Quantifying the weight of fingerprint evidence through the spatial relationship, directions and types of minutiae observed on fingermarks

This paper presents a statistical model for the quantification of the weight of fingerprint evidence. Contrarily to previous models (generative and score-based models), our model proposes to estimate the probability distributions of spatial relationships, directions and types of minutiae observed on fingerprints for any given fingermark. Our model is relying on an AFIS algorithm provided by 3M Cogent and on a dataset of more than 4,000,000 fingerprints to represent a sample from a relevant population of potential sources. The performance of our model was tested using several hundreds of minutiae configurations observed on a set of 565 fingermarks. In particular, the effects of various sub-populations of fingers (i.e., finger number, finger general pattern) on the expected evidential value of our test configurations were investigated. The performance of our model indicates that the spatial relationship between minutiae carries more evidential weight than their type or direction. Our results also indicate that the AFIS component of our model directly enables us to assign weight to fingerprint evidence without the need for the additional layer of complex statistical modeling involved by the estimation of the probability distributions of fingerprint features. In fact, it seems that the AFIS component is more sensitive to the sub-population effects than the other components of the model. Overall, the data generated during this research project contributes to support the idea that fingerprint evidence is a valuable forensic tool for the identification of individuals.

Relationship between imaging biomarkers, age, progression and symptom severity in Alzheimer's disease.

The early diagnostic value of glucose hypometabolism and atrophy as potential neuroimaging biomarkers of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) have been extensively explored using [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The vast majority of previous imaging studies neglected the effects of single factors, such as age, symptom severity or time to conversion in MCI thus limiting generalisability of results across studies. Here, we investigated the impact of these factors on metabolic and structural differences. FDG-PET and MRI data from AD patients (n = 80), MCI converters (n = 65) and MCI non-converters (n = 64) were compared to data of healthy subjects (n = 79). All patient groups were split into subgroups by age, time to conversion (for MCI), or symptom severity and compared to the control group. AD patients showed a strongly age-dependent pattern, with younger patients showing significantly more extensive reductions in gray matter volume and glucose utilisation. In the MCI converter group, the amount of glucose utilisation reduction was linked to the time to conversion but not to atrophy. Our findings indicate that FDG-PET might be more closely linked to future cognitive decline whilst MRI being more closely related to the current cognitive state reflects potentially irreversible damage.

The influence of tobacco consumption on the relationship between schizotypy and hemispheric asymmetry.

Tobacco use is positively associated with severity of symptoms along the schizophrenia spectrum. Accordingly it could be argued that neuropsychological performance, formerly thought to be modulated by schizotypy, is actually modulated by drug use or an interaction of drug use and schizotypy. We tested whether habitual cigarette smokers as compared to non-smokers would show a neuropsychological profile similar to that observed along the schizophrenia spectrum and, if so, whether smoking status or nicotine dependence would be more significant modulators of behavior than schizotypy. Because hemispheric dominance has been found to be attenuated along the schizophrenia spectrum, 40 right-handed male students (20 non-smokers) performed lateralized left- (lexical decisions) and right- (facial decision task) hemisphere dominant tasks. All individuals completed self-report measures of schizotypy and nicotine dependence. Schizotypy predicted laterality in addition to smoking status: While positive schizotypy (Unusual Experiences) was unrelated to hemispheric performance, Cognitive Disorganization predicted reduced left hemisphere dominant language functions. These latter findings suggest that Cognitive Disorganization should be regarded separately as a potentially important mediator of thought disorganization and language processing. Additionally, increasing nicotine dependence among smokers predicted a right hemisphere shift of function in both tasks that supports the role of the right hemisphere in compulsive/impulsive behavior.

