, and a vast array of population simulators. These computational tools provide powerful insights gained from genomic datasets, although they are generally inaccessible to those with less computational experience. Here, we outline the theoretical workings behind computational genomics methods, limitations and other considerations when applying these computational methods, and examples of how computational methods have already been applied to anthropological questions. We hope this review will empower other anthropologists to utilize these powerful tools in their own research.</p>","PeriodicalId":29759,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Biological Anthropology","volume":"186 Suppl 78 ","pages":"e70010"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11898561/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143606427","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Human Decomposition and Time Since Death: Persistent Challenges and Future Directions of Postmortem Interval Estimation in Forensic Anthropology.","authors":"Katherine E Weisensee, Madeline M Atwell","doi":"10.1002/ajpa.70011","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajpa.70011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Estimating the time since death, or the postmortem interval (PMI), is a significant component of forensic anthropological analysis when human remains are discovered. Despite decades of research, methods for providing an estimate of the PMI with known error rates are still absent from applied medicolegal forensic work, which prompts the necessity for a critical examination of the state of the field. This review details the history of how forensic anthropology emerged from the broader discipline of biological anthropology, with a specific focus on how forensic anthropologists came to be understood as suitable experts for estimating the PMI. We describe existing PMI estimation methods and enduring barriers in advancing our knowledge. We provide an overview of the formative PMI research, then focus on a systematic review of 30 years (1993-2023) of human decomposition literature. Results of our synthesis demonstrate the two prevailing ways to estimate the PMI involve (1) the use of quantitative biomarkers and (2) macromorphoscopic observations. Results also highlight that PMI research continues to be limited by small, highly variable samples and a lack of standardized definitions of decomposition, which impedes replicability and the advancement of methods for PMI estimation. Forensic anthropologists can address these longstanding issues by ensuring the principles of Open Science are adhered to during the research and dissemination process including data sharing and transparency. Intentional research design that integrates comprehensive geospatial data and improved modeling techniques can contribute to devising methods capable of providing PMI estimates within applied medicolegal and humanitarian contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":29759,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Biological Anthropology","volume":"186 Suppl 78 ","pages":"e70011"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11898555/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143606516","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amber Wutich, Robin Nelson, L Zachary DuBois, Claudia M Astorino, Kelly Knudson, Austin W Reynolds, Erin P Riley, Rick W A Smith, Caroline VanSickle, Stephanie Russo Carroll, Ca'la K Connors, Jelena Jankovic-Rankovic, Charlayne Mitchell, Anaís Delilah Roque, Krystal Sara Tsosie
{"title":"\"Rigorous and Systematic Qualitative Data Analysis in Biological Anthropology\".","authors":"Amber Wutich, Robin Nelson, L Zachary DuBois, Claudia M Astorino, Kelly Knudson, Austin W Reynolds, Erin P Riley, Rick W A Smith, Caroline VanSickle, Stephanie Russo Carroll, Ca'la K Connors, Jelena Jankovic-Rankovic, Charlayne Mitchell, Anaís Delilah Roque, Krystal Sara Tsosie","doi":"10.1002/ajpa.70008","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajpa.70008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Biological anthropologists have long engaged in qualitative data analysis (QDA), though such work is not always foregrounded. In this article, we discuss the role of rigorous and systematic QDA in biological anthropology and consider how it can be understood and advanced. We first establish what kinds of qualitative data and analysis are used in biological anthropology. We then review the ways QDA has been used in six subfields of biological anthropology: primatology, human biology, paleoanthropology, dental and skeletal biology, bioarchaeology, and anthropological genetics. We follow that with an overview of how to use QDA methods: three simple QDA methods (i.e., word-based analysis, theme analysis, and coding) and three QDA approaches for model-building and model-testing (i.e., content analysis, semantic network analysis, and grounded theory). With this foundation in place, we discuss how QDA can support transformative research in biological anthropology-emphasizing the valuable role of QDA in inductive and community-based research. We discuss how QDA supports transformative research using mixed-methods research designs, participatory action research, and abolition and Black feminist research. Finally, we consider how to close a QDA project, reflecting on the logistics, ethics, and limitations of qualitative data sharing, including how researchers can use the CARE Principles (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, and Ethics) to support Indigenous data sovereignty.