Age- and Sex-Related Changes in Labial Dimensions of Sudanese Youngs of Arab Descent: A Three-Dimensional Cross-Sectional Study

Proper evaluation of facial features during growth and development requires the knowledge of anthropometric reference values validated for ethnicity, sex and age. In order to provide information concerning the normal sex-related size of the lips during childhood and young adulthood in Sudanese people of Arab descent, the three-dimensional coordinates of nine labial soft tissue landmarks were obtained by a laser scanner in 332 male and 386 female healthy Northern Sudanese subjects aged 3–30 years. Six labial linear distances, the vermilion height to mouth width ratio, vermilion areas and lip volumes were calculated and averaged for age and sex. Comparisons were performed by factorial analysis of variance (p < 0.01). All labial dimensions significantly increased with age. Significant effects of sex were found for four measurements only, with very small effect size; nonetheless, lips and their parts grew faster in females than in males at almost all ages. Philtrum width was the first linear distance that attained adult values. The vermilion height to mouth width ratio was nearly constant across the age groups. Data collected in this study contribute to information about ethnic-specific lip morphology during growth and development. As orolabial features change over time with their own pattern, the relevant age-related trends should be properly considered for clinical treatment planning.

Description of a new species of giant guitarfish, Glaucostegus younholeei sp. nov. (Rhinopristiformes: Glaucostegidae) from the northern Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh

A new species of giant guitarfish, Glaucostegus younholeei sp. nov., is described from 13 specimens, 730–933 mm total length, collected from fish landing center of Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation in Cox’s Bazar district of Bangladesh. The new species is distinguished from congeners in having the following combination of characters: Body brownish or greyish in color with a narrowly wedge-shaped disc, and long narrow bluntly pointed snout (angle 31–40°), and broad oblique nostrils with the narrow anterior opening. Nostrils about half of the mouth width, subequal (0.98–1.33) to internasal width; ~55–57 nasal lamellae; anterior nasal flaps slightly penetrating into internasal space, their interspace 2.20– 2.61 in length of the posterior nasal aperture. Orbit very small in adults, diameter 8.19–11.62 in preorbital length, 2.25–2.69 in interorbital space. Rostral ridges almost joined along their entire length; margin of cranium sharply demarcated before eyes. Spiracular folds very short and widely separated. Skin rough, densely covered with small denticles, more coarsely granular on the dorsal surface than ventrally, enlarged between orbits and in a distinct band between nape and first dorsal fin. Tail relatively longer, length 1.15–1.48 in disc length; dorsal fins narrowly spaced, interspace 1.32–2.11 in base length of the first dorsal fin. Clasper length in adult male 4.37–5.70 in total length. Phylogenetic analysis of DNA barcode sequences also shows the clear divergence of Glaucostegus younholeei from other congeneric species obtained from GenBank. A key is provided to the 8 known members including new species of the genus Glaucostegus.

An Analysis of the Temporomandibular Joint Range of Motion and Related Factors in Children and Adolescents

This study was designed to establish safe guidelines for pediatric dental practice regarding temporomandibular joint (TMJ) range of motion (ROM) and mouth area (MA). A total of 438 children aged 3–15 years old of homogenous ethnicity participated in the study; the distribution of participants was approximately equal (sex; n = 15; age, n = 30). Maximum mouth opening (MMO), body height, weight, and age of each participant were recorded, and the TMJ ROM including anterior and lateral movements, MA, and mouth width were documented. Males showed higher mouth width, MMO, and MA values than females. MMO and MA increased with age, height, and weight in a statistically significant manner. MMO of 40 mm is reached by the age of 5.2 years, at a height of 105.9 cm and a weight of 18.6 kg. MMO showed a moderate correlation with age, height, weight, and mouth width, and MA moderately correlated with mouth width. Anterior and lateral movements did not show any close relation to these aforementioned factors. The findings of this study suggest that forcible mouth opening over 40 mm should be more cautiously considered , especially in children shorter than 105 cm, lighter than 18 kg and in children under 5 years old.

