Introduction. In 2023, the 140th anniversary of Dmitry Nikolaevich Anuchin was celebrated. Anuchin's scientific and pedagogical activities are inextricably linked with Moscow University. This article is devoted to the life and scientific activity of this outstanding Russian scientist.
Materials and Methods. Literary sources were used. Analytical and chronological research methods were applied in the study.
Results and Discussion. The material of the article is presented in sections: “Work in OLEAE[1]”, “Scientific Activity”, “Pedagogical Activity”, “Educational Activity” and “Organizational Activity”. Anuchin has made significant contributions to anthropology, ethnology, geography and archaeology, and has written more than 600 scientific papers, including reviews and overviews. He actively participated in the work of the Society of Lovers of Natural Science, Anthropology and Ethnography (OLEAE), he
held the positions of secretary and president in different years. His reports were important sources of information, especially concerning Japan in the context of the Russian-Japanese war. As a teacher, Anuchin founded the Departments of Anthropology and Geography at Moscow University and developed new training courses. This contributed to the reform of the teaching of geography and anthropology in Russia. Anuchin's educational activities were expressed not only in publishing articles in popular publications, but also in financing the opening of libraries in his parents' native villages. These libraries have become cultural centers for local residents. Anuchin organized the creation of new scientific journals: "Earth Science" and «Russian Anthropological Journal». He also created an Anthropological and Geographical Museum in Moscow. After the October Revolution, he continued his active work in scientific communities, and initiated the creation of the Institute of Anthropology and the Institute of Geography.
Introduction. Сomparative data from modern crematoria or experimental cremations of animal carcasses are often used to reconstruct the process of ancient cremations, although this data is not relevant. The goals of this study are to measure the duration of complete body burning; to analyze correlation between the body length and constitution and the body burning duration: to identify general patterns of body destruction process during cremation on a pyre.
Materials and methods. The materials (166 observations of cremations: 96 male, 56 female, 14 of unknown gender) were obtained during the Russian-Indian anthropological expedition of the Paleoethnology Research Center and the State Biology Museum in 2018, 2019 and 2022. The duration of complete incineration of soft tissues was recorded, as well as the body size and the constitution, using three-point assessment scales. In addition, the composition and condition of the cremated bone remains were described. To analyze the differences between samples of individuals with different body sizes and constitution, bivariate graphs and statistical criteria for assessing the differences were used.
Results and discussion. The average time of human body burning during cremation on a pyre was determined. A positive correlation between the duration of cremation and the body size and mesomorphy was found, and a negative correlation between the duration of cremation and ecto- and endomorphy was found. This pattern can be explained by the fact that significant volumes of soft tissues (especially poorly burning muscle tissue) require more time to burn; the predominance of adipose tissue contributes to faster body combustion. The proximal epiphyses of the tibia, distal epiphyses of the femur and vertebral bodies, as well as fragments of the integumentary bones of the skull and diaphyses of the femur, tibia and fibula are best preserved during cremation. The influence of the pyre design and the cremator's activity on the nature of body destruction was noted.
Introduction. The article presents an overview of the results of studies in associations between physical and psychological status of adolescents, published in English-language journals over recent years. The analysis carried out outlines the main directions of current research in this area and allows Russian specialists to be acquainted with the problems and approaches to their solution practiced today by foreign colleagues.
Material and methods. We selected publications that contain the results of studies of representative samples of adolescents from different countries and different ethnicities. Such an approach, on the one hand, makes it possible to highlight problems that are relevant today for adolescents in general, regardless of the place of study, and on the other hand, to outline some regional differences in the characteristics and dynamics of psychosomatic associations.
Results. Modern studies of the connections between the physical and mental status of adolescents highlight the importance of self-esteem of their appearance, primarily of body weight, and related psychological problems: general disorders in the emotional and behavioral sphere, the influence of unrealistic models of appearance as a trigger for eating disorders behavior, decreased self-esteem, difficulties in relationships with peers and family. The authors propose various strategies for adolescents’ acceptance of their own body image and discuss the effectiveness of these strategies. A new and promising area of research seems to be the study of the influence on adolescents by social networks.
Introduction. Left-handedness is a complex biological and social phenomenon influenced by genetic, neurobiological, and cultural factors. Associated with the functional asymmetry of the brain, it can affect cognitive processes, perception, and behavior.
Materials and methods. This article examines various theories on the origin and persistence of left-handedness polymorphism, drawing on data from anthropological, neurobiological, and genetic studies, as well as analyses of archaeological findings and the cultural practices of ancient hominids.