Vulnerabilität und psychische Erkrankung

Vulnerability and psychic illness Based on a sample of 1701 college and university students from four different sites in Switzerland, the U.S., and Argentina, this study investigated the interrelationships between insufficient coping skills under chronic stress and impaired general health. We sought to develop standardised means for "early" identification of students at risk of mental health problems, as these students may benefit from "early" interventions before psychiatric symptoms develop and reach clinically relevant thresholds. All students completed two self-report questionnaires: the Coping Strategies Inventory "COPE" and the Zurich Health Questionnaire "ZHQ", with the latter assessing "regular exercises", "consumption behavior", "impaired physical health", "psychosomatic disturbances", and "impaired mental health". This data was subjected to structure analyses based on neural network approaches, using the different study sites' data subsets as independent "learning" and "test" samples. We found two highly stable COPE scales that quantified basic coping behaviour in terms of "activity-passivity" and "defeatism-resilience". The excellent reproducibility across study sites suggested that the new scales characterise socioculturally independent personality traits. Correlation analyses for external validation revealed a close relationship between high scores on the defeatism scale and impaired physical and mental health, hence underlining the scales' clinical relevance. Our results suggested in particular: (1.) the proposed method to be a powerful screening tool for early detection and prevention of psychiatric disorders; (2.) physical activity like regular exercises to play a critical role not only in preventing health problems but also in contributing to early intervention programs.

The relationship between cognitive errors and interpersonal patterns in depressed women.

Individuals with depression process information in an overly negative or biased way (e.g., Henriques & Leitenberg, 2002) and demonstrate significant interpersonal dysfunction (e.g., Zlotnick, Kohn, Keitner, & Della Grotta, 2000). This study examined the relationship between cognitive errors (CEs) and interpersonal interactions in early psychotherapy sessions of 25 female patients with major depression. Transcripts were rated for CEs using the Cognitive Error Rating Scale (Drapeau, Perry, & Dunkley, 2008). Interpersonal patterns were assessed using the Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (Benjamin, 1974). Significant associations were found between CEs and markers of interpersonal functioning in selected contexts. The implications of these findings in bridging the gap between research and practice, enhancing treatment outcome, and improving therapist training are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved).

Lipophilicity and its relationship with passive drug permeation.

In this review, we first summarize the structure and properties of biological membranes and the routes of passive drug transfer through physiological barriers. Lipophilicity is then introduced in terms of the intermolecular interactions it encodes. Finally, lipophilicity indices from isotropic solvent systems and from anisotropic membrane-like systems are discussed for their capacity to predict passive drug permeation across biological membranes such as the intestinal epithelium, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) or the skin. The broad evidence presented here shows that beyond the predictive power of lipophilicity parameters, the various intermolecular forces they encode allow a mechanistic interpretation of passive drug permeation.

Troubles psychiques et épilepsies [Mental disorders and epilepsies]

Mental disorders in patients having difficulties to treat their epilepsy are without a doubt more frequent than those presented by patients with controlled epilepsies or within a general population. These problems are especially affective disorders; clinical presentations of these troubles are often particular and difficult to classify through the current admitted classification guidelines. We speak generally about an interictal dysphoric disorder. The relationship between observed troubles in seizures is in some cases very particular: postictal depressions and psychosis are very peculiar disorders, self limited, difficult to detect and to treat. Some considerations are made about certain topics related to severe epilepsies: suicide, pseudo seizures and therapeutic attitude.

On the relationship between performance-approach goals and cognitive performance : when the desire to outperform others becomes interfering