A new species of tadpole-goby, Benthophilus persicus sp. nov. (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the southern Caspian Sea

A new gobiid species, Benthophilus persicus sp. nov., is described from the southern Caspian Sea, Iran. The new species is diagnosed by the following character states: dermal fold on cheek well-developed, large, rectangular; chin barbel 1/3–2/3 of eye diameter; maximum body width 15.1–22.9% of standard length; mouth width, 36.3–55.8% of head length; second dorsal fin I+7–8; origin of anal fin in front of vertical through origin of second dorsal fin; dermal tubercles present on body, clearly larger than granules, with two posterior rows of spinules forming an acute angle, always less than right angle; dorsal row of tubercles complete, 22–29; ventral row of tubercles 22–25; ventrolateral row of tubercles absent; tubercles not present on temporal and occipital head regions; granules not present on flanks; transversal suborbital row 6i below posterior end of row b; anterior interorbital transversal row pa with one or two papillae and anterior interorbital transversal papilla row pp with two or three papillae; body with 20–22 transversal ltm rows starting anteriorly behind pectoral axilla and alternating anteriorly with three longitudinal llm rows.

Measurement of three‐dimensional changes in lip vermilion in adult female patients after orthodontic extraction: a retrospective longitudinal study

Background 3D facial scanning has changed the way facial aesthetic is evaluated and has numerous advantages for facial analysis. The specific relationship between lip vermilion morphological changes after orthodontic extraction treatment has not been fully explained. The objective of this study was to evaluate 3D morphological changes after orthodontic extraction treatment in lip vermilion of adult females with dentoalveolar protrusion using a structured light-based scanner. Methods Forty-two female subjects (25.2 ± 1.9 years) were recruited as the treatment group; these patients had undergone extraction treatment and achieved better sagittal profiles. Twenty female subjects (25.5 ± 2.1 years) were enrolled in the non-treatment group; these patients did not require any orthodontic treatment. The follow up time for the treatment group was more than 24 months and for the non-treatment group was more than 12 months. 3D facial scans were captured using 3D CaMega. Six landmarks (Ls, Li, R.Chp, L.Chp, R.Ch, and L.Ch), three linear measurements (mouth height, philtrum width, and mouth width), and three area measurements (upper, lower, and total vermilion area) were measured. The spatial deviations of three volumetric measurements (upper, lower, and total vermilion) were constructed for quantitative analysis. Color-coded displacement map were constructed for visualization of the soft-tissue displacement as qualitative evaluation. Results Mouth height and philtrum width decreased (-0.93 mm and − 1.08 mm, respectively) significantly (p = 0.008 and p = 0.027, respectively), and no significant (p = 0.488) change in mouth width was observed in the treatment group. The lower and total vermilion surface areas decreased (-51.00mm2 and − 69.82mm2, respectively) significantly (p = 0.003 and p = 0.031, respectively) in the treatment group, but no statistically significant (p = 0.752) change was detected in the upper vermilion. In the treatment group, significant retractions were observed in the color-coded displacement map, and three volumetric measurements of vermilion changed significantly (p = 0.012, p = 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively). Significant differences were found between the treatment group and the non-treatment group in the linear, area and volumetric measurements. Conclusions This study established a method for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the lip vermilion. Significant 3D retraction of the lip vermilion after the extraction treatment was found, with morphological variation between upper and lower vermilion.