Results and discussion. Anthropological studies indicate that the frequency of left-handedness in human populations ranges from 10% to 25%, with geographical variations influenced by social and cultural factors. In ancient societies, right-handedness was the dominant trait, as confirmed by archaeological evidence, while left-handedness was rare but present. Historically, left-handedness was often viewed as a deviation from the norm, leading to stigmatization and limited social opportunities for left-handed individuals. The prevalence of left-handedness is linked to three groups of factors: pathological, social, and genetic. It has been shown that left-handedness is associated with functional brain asymmetry and can influence cognitive processes, perception, and behavior. The heritability of left-handedness is estimated to be approximately 24%. Genome-wide association studies of handedness have identified 41 genetic variants associated with left-handedness and 7 variants associated with ambidexterity; the involved genes also regulate the development and function of the central nervous system. Genetic variants predisposing to left-handedness may contribute to some associations between left-handedness and certain psychiatric disorders. However, the widespread polymorphism of left-handedness and the relative stability of its frequency in human populations over long periods have led to hypotheses about its maintenance through various forms of negative frequency-dependent selection.
Keywords:
human biology; evolution of left-handedness; genetics of left-handedness; social perception of left-handedness; brain asymmetry; stigmatization of left-handedness
Introduction. A valuable source of anthropological information is the so-called composite portrait, which creates an idea of the «average» type of a particular population group. A composite portrait is a kind of cognitive tool that allows the visualization of the integral morphological characteristics of the variability of the face and elements of appearance. This article is devoted to a comparative analysis of two methods of creating composite photographic portraits.
Materials and methods. The material for the study was photographs of Santal women (N=64), from which composite portraits were generated in two different ways: 1) using two fixed points in Adobe Photoshop; 2) by three points in the faceONface computer program, developed specifically for creating generalized portraits.
Results and discussion. In a composite photograph obtained by the classical method of F. Galton by combining photographs at two pupillary points, the upper half of the face is recorded more clearly in the eye area, but the lower tier of the face remains fuzzy and blurry. When using the third, oral point, we get a clearer picture in the mouth area without losing clarity in the eye area. At the same time, constructing a composite portrait using two fixed points creates an image that reflects the entire range of variability in facial height in the population, and when using three points, facial height is averaged.
Introduction. The possibility of using facial photographs as a replacement for direct anthropometric measurements is being considered. The application of traditional anthropometric measurement program is currently facing significant ethical and psychological difficulties, particularly in measurements of the head and face. As a result, anthropologists worldwide are increasingly substituting direct measurements with measurements obtained fr om photographic images. This transition has been significantly facilitated by the advancement of photographic technology. However, the methodology for utilizing photogrammetric data as a full replacement for direct measurements requires further development and a greater number of studies.
Materials and methods. The material for the research consisted of cephalometric data and anthropological photographs of Tuvans examined during the 2002 expedition under the leadership of V.A. Batsevich. The Tuvan sample consisted of 174 individuals, including 87 women and 87 men aged between 17 and 26 years. Statistical data analysis was carried out using the SPSS software package. Correlation analysis methods and regression equations were used to assess the comparability of dimensions obtained through direct anthropometric measurements and from portraits.
Results. A comparison was made between the dimensions obtained in field conditions and their counterparts obtained from photographs. Gender differences were identified in assessing the degree of comparability of facial dimensions obtained by two methods: through portraits and direct measurements. In the female part of the sample, the degree of correlation was higher and the standard error values were lower. It was found that for dimensions (facial height, nose height, upper lip height) that require points difficult to determine on a planar image, lower correlation values were observed. The unreliability of dimensions in this part of the face was confirmed by the results of constructing regression equations and the high standard error obtained for them.
Introduction. The task of differentiating groups using various statistical methods remains relevant due to the limitations often encountered with standard algorithms. Some of these limitations, such as the assumption of normal distribution of traits and the absence of high correlations between them, can be circumvented by the method based on step-wise partitioning – decision trees.
Materials and methods. In this study, this method was tested on 15 linear dimensions of the skull and 16 indices calculated based on them. The entropy index was chosen as the criterion of heterogeneity. The craniometric features used correspond to the standard methodology adopted in Russian anthropology. The data consisted of average values of craniometric dimensions from 39 ethno-territorial groups from 13 macro-regions of the Old World.
Results and discussion. The results of the differentiation show that indices have a greater weight than linear features. Five linear dimensions and seven indices participated in the differentiation. Three indices were based on the overall dimensions of the braincase (M.1, M.8, M.17), and four indices included the bizygomatic width (M.45). The first split occurs based on the transverse facial index (46:45), separating the groups of Northern, Middle, Central Asia, and Europe from the groups of Africa, Eastern, Southeast, and Southern Asia.