</p>","PeriodicalId":29759,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Biological Anthropology","volume":"186 Suppl 78 ","pages":"e70008"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143606370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Primate Behavior and the Importance of Comparative Studies in Biological Anthropology.","authors":"Aaron A Sandel, Jeremiah E Scott, Jason M Kamilar","doi":"10.1002/ajpa.70009","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajpa.70009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Biological anthropology seeks to understand humans from an evolutionary perspective. Namely, what makes humans different from other animals, and how did we get this way? Many relevant traits are physical, but many others are behavioral. For example, when and why did our species develop complex cognition, enduring bonds, and intense cooperation? Given the importance of behavior, biological anthropologists have a long history of turning to our primate relatives to generate hypotheses about the evolutionary processes shaping humans. Indeed, primate behavior is foundational to our field. But not all biological anthropologists appreciate the value of primate behavior for understanding human evolution. Beyond lip service in introductory paragraphs and grant proposals, many primatologists do not make explicit how their work is relevant to human evolution. In this review, we have three main goals: (1) emphasize how comparative studies of primate behavior are crucial to biological anthropology; (2) outline how primatologists and biological anthropologists can improve their work by avoiding common problems that arise when making such comparisons; and (3) provide a primer on the concepts and methods underlying comparative analyses of traits. We provide examples to highlight these points related to cognition, sociality, and diet. We conclude with several recommendations including (1) detailed, high-quality studies of behavior that allow for appropriate comparisons within and across species; (2) using primates as a \"gateway clade\" and expanding our research to any relevant taxa; and (3) careful attention to the ethical implications of making comparisons to other primates given racist tropes and a history of eugenics.</p>","PeriodicalId":29759,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Biological Anthropology","volume":"186 Suppl 78 ","pages":"e70009"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143606518","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Karen R. Swan, Zewdi J. Tsegai, Rachel Ives, Louise T. Humphrey
{"title":"Restructuring of Femoral Cortical Bone During Growth and Locomotor Development of Wild Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus)","authors":"Karen R. Swan, Zewdi J. Tsegai, Rachel Ives, Louise T. Humphrey","doi":"10.1002/ajpa.25045","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajpa.25045","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Chimpanzees are altricial in terms of their locomotor development and transition from being carried to engaging in suspensory and arboreal locomotor behaviors to eventually relying on terrestrial quadrupedalism as their main form of locomotion. Here, we consider the mechanical implications of femoral cortical bone restructuring during growth and locomotor development in wild chimpanzees.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Materials and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Cortical bone structure was examined in an ontogenetic sample of wild chimpanzees from a single subspecies (<i>P. t. verus</i>) spanning in age from 2 weeks to 12.6 years. Diaphyseal cross-sections were extracted from micro-CT scans of the femur at 35%, 50%, and 65% of total intermetaphyseal length and variation in cortical bone structure was assessed based on bending rigidity (Imax/Imin, Ix/Iy), relative medullary area, and cortical bone porosity.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Diaphyseal shape is relatively circular with a high amount of cortical bone porosity and a large relative medullary area during early infancy. Distinct shifts in cortical bone structure occurred for each studied parameter with the biggest changes occurring within the first 5 years. Values appear to stabilize as quadrupedal walking increases in frequency and is established as the main form of locomotion.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Discussion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Collectively, the results suggest a degree of integration in which cortical bone restructures in response to rapid changes in locomotion in addition to nonmechanical influences such as hormonal, and growth factors, without compromising function and structural integrity. The extent of influence of each factor varies throughout growth and highlights the need for caution in functional interpretations of cortical bone geometry.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":29759,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Biological Anthropology","volume":"186 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-11-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11663440/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142772885","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"In Memoriam: Michael H. Crawford (1939–2024)","authors":"William R. Leonard, Dennis H. O'Rourke","doi":"10.1002/ajpa.25044","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajpa.25044","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":29759,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Biological Anthropology","volume":"186 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142733064","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Taylor A. Polvadore, Grace V. Calhoun, David J. Daegling