Morphometric Relationships in the Blue Swimming Crabs, (Portunus pelagicus) (Linnaeus, 1758) from the Palk Bay, Sri Lanka

The blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus) has become the focus of an important export-oriented fishery in Sri Lanka for a decade. The Palk Bay in the Northern coastal waters of Sri Lanka is one of the best-known fishing grounds for blue swimming crabs in Sri Lanka. This study was undertaken with the aim of establishing some morphometric relationships for P. pelagicus in the Palk Bay. Biological sampling was conducted for five consecutive days per month from November 2014 - October 2015 in the Northern landing sites in the Jaffna District where the catch of Palk Bay blue swimming crab fishery was landed. P. pelagicus specimens were also randomly collected for laboratory analysis. The morphometric measurements of the specimens for the following parameters were undertaken: CW - carapace width with the spine, CWW - carapace width without spine, MW – mouth width, TL - total length, LCPL - left chelar propodus length, LMOV - left movable part Length, RMOV - right movable part length, LCPH - left chelar propodus height, RCPH - right chelar propodus height, ABW - abdominal width, ABL - abdominal length and BW - body weight. The least squared method was used to obtain the Length-Length (L-L) and Length-Weight (L-W) relationships. Of the 65 L-L relationships obtained for P. pelagicus from the study, 34 relationships were correlated (r2>0.5). The estimated relationships between BW and CW for males and females were BW=0.0001 CW 3.01 (r2 =0.84) and BW= 0.0001 CW 2.90 (r2 =0.86), respectively. Positive allometric growth was observed for male P. pelagicus, whereas a negative allometric growth was observed for female P. pelagicus. Most of the morphometric relationships of P. pelagicus obtained in this study were not isometric.

To Check the Validity of Neoclassical Canon in Western Maharashtra- An Anthropometric Study

Introduction: In ancient days, it was believed that attractive and harmonious faces were having certain fixed proportions known as neoclassical canons. These canons were used extensively by Leonardo Da Vinci, Durer in their art during renaissance. They served as guidelines for artists as well as for aesthetic surgeons for centuries and proved to be helpful till now. From ancient days to modern era, the exact formula of beauty is not yet calculated. The norms of beauty changes from country to country and race to race. A face is beautiful and shows harmonious features if the individual components are proportional, this is what is referred as facial balance. In ancient Greece, they calculated the formula for creation of art and these formulae are called as neoclassical canons. The classical Greek canons of facial balance are still foundation of modern reconstructive and aesthetic surgery. Aim: To check the validity of neoclassical canon in Western Maharashtrian population. Materials and Methods: This was an observational type of study carried out from March 2018 to January 2020. The validity of Naso-oral canon was checked in Western Maharashtrian population. According to this canon ideal mouth width (ch-ch) (mouth width (distance between right and left corners of mouth called chelion)) is 1.5 times of Nose width/alar width (al-al) (alar width (distance between right and left ala of nose)). Mouth width=1.5 times of Nose width. However, the mouth width can be less than 1.5 times of nose width or mouth width can be greater than 1.5 times of nose width. This study was carried out in the five cities Sangli, Kolhapur, Islampur, Karad and Satara of Western Maharashtra, India. Total 1500 male and female students, 300 from each city, between the age group of 18-20 years were selected. Measurements were taken with the help of digital Vernier caliper. The methodology adopted for the measurements was taken from the guidelines given by Farkas LG in his book- “Anthropometric facial proportions in Medicine”. Results: In present study, total 68.33% subjects including males and females were having mouth width (ch-ch) lesser than one and half times of nose width/alar width (al-al) i.e., ch-ch <1.5 (al-al). Remaining 31.67% subjects were having mouth width greater than one and half times of nose width/alar width i.e., ch-ch >1.5 (al-al). Conclusion: Naso-oral neoclassical canon was not found valid in Western Maharashtrian young adults. In 78.32% male and 62.80% female population of Western Maharashtra, mouth width was found lesser than one and half times of nose width.