Introduction.One of the traditional tasks of biological anthropology is the study of the morphological status of the indigenous populations. Our aim was to study the somatic status and bioimpedance body composition of young men of Altai and Russian ethnicities aged 17–24 years living in urban and rural areas of the Altai Republic.
Materials and methods.In 2021–2023, 167 men aged 17 to 24 years (87 Altai-Kizhi and 80 Russians) living in urban and rural areas were examined. The examination program included anthropometry, the Heath-Carter somatotyping, and BIA. Ethnic differences and urban-rural differences were assessed using parametric and non-parametric methods.
Results. Ethnically Russian men were, in general, somewhat larger than the Altai men. Significant ethnic differences were found for Ht (174.7 and 172.3 cm), Wt (72.2 and 66.8 kg), BMI (23.6 and 22.5 kg/m2), WC (79.6 and 76.9 cm) and HC (95.5 and 92.4 cm). Significant ethnic differences were also observed for the mesomorphy rating (5.44 and 4.96), the resistance R50 (521.4 and 541.3 Ohms), phase angle (7.35 and 7.08 degrees), FFM (55.1 and 50.9 kg) and FFMi (18.0 and 17.1 kg/m2). The distributions of the somatotype in the subgroups of Altai and Russian men were close, with a predominance of the mesomorphic type. In both ethnic subgroups, there was a tendency to increased body size and body composition parameters’ values in urban residents, with the statistically significant differences in Ht, Wt, BMI, WC, HC and FFM among the Altaians. The urban Russian residents, as compared to urban Altaians, had significantly higher mesomorphy rating and FFM. The rural Russian residents, as compared to rural Altaians (taking into account age differences between the subgroups) had significantly higher age-related z-scores of Ht, Wt, HC, phase angle, FFM and FFMi.
Introduction. The formation of the vector and level of sex somatic differences in parapubertal period (9–17 years) is under discussion, apart with ethnic peculiarities of dynamics of sexual dimorphism of main anthropometric dimensions.
Material and methods. The construction of intergroup distribution of standardized values of sexual dimorphism of body dimensions in 9, 13 and 17 years demanded generalization of the wide spectrum of literary data on children of Russia and former USSR of 1950–2010 (over 500 samples). The quantitative estimation of SD value is based on Kullback divergence, analogue of Makhalanobis distance. To estimate the contribution of ethnic factor to the variation of SD, several pairs of samples of different ethnicity (aboriginal and Russian population), but from one and the same ecological niche, examined simultaneously, were compared.
Results. The significant influence of age factor on intergroup distribution of SD was fixed. Significant positive correlations of SD with the values of dimensions themselves for boys aged 13 and 17 years first of all (0,48–0,63 for height/weight dimensions) and negative or close to zero correlations for girls were revealed. The dynamics of somatic SD through the age interval 9–17 years for pairs of samples Estonians-Russians, Kyrgyz-Russians, Tatars-Russians, Uzbeks-Russians is, as a whole, invariant, concerning ethnicity of samples, and witness to the dominance of age physiological peculiarities over ethnic.
Introduction This study was aimed to evaluate the age-and sex-associated dynamics of the strength indices in Magadan city children and adolescents with different types of physique in the age ontogeny of 11–17 years old.
Materials and Methods One thousand eight hundred and ninety-seven male and female schoolchildren of Magadan city aged 11–17 years participated in the 2019 one-step physical development study. We registered the main somatometric parameters: body mass (BM, kg), body height (BH, cm), chest circumference (CC, cm), right and left hand muscle strength indices (MS, kg). We defined somatotype affiliation according to the main somatometric parameters: microsomatotype (MiS), mesosomatotype (MeS), and macrosomatotype (MaS).
Results Of the surveyed schoolchildren 19.8% had microsomatic type, 62.1% exhibited mesosomatic type and 18.1% – macrosomatic type. Acceleration and deceleration times of the hand muscle strength growth rates were revealed within the examined age periods. The maximums of these growth rates tended to develop earlier in meso- and macrosomatic type examinees. A dramatic fall in the right and left hand muscle strength gains was observed at the age of 14–15 years in boys, and, a year earlier at the age of 13–14 years in girls of macrosomatic type. The correlation between somatometric and strength indices was found.