Cette thèse explore dans quelle mesure la poursuite d'un but de performance-approche (i.e., le désir de surpasser autrui et de démontrer ses compétences) favorise, ou au contraire endommage, la réussite et l'apprentissage-une question toujours largement débattue dans la littérature. Quatre études menées en laboratoire ont confirmé cette hypothèse et démontré que la poursuite du but de performance-approche amène les individus à diviser leur attention entre d'une part la réalisation de la tâche évaluée, et d'autre part la gestion de préoccupations liées à l'atteinte du but-ceci empêchant une concentration efficace sur les processus de résolution de la tâche. Dans une deuxième ligne de recherche, nous avons ensuite démontré que cette distraction est exacerbée chez les individus les plus performants et ayant le plus l'habitude de réussir, ceci dérivant d'une pression supplémentaire liée au souhait de maintenir le statut positif de « bon élève ». Enfin, notre troisième ligne de recherche a cherché à réconcilier ces résultats-pointant l'aspect distractif du but de performance-approche-avec le profil se dégageant des études longitudinales rapportées dans la littérature-associant ce but avec la réussite académique. Ainsi, nous avons mené une étude longitudinale testant si l'adoption du but de performance-approche en classe pourrait augmenter la mise en oeuvre de stratégies d'étude tactiquement dirigées vers la performance-favorisant une réussite optimale aux tests. Nos résultats ont apporté des éléments en faveur de cette hypothèse, mais uniquement chez les élèves de bas niveau. Ainsi, l'ensemble de nos résultats permet de mettre en lumière les processus cognitifs à l'oeuvre lors de la poursuite du but de performance-approche, ainsi que d'alimenter le débat concernant leur aspect bénéfique ou nuisible en contexte éducatif. -- In this dissertation, we propose to investigate whether the pursuit of performance-approach goals (i.e., the desire to outperform others and appear talented) facilitates or rather endangers achievement and learning-an issue that is still widely discussed in the achievement goal literature. Four experiments carried out in a laboratory setting have provided evidence that performance- approach goals create a divided-attention situation that leads cognitive resources to be divided between task processing and the activation of goal-attainment concerns-which jeopardizes full cognitive immersion in the task. Then, in a second research line, we found evidence that high- achievers (i.e., those individuals who are the most used to succeed) experience, under evaluative contexts, heightened pressure to excel at the task, deriving from concerns associated with the preservation of their "high-achiever" status. Finally, a third research line was designed to try to reconcile results stemming from our laboratory studies with the overall profile emerging from longitudinal research-which have consistently found performance-approach goals to be a positive predictor of students' test scores. We thus set up a longitudinal study so as to test whether students' adoption of performance-approach goals in a long-term classroom setting enhances the implementation of strategic study behaviors tactically directed toward goal-attainment, hence favoring test performance. Our findings brought support for this hypothesis, but only for low-achieving students. Taken together, our findings shed new light on the cognitive processes at play during the pursuit of performance-approach goals, and are likely to fuel the debate regarding whether performance-approach goals should be encouraged or not in educational settings.

Affective and physiological responses to environmental noises and music

Research suggests that respiratory patterns may reflect general dimensions of emotional response. In this study, we investigated the relationships between judgments of affective valence (pleasantness) and arousal and respiratory responses to acoustic stimuli. Sixteen environmental noises and 16 musical fragments of 30 s duration were presented to 31 participants, while respiration, skin conductance level and heart rate were recorded. Judgments of valence and arousal were registered using the 9-point Self-Assessment Manikin. For noises, breathing accelerated and minute ventilation augmented with decreases in pleasantness for low-arousal stimuli and with increases in arousal for positive stimuli. For music, breathing accelerated and minute ventilation augmented with increases both in rated valence and arousal. Skin conductance level increased with arousal ratings for music but not for noises, whereas mean heart rate increased with rated arousal for noises but not for music. Although both noises and music are sound-vibrations, differences in the relationships between affective judgments and physiological responses were found suggesting differences in the processing of the two types of acoustic stimuli. [Authors]

Prevalence, awareness and control of diabetes in the Seychelles and relationship with excess body weight.

BACKGROUND: The evidence for a "diabesity" epidemic is accumulating worldwide but population-based data are still scarce in the African region. We assessed the prevalence, awareness and control of diabetes (DM) in the Seychelles, a rapidly developing country in the African region. We also examined the relationship between body mass index, fasting serum insulin and DM. METHODS: Examination survey in a sample representative of the entire population aged 25-64 of the Seychelles, attended by 1255 persons (participation rate of 80.2%). An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed in individuals with fasting blood glucose between 5.6 and 6.9 mmol/l. Diabetes mellitus (DM), impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) were defined along criteria of the ADA. Prevalence estimates were standardized for age. RESULTS: The prevalence of DM was 11.5% and 54% of persons with DM were aware of having DM. Less than a quarter of all diabetic persons under treatment were well controlled for glycemia (HbA1c), blood pressure or LDL-cholesterol. The prevalence of IGT and IFG were respectively 10.4% and 24.2%. The prevalence of excess weight (BMI > or = 25 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI > or = 30 kg/m2) was respectively 60.1% and 25.0%. Half of all DM cases in the population could be attributed to excess weight. CONCLUSION: We found a high prevalence of DM and pre-diabetes in a rapidly developing country in the African region. The strong association between overweight and DM emphasizes the importance of weight control measures to reduce the incidence of DM in the population. High rates of diabetic persons not aware of having DM in the population and insufficient cardiometabolic control among persons treated for DM stress the need for intensifying health care for diabetes.

