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Papers by Courtney Eleazer

Research paper thumbnail of Integration of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences into Collaborative, Team‐taught Sessions

Research paper thumbnail of Human cortical bone maintenance: does mechanical loading compensate for bone loss associated with metabolic stress?

Research paper thumbnail of Deviance in youth: Anomalous nitrogen and carbon isotopic values among individual subadults at Medieval Alytus, Lithuania

Rapid turnover of bone collagen δ13C and δ15N values in subadults can reveal dietary and physiolo... more Rapid turnover of bone collagen δ13C and δ15N values in subadults can reveal dietary and physiological changes experienced by illuminating chronic stress not apparent as skeletal, pathological lesions. To assess subadult morbidity and mortality in Medieval Alytus, Lithuania, an osteobiographical examination was undertaken of individuals who presented humeral isotopic values ± 2σ from sample and cohort means (-20.02 ± 0.43‰; 11.08 ± 1.22‰). Two infants (0.1-2.9 years) and four juveniles (5-11.9 years) were found to exhibit isotopic values outside of the expected sample mean. Two individuals, 1.5 year-old (-18.8‰, 14.28‰) and 11.5 year-old (-19.46‰, 13.26‰), were ± 2σ from their respective δ13C and δ15N cohort averages. Skeletal analyses do not indicate specific disease processes but all infants exhibit at least two non-specific skeletal markers of chronic, metabolic stress (e.g. periostitis, porotic hyperostosis), likely caused by prolonged weaning resulting in malnourishment. Three of the four juveniles did not present skeletal stressors, indicative of death from an acute disease process during a growth spurt and potentially the onset of puberty. This study contributes to growing literature on metabolic variation in isotopic values and paleopathology of Lithuania.

Research paper thumbnail of You can lead them to water but you cannot make them drink: guiding undergraduate human anatomy students in effective study techniques (534.7)

The FASEB Journal, 2014

A significant challenge of teaching undergraduate anatomy is effectively communicating to student... more A significant challenge of teaching undergraduate anatomy is effectively communicating to students the amount of time and effort required to perform well in such a rigorous course. While the effect...

Research paper thumbnail of Mechanical and metabolic interactions in cortical bone development

American journal of physical anthropology, Jun 1, 2016

Anthropological studies of cortical bone often aim to reconstruct either habitual activities or h... more Anthropological studies of cortical bone often aim to reconstruct either habitual activities or health of past populations. During development, mechanical loading and metabolism simultaneously shape cortical bone structure; yet, few studies have investigated how these factors interact. Understanding their relative morphological effects is essential for assessing human behavior from skeletal samples, as previous studies have suggested that interaction effects may influence the interpretation from cortical structure of physical activity or metabolic status. This study assesses cross-sectional geometric and histomorphometric features in bones under different loading regimes (femur, humerus, rib) and compares these properties among individuals under different degrees of metabolic stress. The study sample consists of immature humans from a late medieval Lithuanian cemetery (Alytus, 14th-18th centuries AD). Analyses are based on the hypothesis that metabolic bone loss is distributed withi...

Research paper thumbnail of Developmental variation in ecogeographic body proportions

American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Helping students help themselves: evaluating the effectiveness of undergraduate study techniques in human anatomy

Research paper thumbnail of The Interaction of Mechanical Loading and Metabolic Stress on Human Cortical Bone: Testing Anthropological Assumptions Using Cross-Sectional Geometry and Histomorphology

, were it not for you I would have gone completely insane. Thank you for making me smile no matte... more , were it not for you I would have gone completely insane. Thank you for making me smile no matter the circumstances and being patient while I obsessed about osteons and cross-sections. You all have given me an incredible amount of academic and personal advice that I will continue to employ for years to come. All of you are beautiful, amazing women who have influenced and enriched my life more than you probably realize. v And finally, I especially thank my husband, Andrew Weidman, for having unwavering faith in me. Andrew, you are my rock. Thank you for taking care of me (and the house) and always being there for me. I couldn't have accomplished this goal without your help.