Conclusion Our analysis of the age-related hand dynamometry in schoolchildren with different somatotypes suggested an unbalanced increase in strength performance indices depending on the type of physique. The levels of school students’ strength indices proved to be influenced by the body mass and height, which appeared to affect the results of dynamometry. Different somatotype subjects showed maximums of their strength growth rates in different ages, which may have been associated with physiological features of their growth and development.
Introduction. A number of diseases, including craniosynostosis, basal encephaloceles, and fibrous dysplasia, can be accompanied by deformities in the facial skeleton and the skull base. To quantify the degree of pathological deformity and the dynamics of skull bone growth in these patients, data from healthy children’s growth processes is needed. The aim of this study is to describe the normal growth of the main craniometric variables of the facial skeleton and the anterior skull base in healthy children aged 0 to 18 years old, and to create percentile standards for these variables.
Materials and methods. Our study uses cross-sectional retrospective computed tomography (CT) data of the head and face of 1,034 children, aged 0-18 years, who had sustained traumatic brain injuries without damage to the bone structures. Craniometric landmarks used in anthropological and medical craniometry were mapped onto 3D models of patient skull. Twenty linear distances between the landmarks, as well as the volumes of the left orbit and nasal cavity, were calculated. The data were analyzed separately for male and female participants. The RefCurv version 0.4.2 software was used to create percentile reference curves using the LMS method.
Results. The gender and age-related characteristics of the growth dynamics of the various structures of the facial skeleton and anterior base of the skull are characterized. The centile standards for normal variability of the craniometric data are provided for use in medical practice.
Conclusion. This study provides the most comprehensive data on the growth patterns of the facial skeleton and the anterior part of the skull base in healthy children aged between birth and 18 years old. The dimensions of the cribriform plate at birth are close to the adult size and change little during postnatal ontogenesis. The features of the orbital region reach 55-60% of the adult size at birth, grow very rapidly in the first year of life, and by the age of 5 constitute 80-85% of the adult size. The latitudinal dimensions of the facial skeleton, such as the width of the pyriform aperture, the zygomatic and inferior orbital diameters, as well as the sagittal dimensions of the nasal cavity reach about 50-55% of the adult size at birth and then grow uniformly, reaching 65-70% of the definitive value by the second year of life, and, with the exception of the width of the nose, about 80% by the age of 5. The height dimensions of the facial skeleton (the height of the pyriform aperture, face, maxilla, choanae and alveolar process), at birth are only about 40% of the adult size, but then grow rapidly, reaching about 70% of the definitive value by the age of 5. According to the relative sizes of most of the variables, a higher maturity level in girls at the time of birth is revealed, which persists until puberty. A pronounced pubertal acceleration of growth is observed only in boys, based on the following characteristics: the width of the orbit, the length of the medial wall of the orbit, the height of the upper jaw, the height of the nose, the lower length of the nasal septum, the volume of the nasal cavity, and the width of the cribriform plate. Understanding the differences in the developmental dynamics of various skull structures, as well as sex differences in these dynamics and the use of growth standards, is essential for an objective evaluation of the extent of pathological changes to these structures and for planning treatment and monitoring its outcomes.
Introduction. The article deals with the science achievements of talanted biometrician of the second half of the XX century, the employee of the Institute and Museum of Moscow State University, doctor of biology Yuliya Sergeevna Kurshakova, wnich science activity has never been regarded comprehensively.
Material and methods. The source of constructing the article is archive documents of the Institute and Museum of Anthropologty, science articles by Yu.S.Rurshakova and literary data.
Results and discussion. Yu.S.Kurshakova was the head of the laboratory of applied studies of the Institue and Nuseum of anthropology for two decedes.She was engaged in developing the problems of anthropological standardization, the research of fundamental conformities and factors of somatic variability, age variability of children, ethnoterritorial, social and professional variability of adult males and females.
In 1962 Yu.S.Kurshakova defended PhD thesis «Statistical correlations as the means of expression of morphological integrity during the process of growth and development», in 1987 — Doctor of Biology thesis in the form of science report «Theoretical and methodological basis of construction of anthropometric standards of wide and prolonged action».
From the end of 1950s and on to solve State problems of development of size typology of construction of products of Light Industry for child’ and adult population of the country and compilation of size scales, the employees of the Institute of anthropology of MSU conducted wide research of population of the USSR, embracing 120 000 persons, and further analysis of conformities of age/sex and territorial variability of anthropometric traits and their correlations. The research culminated in developing and practical implementation of a number of State Standards, Yu.Kurshakova was one of the authors.