Allometric growth in larval and juvenile blackhead seabream Acanthopagrus schlegelii (Bleeker, 1854) (Peciformes: Sparidae)

Allometric growth in larvae and juvenile blackhead seabream Acanthopagrus schlegelii (Bleeker, 1854) was studied. In the larval head, snout length, snout-gill slit distance, interocular distance and mouth width showed positive allometric growth, while eye diameter and head height showed negative allometric growth. In the head of juveniles, interocular distance and mouth width showed negative allometric growth, while all other organs showed positive allometric growth. In larval body, body thickness showed positive allometric growth, while all other body parts showed negative allometric growth. In the juvenile body, caudal peduncle length, caudal peduncle height and body thickness showed positive allometric growth, while head length, body height, trunk length and tail length showed negative allometric growth. All of the larval swimming structures (the dorsal fins, pectoral fins, pelvic fins, anal fins and caudal fins) showed positive allometric growth. The rapid development of key organs in the blackhead seabream after the initiation of exogenous nutrition allows for a significant increase in viability with minimal metabolic loss. The information generated through this study can provide a framework for understanding how blackhead seabream responds developmentally to challenging external pressures during their early life.

Correlation, regression estimates and heterosis of Archachatina marginata snails in Calabar, Nigeria

White skinned ectotypes were used in a study to estimate heterosis, correlation and regression. Data collected on the snails and their eggs included body weight (BWT), shell length (SLH), shell width (SWH), “mouth” length (MLH) and “mouth” width (MWH); and egg weight (EWT), egg length (ELH) and egg width (EWH), respectively. These data were used to estimate correlations between pairs of traits, heterosis and to predict weight from other morphometric traits among three mating groups [black skinned x black skinned (BAM X BAM), white skinned x white skinned (WAM X WAM) and their cross BAM X WAM)]. Results obtained from the study showed that evaluated traits expressed strong, positive and highly significant (P<0.01) correlation values that ranged from rp= 0.86 to rp = 0.99 among the snails mating groups. The correlation values of traits evaluated on eggs laid by these snails ranged from mild (rp = 0.49) through moderate (rp = 0.59, rp= 0.70) to strong/close (rp = 0.89). Regression estimates values obtained ranged from mild (1.30) to high (6.25), an shell width best predicted hatchlings body weight in the black skinned x black skinned (BAM X BAM) mating group, while “mouth” length best predicted hatchlings body weight in the white skinned x white skinned (WAM X WAM) mating group. Traits evaluated for percent heterosis expressed positive and significant (P<0.05) values between the mating groups, with the crossbred (BAM X WAM) mating group having advantage over the purebred (BAM X BAM and WAM X WAM) mating groups. It could therefore be concluded that in the face of appropriate selection programme, heterosis can be exploited to improve snails reproductive and growth traits. It can thus be recommended that having information regarding the association of weight with other contributing traits/parameters is crucial before starting any breeding programme.

Impact of Jetty Configuration Changes on the Hydrodynamics of the Subtropical Patos Lagoon Estuary, Brazil

Coastal infrastructure alterations, such as jetty expansions, are designed to provide improvements to natural dredging and safety of marine access and to maximize the management and efficiency of ports. Furthermore, these alterations have the potential to cause significant environmental changes to estuaries and adjacent coastal areas. Here, the hydrodynamics of Pathos Lagoon was investigated before and after the jetty alterations, where the jetty was increased by approximately 10–18% and the mouth width was reduced by 15%. The TELEMAC-3D numerical model was calibrated and validated using the field data, and then simulated for characteristic low and high extreme discharge years for the old and new jetty configurations. Results showed a flow reduction of approximately 20% both in the ebb and flood conditions in the new configuration, which was accompanied by a slight change in the propagation angle of the western jetty current. Reduction of the saltwater intrusion was registered during both the high and low discharge conditions with the new jetty configuration. During the high discharge periods with NE winds, saltwater intrusion did not reach the previous estuarine inland boundary. During the period of low discharge with SW wind, salinity did not reach further than 180 km inland. Reduced saltwater intrusion was estimated landwards and in the shallow embayments. The horizontal stratification structure of the salinity changed, with the partial centralization of the flow in the access channel. The observed hydrodynamic changes from the infrastructure modifications could affect the estuarine ecosystem by increasing the sediment retention, reducing the transport of marine organisms and water properties into the estuary. This study contributes not only to the understanding of hydrodynamic changes but also to the potential optimization of estuarine and coastal management strategies.