NAGPRA: Before and after
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) was passed in 1990. NAGPRA is a Federal law that requires Federal agencies to provide opportunities for federally recognized tribes to obtain culturally affiliated human remains and artifacts. Most anthropologists are not opposed to repatriation of affiliated remains. For example, Rose and colleagues (1996) hypothesized that repatriation will eliminate gaps in knowledge of specific times and geographic areas, require osteological analyses to be more comprehensive, and increase use of new methodologies. Additionally, Buikstra and Ubelaker (1994) published a standardization book to provide uniform procedures for examining skeletons. The current study examines articles from the primary physical anthropology journal before and after 1990 to ascertain whether NAGPRA has resulted in the above-mentioned predictions. Statistically significant (Student’s t-test, Ps < 0.05) results indicate that compared to pre-NAGPRA, osteological studies containing Native American remains have decreased, fewer sites are used, and fewer geographic locations are examined. Only one-third of osteological studies using Native American remains published after 1994 use Buikstra and Ubelaker’s standards. Both before and after NAGPRA was enacted, over 70 percent of osteological studies come from sites in nine states. Thus, none of these predictions occurred and changes in osteological research on Native American after the enactment of NAGPRA seem to indicate that NAGPRA impedes research.
Three-dimensional scanning and printing techniques to analyze and archive human skeletal remains

Purpose
The topic of human skeletal analysis is a sensitive subject in North America. Laws and regulations surrounding research of human skeletal material make it difficult to use these remains to characterize various populations. Recent technology has the potential to solve this dilemma. Three-dimensional (3D) scanning creates virtual models of this material, and stores the information, allowing future studies on the material. The paper aims to discuss these issues.


Design/methodology/approach
To assess the potential of this methodology, the authors compared processing time, accuracy and costs of computer tomography (CT) scanner to the Artec Eva portable 3D surface scanner. Using both methodologies the authors scanned and 3D printed one adult individual. The authors hypothesize that the Artec Eva will create digital replicas of <5 percent error based on Buikstra and Ubelaker standard osteometric measurements. Error was tested by comparing the measurements of the skeletal material to the Artec data, CT data and 3D printed data.


Findings
Results show that larger bones recorded by the Artec Eva have <5 percent error of the original specimen while smaller more detailed images have >5 percent error. The CT images are closer to <5 percent accuracy, with few bones still >5 percent error. The Artec Eva scanner is inexpensive in comparison to a CT machine, but takes twice as long to process the Eva’s data. The Artec Eva is sufficient in replication of larger elements, but the CT machine is still a preferable means of skeletal replication, particularly for small elements.


Originality/value
This research paper is unique because it compares two common forms of digitization, which has not been done. The authors believe this paper would be of value to natural history curators and various researchers.

Suitability and water quality criteria of an open drainage municipal sewage water at Coimbatore, used for irrigation.
Sanganur canal is the major open drainage system which has intricate linkage with storm water supply, domestic sewage and industrial effluent disposal. Water samples from various stations were collected and analysed for physicochemical parameters to assess the water quality of the Sanganur canal system. The study revealed that physicochemical parameters like pH, EC, TDS, DO, BOD, COD exceeded the permissible limit, clearly indicating the need of proper treatment of waste water before discharge into the Noyyal river.