In 1964 the team of the Institute of Anthropology started one more State task — the development of combined size standards for countries-member of the Council of Mutual Economic Assistance. This task demanded theoretical investigations in the field of anthropo;ogical stardardization, which became the basis of the principles of construction of CoMEA standard and are in fact the exceptional merit of Yuliya Sergeevna Kurshakova.
Introduction. The 2023 was the anniversary year for anthropology, when 180 years were celebrated since the birth of D.N. Anuchin (1843–1923) and 140 years since the founding of the Museum of Anthropology of Moscow University. The jubilee year is the best time tо remember those, who without sparing their strength and health, contributed to the development of education in Russia. In the article, for the first time in literature, an attempt was made to recreate images of people who took the most active part in the formation of the ethnographic collection of the Museum of Anthropology of Moscow University.
Materials and methods. The article is based on the materials of the Museum's Book of Acquisitions, information from collection inventories and the scientific archive of the Research Institute and the Museum of Anthropology, as well as data from literature and other open sources. The chronological method was used in the work.
Results and discussion. The article presents information on 17 collectors, whose names are arranged in chronological order. The article presents data on the following collectors and donors: anthropologist and public figure N.L. Gondatti (1861–1946); publicist, archaeologist, and ethnographer N.M. Yadrintsev (1842–1894); Ambassador Extraordinary to Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay A.S. Ionin (1837–1900); military man and diplomat V.F. Mashkov (1858–1932); military man, linguist, and ethnographer S.G. Leontovich (1862–?); geographer and anthropologist E.I. Lutsenko (1876–1931); revolutionary and public figure F.Ya. Kon (1864–1941); entomologist and genealogist N.F. Ikonnikov (1885–1970); ethnographer and museologist D.T. Yanovich (1879–1940); zoologist and zoogeographer I.I. Puzanov (1885–1971); poet K.D. Balmont (1867–1942); anthropologist, Doctor of Biological Sciences V.V. Troitsky (1885–– 1952); as well as members of the Second Russian Expedition to South America (1914–1915): G.G. Manizer (1889–1917); F. Fielstrup (1889–1933); I.D. Strelnikov (1887–1981); N.P. Tanasiychuk (1890–1960) and S.V. Gaiman (1887–). Unfortunately, the size of the article allows only brief information about these people, while each of them is worthy of a separate study.
Introduction. There are several standardized methods for estimating the age of a skull. Most of these methods are based on the analysis of suture obliteration and the tooth wear scoring. However, many anthropologists prefer a more subjective approach, relying on general impressions without using a set of standardized criteria. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a visual method for age estimation and reconstruction of age-at-death structure in a skeletal sample.
Materials and methods. The study was based on a series of 116 skulls from the early 20th century collected by the Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera). These specimens had documented sex and age information. Two researchers independently assessed the age of the skull specimens and recorded the degree of suture fusion on the cranial vault as well as the level of tooth wear on the occlusal surfaces. The correlation between age and estimated scores was calculated using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. The discrepancy between estimated and actual ages was measured by calculating the mean absolute error (MAE) and systematic error (SE) as the average difference between documented and estimated ages for the entire sample as well as for each age group. Intraclass correlation coefficients were used to assess the consistency of the authors’ estimates.
Results. The authors' estimates showed moderately high agreement among themselves and a moderate positive correlation with actual age. The accuracy of the visual assessments was found to be comparable with that of more formalized methods for assessing the degree of suture obliteration. The estimates also exhibited the phenomenon of regression to the mean, with individuals in younger cohorts being systematically overestimated in terms of age and those in older cohorts being underestimated. The accuracy of determining the age-at-death distribution depends to some extent on the actual characteristics of the sample structure. Averaging estimates from different authors or several estimates from the same author, repeated over a large time interval, makes it possible to bring estimates closer to real data.
Introduction. Russian population genetics arose in the depths of anthropology. Over time, the rapid development of genetic technologies created a tension between these two fields of science. In hope to strengthen the long-standing alliance between anthropology and genetics, this work attempts to describe some aspects of genetic characteristics that genetics deals with, discuss the problem of sample representativeness for so diverse genetic features, and explain how methods harnessed by both sciences are used in genetics. The main focus of the article is on ADMIXTURE, a method of ancestry estimation which makes use of paleogenetic data and is well known to paleoanthropologists.
Results and discussion. Our study shows how this method can benefit the ethnic anthropology of modern populations. We provide examples of PCA and ancestral component analysis for different regions (the Russian North, the Far East, Northern Eurasia) and for different tasks. ADMIXTURE can quantitatively estimate the contributions of racial and anthropologic components on different hierarchical levels; its estimates are based on huge arrays of independent genetic markers.
