Multi-proxy analysis suggests Late Pleistocene affinities of human skeletal remains attributed to Balzi Rossi.

In two publications from 1967 and 1971, M. Masali described human skeletal remains presumed to have been found in the Balzi Rossi caves (Ventimiglia, Italy), based on a signed note dated to 1908. Since then, the remains - dubbed "Conio's Finds" and preserved at the University of Torino - had not been further studied.

Clinical Utility of Add-On Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Binge Eating Disorder with Obesity in Schizophrenia.

Over the recent years, there has been an increasing application of noninvasive brain stimulation techniques such as transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) to modify eating behaviors in healthy population and persons with eating disorders. tDCS is a noninvasive, neuromodulatory intervention which is well-tolerated and safe. In this case report, we describe the successful application of add-on tDCS in a patient with schizophrenia to reduce the craving for food that in turn, helped in reversing the weight gain.

Early hominin auditory ossicles from South Africa.

The middle ear ossicles are only rarely preserved in fossil hominins. Here, we report the discovery of a complete ossicular chain (malleus, incus, and stapes) of Paranthropus robustus as well as additional ear ossicles from Australopithecus africanus. The malleus in both early hominin taxa is clearly human-like in the proportions of the manubrium and corpus, whereas the incus and stapes resemble African and Asian great apes more closely.

Investigation of work-related disorders in truck drivers using RULA method.

A high incidence of spinal disorders is observed in professional drivers; in particular, back and neck pain result in high rates of morbidity and low retirement age. A sample of 77 drivers, of rubbish-collection vehicles who sit in a standard posture and of road-washing vehicles, who drive with the neck and trunk flexed, bent and twisted, was studied using RULA, a method for the evaluation of the exposure to risk factors associated with work-related upper-limb disorders. Results showed a significant association between trunk and neck scores and all self-reported pains, aches or discomforts in the trunk or neck regions in all subjects.

Histological techniques and microscopic analysis of biological agents for preservation of human bone remains.

Microscopy and histology techniques can be applied to morphological study of fungi and bacteria contaminating ancient human osteological remains. Undecalcified samples are cut with a diamond rotary blade microtome and an original technique was applied using adhesive tape to prevent damage to the bone surface during sectioning. We used light microscopy, polarized light microscopy, and epi-illumination fluorescence systems.