Research paper thumbnail of Age-related Histomorphometric Changes in Human Fetal Long Bones

The goal of this study is to investigate the age-related changes in histomorphometry among the si... more The goal of this study is to investigate the age-related changes in histomorphometry among the six long bones of the human fetus. Histological studies have become increasingly important in distinguishing fragmentary human remains from non-human remains as well as estimating age at death in forensic cases. However, little work has been done with subadult material due to its distinct growth patterns and unique microscopic composition. This study attempts to provide a preliminary investigation into the potential of utilizing histomorphometry in the estimation of age at death of fetal remains. Microscopic methods may prove invaluable to the task of aging fragmentary remains that lack the characteristic features necessary for conventional metric methods that require the preservation of entire skeletal elements. Seven stillborn cadavers of known sex and gestational age (17-35 weeks) were the subjects of study. Thin sections were taken from the midshafts of the six long bones and examined under a light microscope. For each slide, a maximum of 111 measurements were taken: maximum sagittal medullary diameter (anterior-posterior), maximum transverse medullary diameter (medial-lateral), medullary area, maximum cortical thickness (taken at each quadrant), minimum cortical thickness (taken at each quadrant), and a maximum of 25 separate trabecular diameters per quadrant. The results of this research indicate that several histological measurements possess potential for predicting fetal age. Statistically significant correlations between both maximum and minimum cortical thicknesses and age were present for all six long bones. The humerus and tibia have the strongest correlations between cortical thickness vi and age, while the radius possesses the weakest correlation with age. The results of an ANCOVA employing age as a covariate indicate that fetal age is a significant linear predictor of trabecular thickness in all long bones except the radius. The values for trabecular thickness are significantly different among quadrants within the femur, tibia, humerus, and ulna. However, only in the humerus and radius does the rate of linear change in trabecular thickness with age differ by quadrant location. Future research conducted on a larger sample size is expected to determine the accuracy with which this method can be applied to fetal age estimation. vii

Research paper thumbnail of Getting the Shaft?: Investigating Midshaft Location in Immature Femora

Research paper thumbnail of Deviance in youth: Anomalous nitrogen and carbon isotopic values among individual subadults at Medieval Alytus, Lithuania

Rapid turnover of bone collagen δ13C and δ15N values in subadults can reveal dietary and physiolo... more Rapid turnover of bone collagen δ13C and δ15N values in subadults can reveal dietary and physiological changes experienced by illuminating chronic stress not apparent as skeletal, pathological lesions. To assess subadult morbidity and mortality in Medieval Alytus, Lithuania, an osteobiographical examination was undertaken of individuals who presented humeral isotopic values ± 2σ from sample and cohort means (-20.02 ± 0.43‰; 11.08 ± 1.22‰). Two infants (0.1-2.9 years) and four juveniles (5-11.9 years) were found to exhibit isotopic values outside of the expected sample mean. Two individuals, 1.5 year-old (-18.8‰, 14.28‰) and 11.5 year-old (-19.46‰, 13.26‰), were ± 2σ from their respective δ13C and δ15N cohort averages. Skeletal analyses do not indicate specific disease processes but all infants exhibit at least two non-specific skeletal markers of chronic, metabolic stress (e.g. periostitis, porotic hyperostosis), likely caused by prolonged weaning resulting in malnourishment. Three ...

Research paper thumbnail of The interaction of mechanics and metabolism on human cortical bone

Research paper thumbnail of Influence of study approaches and course design on academic success in the undergraduate anatomy laboratory

Anatomical Sciences Education

Research paper thumbnail of Helping students help themselves: evaluating the effectiveness of undergraduate study techniques in human anatomy

The Faseb Journal, Apr 1, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Change Between Femoral to Humeral Stable Isotopic Nitrogen and Carbon Values During Growth from a Sample of Subadults at Alytus, Lithuania

Research paper thumbnail of The interaction of mechanical loading and metabolic stress on human cortical bone: testing anthropological assumptions using cross-sectional geometry and histomorphology

This research investigates how the interaction of mechanics (i.e., physical activity) and metabol... more This research investigates how the interaction of mechanics (i.e., physical activity) and metabolism (i.e., health status) shapes human cortical bone morphology during skeletal development. Understanding this interaction is important for research investigating human behavior from adult and subadult archaeological skeletal samples, as previous studies have demonstrated that interaction effects may confound the interpretation of either mechanics or metabolism independently from skeletal remains. This study approaches this issue holistically through the analysis of human cortical bone morphology at dual scales (microscopic and macroscopic scales) and across multiple skeletal elements (femora, humeri, and ribs) exposed to different levels of mechanical loading. Because bone responds to environmental influences most strongly during growth, a subadult cemetery sample of 57 individuals from the medieval archaeological site of Alytus, Lithuania (A.D. 14th-18th centuries) was employed. Bone ...

