Elena Varotto

Background: Head circumference is widely used as an indirect indicator of brain growth and cranial capacity; however, its isolated use may lead to imprecise interpretations, particularly in borderline cases of microcephaly and megalencephaly. Complementary screening approaches that remain accessible and non-invasive may therefore be useful, especially in settings with limited access to neuroimaging. Objective: To develop and evaluate an experimental, non-invasive model for estimating endocranial volume based on a combined cranial metric, termed the Triple-Measure, and to compare its performance with head circumference alone across different age ranges. Methods: One hundred forensic facial approximations with known cranial scale were analyzed. Head circumference, sagittal arc, and coronal arc were measured on three-dimensional skull models, and their sum was defined as the Triple-Measure. Endocranial volume was obtained through direct segmentation of computed tomography data or by anatomical deformation of donor models. Regression analyses and validation procedures were performed, and the results were contextualized using literature-derived datasets to assess compatibility with established population parameters. Results: The Triple-Measure showed a stronger correlation with endocranial volume (R = 0.83; R² = 0.69) than head circumference alone (R = 0.76; R² = 0.57), a difference confirmed by an F-test (F ≈ 17.03, p < 0.001). Validation analyses performed on independent CT cases demonstrated good agreement and consistency between predicted and measured values. The sample distribution was compatible with large population datasets derived from the literature. Based on these findings, an analog lookup table and a digital calculation tool were developed to support exploratory application across adult and developmental stages, with improved sensitivity in borderline situations. Conclusions: The Triple-Measure may provide a more informative anthropometric proxy for endocranial volume than head circumference alone while remaining non-invasive and accessible. Given its exploratory nature, the method is best interpreted as a complementary screening approach intended to support clinical decision-making and to indicate when further imaging evaluation may be warranted. Additional studies with larger clinical datasets are recommended to refine its applicability across populations. Highlights: Triple-measure shows improved association with endocranial volume compared to head circumference Proposed as a non-invasive, low-cost screening approach for micro- and megalencephaly Analog lookup table and digital calculator developed for exploratory and practical use Framework extended across neonatal, pediatric, and adult age groups using integrated datasets

The archeological site of Jebel Irhoud, Morocco, houses the oldest fossils attributed to Homo sapiens, dated to approximately 315,000 years before present (BP). This study presents a forensic facial approximation based on data from a three-dimensional composite skull derived from Layer 7 of the site, with structural predominance of the Irhoud 1 fossil. The methodology employed open-source software tools, combining anatomical projections and the constrained anatomical deformation technique. Endocast segmentation yielded a volume of 1364 mL, a result fully compatible with measurements and segmentations obtained in previous studies directly from the fossil, while also aligning with the variation observed in modern populations. Two sets of images were produced: an objective approximation in grayscale, focused on osteological correspondence, and a colored artistic version featuring skin pigmentation and facial hair for scientific communication. The results reinforce the feasibility and reproducibility of open-access methodologies applied to paleoanthropology, offering an anatomically coherent representation of this Middle Pleistocene hominin.

The mental eminence (chin) is a uniquely human anatomical feature with critical relevance across multiple domains of biomedical and anthropological research. This transdisciplinary review aims to synthesize current knowledge regarding its morphology, population variability, evolutionary origin, and surgical relevance. A comprehensive scoping review aims to map how the mental eminence has been defined and evaluated in anthropological, forensic research, identifying the main methodological approaches, anatomical landmarks, and sources of morphological variability, as well as the reliability and applicability of current assessment methods in clinical–forensic contexts. The search strategy was performed in October 2025. The authors initially identified 3125 records, and 26 studies were finally included and assessed for qualitative analysis. Moreover, the analysis integrates data from osteological collections, radiographic imaging, and modern morphometric studies. The mental eminence exhibits significant variability across human populations, with pronounced sexual dimorphism and evolutionary distinction from non-human primates. Its emergence in Homo sapiens is a key taxonomic trait. Clinically, the chin serves as a landmark in surgical procedures involving genioplasty, trauma reconstruction, and dental implantology. Recent advances in imaging and biometrics have refined its analysis in both anthropological and diagnostic contexts. Though often overlooked, mental eminence plays a vital role in craniofacial morphology and human evolution. Its study bridges osteology, anthropology, and surgery, offering insight into both phylogenetic development and applied anatomical practice. A multidisciplinary understanding of this structure enhances its diagnostic and therapeutic utility.

The cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus ) experienced a steep population decline and has been extirpated from 98% of their historical range, including the Arabian Peninsula, where it played a role as top predator maintaining healthy food webs and ungulate populations. The serendipitous discovery of seven naturally mummified cheetah in caves along with skeletal remains of 54 cheetah, along with their putative prey, in the Northern region of Saudi Arabia provided an unexpected opportunity to study the genetic make-up of Arabian cheetah to inform conservation measures. The mummified cheetahs, the first reported natural mummification of a large felid, showed ¹⁴ C calibrated ages dated 4223 ± 40 years BP to 127 ± 40 years BP. Full genome sequence of the mummified cheetahs showed that only the youngest individual clustered with A. j. venaticus (the Asian subspecies) while the older samples analyzed clustered with North-western African cheetah ( A. j. hecki ). These results show that rewilding efforts, believed to be hindered until recently by the exceedingly low population size of Asian cheetah, can be sourced from captive breeding of the closest subspecies of the discovered cheetahs. Our results highlight the important role arid soil caves may play as repositories of ancient biodiversity informing, in the absence of benchmarks, conservation and rewilding efforts.

Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease primarily transmitted by Aedes aegypti, has become a growing global health concern, with dramatic increases in incidence in recent years. Although no direct evidence of dengue exists from ancient Egypt, this study investigates the theoretical possibility of its presence in that historical context. The approach integrates palaeoclimatic data, modern entomological and vector ecology studies, molecular clock analyses, and the interpretation of ancient Egyptian medical papyri. Special attention is given to the term temyt, described in association with dermatological and neurological symptoms in children and linked to the demon nesyt, as reinterpreted by scholars such as Bruno Halioua and Pascal Hannequin. These sources are critically re-evaluated alongside modern clinical symptomatology of dengue. Findings suggest that environmental and climatic conditions in ancient Egypt – particularly in regions like the Fayum– could have supported Aedes populations, and that certain disease descriptions may reflect empirical observations of vector-borne illnesses. While the evidence remains circumstantial and speculative, it opens new interpretative avenues regarding ancient Egyptian understandings of febrile, eruptive childhood diseases. The study concludes that dengue or dengue-like syndromes cannot be ruled out and that future interdisciplinary research, including palaeogenetic and archaeoviral approaches, may help clarify the presence of arboviral diseases in antiquity.

Penicillin’s discovery is widely attributed to Alexander Fleming (1881-1955) Professor of Bacteriology at St. Mary’s Hospital in London in 1928, who observed the antibacterial effects of Penicillium mold. Fleming found that his “mold juice” was capable of killing a wide range of harmful bacteria, such as streptococcus, meningococcus and the diphtheria bacillus. He then set his assistants, Stuart Craddock and Frederick Ridley, the challenging mission of isolating pure penicillin from the mold juice. It shown to be very unstable, and they were only able to prepare solutions of crude material to work with. Fleming published his findings in the British Journal of Experimental Pathology in June 1929, with only a passing reference to penicillin’s potential therapeutic benefits. However, over 30 years earlier, Italian physician Vincenzo Tiberio (1869-1915) had conducted controlled studies on the bactericidal effects of mold extracts, publishing results that went largely unnoticed by the scientific community.This article runs through a work plan timeline and significance of early antimicrobial discoveries, tracing the overlooked work of Tiberio, Fleming’s breakthrough, the biochemical properties of penicillin, and the wartime efforts that enabled its mass production. The story of penicillin is not only one of scientific innovation but also of missed recognition, collaboration, and the complex interplay of chance and preparedness.