{"title":"Technical note: Effects of chemical, radiational, and thermal treatment of bone tissue on material stiffness and anisotropy","authors":"Taylor A. Polvadore, Grace V. Calhoun, David J. Daegling","doi":"10.1002/ajpa.25038","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajpa.25038","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objectives</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We evaluated the effects of four treatments for pathogen inactivation in bone tissue (ethanol storage, formalin fixation, gamma irradiation, and heat treatment via autoclave) on stiffness and anisotropy values in bone samples.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Materials and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Cortical bone samples from the humerus of 14 bovine specimens were subjected to Knoop microindentation analysis in longitudinal and transverse planes of section and four indenter orientations within each section. From each specimen, individual samples were assigned to one of five treatment conditions: 50% ethanol-saline solution, formalin immersion, gamma irradiation, autoclave, and buffered saline (controls). Each sample was microindented 100 times and the resultant stiffness data were analyzed by a resampled factorial analysis of variance.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>First- and second-order interactions as well as main effects of indenter orientation, treatment, and specimen were significant for both transverse and longitudinal sections, with the sole exception that indenter orientation-treatment interaction was nonsignificant for longitudinal sections. Interaction plots reveal that thermal (autoclave) and irradiation treatments depress stiffness values the most, while patterns of indentation stiffness at different orientations are relatively unaffected.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Discussion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Patterns of anisotropy are relatively unaffected by preservative treatments, but elastic modulus changes are consistent and unambiguous. Formalin and ethanol treatments are most comparable to controls and represent the best preservative media for mechanical testing. These options, however, are likely to be the least effective for ensuring the inactivation or sterilization of potentially contaminated samples.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":29759,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Biological Anthropology","volume":"186 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142639922","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Katharine L. Balolia, Kieran Baughan, Jason S. Massey
{"title":"Relative facial width, and its association with canine size and body mass among chimpanzees and bonobos: Implications for understanding facial width-to-height ratio expression among human populations","authors":"Katharine L. Balolia, Kieran Baughan, Jason S. Massey","doi":"10.1002/ajpa.25040","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajpa.25040","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objectives</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Facial width-to-height ratio (fWHR) has been widely investigated in the context of its role in visual communication, though there is a lack of consensus about how fWHR serves as a social signal. To better understand fWHR variation in a comparative context, we investigate the associations between fWHR and canine crown height (CCH) and body mass, respectively, among two chimpanzee subspecies (<i>Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii</i>, <i>Pan troglodytes troglodytes</i>) and bonobos (<i>Pan paniscus</i>).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Materials and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We collected landmark data from 3D surface models of 86 <i>Pan</i> cranial specimens to quantify fWHR and upper CCH, and to estimate body mass. We used Spearman's <i>r</i> and Kruskal-Wallis tests to test for significant relationships among variables, and to assess sexual dimorphism.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>There is an inverse relationship between fWHR and CCH in both sexes of <i>Pan</i>, however there are interpopulation differences in the relationship between fWHR and CCH among <i>Pan</i> taxa. <i>Pan paniscus</i> have relatively wide faces and small canine crowns, and wide faces in <i>Pan t. schweinfurthii</i> males may be driven by body size constraints. <i>Pan troglodytes</i> and <i>Pan paniscus</i> show fWHR dimorphism, and <i>Pan paniscus</i> have significantly higher fWHRs than do either <i>Pan troglodytes</i> subspecies.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Discussion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our findings indicate that CCH and facial breadth may serve subtly different signaling functions among <i>Pan</i> taxa. Further research into the circumstances in which wide faces evolved among chimpanzees and bonobos will likely afford deeper insights into the function of relatively wide faces in the context of visual signaling among humans and our extinct hominin relatives.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":29759,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Biological Anthropology","volume":"186 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-11-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11775434/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142627506","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}