Research paper thumbnail of Integration of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences into Collaborative, Team‐taught Sessions

Research paper thumbnail of Human cortical bone maintenance: does mechanical loading compensate for bone loss associated with metabolic stress?

Research paper thumbnail of Deviance in youth: Anomalous nitrogen and carbon isotopic values among individual subadults at Medieval Alytus, Lithuania

Rapid turnover of bone collagen δ13C and δ15N values in subadults can reveal dietary and physiolo... more Rapid turnover of bone collagen δ13C and δ15N values in subadults can reveal dietary and physiological changes experienced by illuminating chronic stress not apparent as skeletal, pathological lesions. To assess subadult morbidity and mortality in Medieval Alytus, Lithuania, an osteobiographical examination was undertaken of individuals who presented humeral isotopic values ± 2σ from sample and cohort means (-20.02 ± 0.43‰; 11.08 ± 1.22‰). Two infants (0.1-2.9 years) and four juveniles (5-11.9 years) were found to exhibit isotopic values outside of the expected sample mean. Two individuals, 1.5 year-old (-18.8‰, 14.28‰) and 11.5 year-old (-19.46‰, 13.26‰), were ± 2σ from their respective δ13C and δ15N cohort averages. Skeletal analyses do not indicate specific disease processes but all infants exhibit at least two non-specific skeletal markers of chronic, metabolic stress (e.g. periostitis, porotic hyperostosis), likely caused by prolonged weaning resulting in malnourishment. Three of the four juveniles did not present skeletal stressors, indicative of death from an acute disease process during a growth spurt and potentially the onset of puberty. This study contributes to growing literature on metabolic variation in isotopic values and paleopathology of Lithuania.

Research paper thumbnail of You can lead them to water but you cannot make them drink: guiding undergraduate human anatomy students in effective study techniques (534.7)

The FASEB Journal, 2014

A significant challenge of teaching undergraduate anatomy is effectively communicating to student... more A significant challenge of teaching undergraduate anatomy is effectively communicating to students the amount of time and effort required to perform well in such a rigorous course. While the effect...

Research paper thumbnail of Mechanical and metabolic interactions in cortical bone development

American journal of physical anthropology, Jun 1, 2016

Anthropological studies of cortical bone often aim to reconstruct either habitual activities or h... more Anthropological studies of cortical bone often aim to reconstruct either habitual activities or health of past populations. During development, mechanical loading and metabolism simultaneously shape cortical bone structure; yet, few studies have investigated how these factors interact. Understanding their relative morphological effects is essential for assessing human behavior from skeletal samples, as previous studies have suggested that interaction effects may influence the interpretation from cortical structure of physical activity or metabolic status. This study assesses cross-sectional geometric and histomorphometric features in bones under different loading regimes (femur, humerus, rib) and compares these properties among individuals under different degrees of metabolic stress. The study sample consists of immature humans from a late medieval Lithuanian cemetery (Alytus, 14th-18th centuries AD). Analyses are based on the hypothesis that metabolic bone loss is distributed withi...

Research paper thumbnail of Developmental variation in ecogeographic body proportions

American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Helping students help themselves: evaluating the effectiveness of undergraduate study techniques in human anatomy

Research paper thumbnail of The Interaction of Mechanical Loading and Metabolic Stress on Human Cortical Bone: Testing Anthropological Assumptions Using Cross-Sectional Geometry and Histomorphology

, were it not for you I would have gone completely insane. Thank you for making me smile no matte... more , were it not for you I would have gone completely insane. Thank you for making me smile no matter the circumstances and being patient while I obsessed about osteons and cross-sections. You all have given me an incredible amount of academic and personal advice that I will continue to employ for years to come. All of you are beautiful, amazing women who have influenced and enriched my life more than you probably realize. v And finally, I especially thank my husband, Andrew Weidman, for having unwavering faith in me. Andrew, you are my rock. Thank you for taking care of me (and the house) and always being there for me. I couldn't have accomplished this goal without your help.