Benevolent voices are not so kind: the functional significance of auditory hallucinations

BACKGROUND: This study measures the impact of beliefs about auditory hallucinations on social functioning. SAMPLING AND METHODS: Twenty-nine subjects who met the ICD-10 criteria for schizophrenia or a schizo-affective disorder were included. Beliefs about voices and coping responses as measured by the Beliefs about Voices Questionnaire were compared with social functioning as assessed with the Life Skills Profile (LSP). RESULTS: The belief that voices are benevolent was associated with poor communication. Engagement with voices was correlated with the non-turbulence and the compliance factors of the LSP. Patients who held the belief that their voices were benevolent functioned significantly more poorly on the communication factor of the LSP than patients who interpreted their voices as malevolent. DISCUSSION: The results indicate that a positive relationship with voices may affect social functioning. However, the size of the sample is small and patients with benevolent voices are overrepresented. Nonetheless, these results have implications for the use of cognitive therapy for psychotic symptoms

Relationship between estrogen receptor alpha location and gene induction reveals the importance of downstream sites and cofactors.

BACKGROUND: To understand cancer-related modifications to transcriptional programs requires detailed knowledge about the activation of signal-transduction pathways and gene expression programs. To investigate the mechanisms of target gene regulation by human estrogen receptor alpha (hERalpha), we combine extensive location and expression datasets with genomic sequence analysis. In particular, we study the influence of patterns of DNA occupancy by hERalpha on expression phenotypes. RESULTS: We find that strong ChIP-chip sites co-localize with strong hERalpha consensus sites and detect nucleotide bias near hERalpha sites. The localization of ChIP-chip sites relative to annotated genes shows that weak sites are enriched near transcription start sites, while stronger sites show no positional bias. Assessing the relationship between binding configurations and expression phenotypes, we find binding sites downstream of the transcription start site (TSS) to be equally good or better predictors of hERalpha-mediated expression as upstream sites. The study of FOX and SP1 cofactor sites near hERalpha ChIP sites shows that induced genes frequently have FOX or SP1 sites. Finally we integrate these multiple datasets to define a high confidence set of primary hERalpha target genes. CONCLUSION: Our results support the model of long-range interactions of hERalpha with the promoter-bound cofactor SP1 residing at the promoter of hERalpha target genes. FOX motifs co-occur with hERalpha motifs along responsive genes. Importantly we show that the spatial arrangement of sites near the start sites and within the full transcript is important in determining response to estrogen signaling.

Fallers in postacute rehabilitation have worse functional recovery and increased health services use.

OBJECTIVES: To determine characteristics associated with single and multiple fallers during postacute rehabilitation and to investigate the relationship among falls, rehabilitation outcomes, and health services use. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Geriatric postacute rehabilitation hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (n = 4026) consecutively admitted over a 5-year period (2003-2007). MEASUREMENTS: All falls during hospitalization were prospectively recorded. Collected patients' characteristics included health, functional, cognitive, and affective status data. Length of stay and discharge destination were retrieved from the administrative database. RESULTS: During rehabilitation stay, 11.4% (458/4026) of patients fell once and an additional 6.3% (253/4026) fell several times. Compared with nonfallers, fallers were older and more frequently men. They were globally frailer, with lower Barthel score and more comorbidities, cognitive impairment, and depressive symptoms. In multivariate analyses, compared with 1-time fallers, multiple fallers were more likely to have lower Barthel score (adjOR: 2.45, 95% CI: 1.48-4.07; P = .001), cognitive impairment (adjOR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.04-1.96; P = .026), and to have been admitted from a medicine ward (adjOR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.03-2.32; P = .035). Odds of poor functional recovery and institutionalization at discharge, as well as length of stay, increased incrementally from nonfallers to 1-time and to multiple fallers. CONCLUSION: In these patients admitted to postacute rehabilitation, the proportion of fallers and multiple fallers was high. Multiple fallers were particularly at risk of poor functional recovery and increased health services use. Specific fall prevention programs targeting high-risk patients with cognitive impairment and low functional status should be developed in further studies.