Research paper thumbnail of Age-related Histomorphometric Changes in Human Fetal Long Bones

The goal of this study is to investigate the age-related changes in histomorphometry among the si... more The goal of this study is to investigate the age-related changes in histomorphometry among the six long bones of the human fetus. Histological studies have become increasingly important in distinguishing fragmentary human remains from non-human remains as well as estimating age at death in forensic cases. However, little work has been done with subadult material due to its distinct growth patterns and unique microscopic composition. This study attempts to provide a preliminary investigation into the potential of utilizing histomorphometry in the estimation of age at death of fetal remains. Microscopic methods may prove invaluable to the task of aging fragmentary remains that lack the characteristic features necessary for conventional metric methods that require the preservation of entire skeletal elements. Seven stillborn cadavers of known sex and gestational age (17-35 weeks) were the subjects of study. Thin sections were taken from the midshafts of the six long bones and examined under a light microscope. For each slide, a maximum of 111 measurements were taken: maximum sagittal medullary diameter (anterior-posterior), maximum transverse medullary diameter (medial-lateral), medullary area, maximum cortical thickness (taken at each quadrant), minimum cortical thickness (taken at each quadrant), and a maximum of 25 separate trabecular diameters per quadrant. The results of this research indicate that several histological measurements possess potential for predicting fetal age. Statistically significant correlations between both maximum and minimum cortical thicknesses and age were present for all six long bones. The humerus and tibia have the strongest correlations between cortical thickness vi and age, while the radius possesses the weakest correlation with age. The results of an ANCOVA employing age as a covariate indicate that fetal age is a significant linear predictor of trabecular thickness in all long bones except the radius. The values for trabecular thickness are significantly different among quadrants within the femur, tibia, humerus, and ulna. However, only in the humerus and radius does the rate of linear change in trabecular thickness with age differ by quadrant location. Future research conducted on a larger sample size is expected to determine the accuracy with which this method can be applied to fetal age estimation. vii

Research paper thumbnail of Getting the Shaft?: Investigating Midshaft Location in Immature Femora

Research paper thumbnail of Deviance in youth: Anomalous nitrogen and carbon isotopic values among individual subadults at Medieval Alytus, Lithuania

Rapid turnover of bone collagen δ13C and δ15N values in subadults can reveal dietary and physiolo... more Rapid turnover of bone collagen δ13C and δ15N values in subadults can reveal dietary and physiological changes experienced by illuminating chronic stress not apparent as skeletal, pathological lesions. To assess subadult morbidity and mortality in Medieval Alytus, Lithuania, an osteobiographical examination was undertaken of individuals who presented humeral isotopic values ± 2σ from sample and cohort means (-20.02 ± 0.43‰; 11.08 ± 1.22‰). Two infants (0.1-2.9 years) and four juveniles (5-11.9 years) were found to exhibit isotopic values outside of the expected sample mean. Two individuals, 1.5 year-old (-18.8‰, 14.28‰) and 11.5 year-old (-19.46‰, 13.26‰), were ± 2σ from their respective δ13C and δ15N cohort averages. Skeletal analyses do not indicate specific disease processes but all infants exhibit at least two non-specific skeletal markers of chronic, metabolic stress (e.g. periostitis, porotic hyperostosis), likely caused by prolonged weaning resulting in malnourishment. Three ...

Research paper thumbnail of The interaction of mechanics and metabolism on human cortical bone

Research paper thumbnail of Influence of study approaches and course design on academic success in the undergraduate anatomy laboratory

Anatomical Sciences Education

Research paper thumbnail of Helping students help themselves: evaluating the effectiveness of undergraduate study techniques in human anatomy

The Faseb Journal, Apr 1, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Change Between Femoral to Humeral Stable Isotopic Nitrogen and Carbon Values During Growth from a Sample of Subadults at Alytus, Lithuania

Research paper thumbnail of The interaction of mechanical loading and metabolic stress on human cortical bone: testing anthropological assumptions using cross-sectional geometry and histomorphology

This research investigates how the interaction of mechanics (i.e., physical activity) and metabol... more This research investigates how the interaction of mechanics (i.e., physical activity) and metabolism (i.e., health status) shapes human cortical bone morphology during skeletal development. Understanding this interaction is important for research investigating human behavior from adult and subadult archaeological skeletal samples, as previous studies have demonstrated that interaction effects may confound the interpretation of either mechanics or metabolism independently from skeletal remains. This study approaches this issue holistically through the analysis of human cortical bone morphology at dual scales (microscopic and macroscopic scales) and across multiple skeletal elements (femora, humeri, and ribs) exposed to different levels of mechanical loading. Because bone responds to environmental influences most strongly during growth, a subadult cemetery sample of 57 individuals from the medieval archaeological site of Alytus, Lithuania (A.D. 14th-18th centuries) was employed. Bone ...