Papers on anthropology XIX

Eelkäija: Tartu Ülikooli toimetised. Antropoloogia-alaseid töid, ISSN 0207-4575http://www.ester.ee/record=b1339521*es

Papers on anthropology XXI

Eelkäija: Tartu Ülikooli toimetised. Antropoloogia-alaseid töid, ISSN 0207-4575http://www.ester.ee/record=b1339521*es

Dermatoglyphic Measures in Relation to Depressive Symptoms Among Non-Clinical Adolescents and Young Adults

Depressive disorders are highly prevalent and can be devastating. Increasingly, depressive symptomatology is understood from a dimensional perspective such that non- or sub-clinical presentations may share a similar etiology. Depression etiology is believed to include genetic and environmental factors that may contribute to underlying vulnerability (diathesis) by way of neurodevelopment. Birth cohort studies have provided empirical evidence of the relationship between prenatal insult and later experience of adverse outcomes, including increased risk for depressive disorders. Retrospective investigation of the possible influence of prenatal disturbance on later experience of depressive symptoms has methodological limitations. Dermatoglyphic measurements offer a more methodologically viable (albeit indirect) proxy for estimating prenatal insult. Digit dermatoglyphics refer to fingerprint symmetry and patterns. Fingerprints develop concurrently with brain structures implicated in risk for depression. Thus, dermatoglyphic abnormalities such as fluctuating asymmetry (FA), or deviations in dermatoglyphic symmetry, and low ridge counts may illuminate the potential contribution of prenatal insult to later expression of depressive symptoms. Prior research has demonstrated relationships among dermatoglyphic measures (FA and ridge counts) and psychological symptoms across a wide range of non-clinical, mixed, and clinical populations. The current investigation primarily aimed to expand this body of literature by investigating the predictive relationships among dermatoglyphic measures and depressive symptom endorsement in a sample of non-clinical adolescents and young adults from the general population. The secondary aim was to examine sex as a potential moderator of the relationships among dermatoglyphic measures and depressive symptoms. Participants were a subsample of individuals recruited as part of a larger study assessing factors implicated in depression risk and included n = 53 (22 M / 31 F) adolescents and young adults (Mage = 20.04, SDage = 1.05). For the current report, measures included fingerprints from which four indices of FA and two finger ridge count measures were derived, as well as the total score from the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), a self-report measure of depressive symptoms. In line with hypotheses, one index of FA significantly positively predicted depressive symptoms after correcting for multiple comparisons, suggesting that neurodevelopmental factors may contribute to depressive symptoms. Findings did not hold, however, after taking multicollinearity into account. Sex did not moderate any relationships among dermatoglyphic measures and depressive symptoms. This research has potential implications for understanding risk for depression. Future work may benefit from assessing additional dermatoglyphic measures corresponding to different gestational periods, using larger samples, and alternative methods to address multicollinearity

A Study on Dermatoglyphics Pattern in Patients with Myocardial Infarction

INTRODUCTION: The entire human body is clothed with the skin which happens to be the largest and most important organ of the body. It performs many vital functions in the life of an individual, viz, it protects and safeguards the body from the vagaries of the weather, maintains the body temperature and saves the internal organs of body from injuries. However, the skin on the ventral sides of hands and plantar sides of feet is exclusively designed and is corrugated with the ridges and configurations which are functionally useful as they help in grasping without which the objects would easily slip away from hands. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To study the finger and palmar dermatoglyphic pattern in MI patients. 2. To establish sexual and digital differences in dermatoglyphic patterns of MI patients. 3. To compare the dermatoglyphic configurations of MI with the controls. 4. To find out whether a specific dermatoglyphic trait/feature exists in MI and whether it is significant. 5. To observe the usefulness of dermatoglyphic patterns in serving as predictor of MI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was conducted in the Institute of Anatomy, Madras Medical College, Chennai-3. The palm prints of the patients admitted in the Institute of Cardiology, Madras Medical College, Chennai-3 with myocardial infarction were taken. Of them 120 were Males and 30 were females. Similarly the palm prints of equal number from the normal healthy individuals in and around Chennai were taken as controls. The individuals with systemic hypertension, dyslipidemia and previous history of coronary heart disease were excluded from controls. The study group (Cases) included the persons admitted in the Institute of Cardiology with chest pain, in whom the diagnosis of myocardial infarction was confirmed by E.C.G and some of them by Coronary Angiography. Patients and controls were informed about the procedure in detail and their consent was obtained to conduct the study. CONCLUSION: The dermatoglyphic features of the patients with Myocardial Infarction has been studied from the dermatoglyphic prints taken by “Ink Method” and subjected to analysis to find out variations between patients and controls. • The percentage of loop, arch and whorls is 54.9%, 8.3% and 36.8% respectively in MI and 59.4%, 13.2% and 27.4% respectively in controls. Thus, there is decrease in loops and arches with increase in whorls in most of the digits of both hands in MI. • There is significant decrease in loops in middle finger of both hands (p<0.05) and arches in thumb and index finger of both hands (p<0.05) in MI. • There is significant increase in whorls in thumb (p<0.05) and little finger (p<0.05) of both hands in MI. • The mean value of TFRC is 127.5 and 103 in MI and controls respectively. The increase in the mean value of total finger ridge count (TFRC) in MI patients as compared to controls is statistically significant in the present study (p< 0.01). • The mean value of AFRC is 185 in MI and 170 in controls. Thus, there is increase in the mean value of absolute finger ridge count (AFRC) with statistically significant increase in female patients of MI (p<0.005). • There is decrease in the frequency of axial triradii near wrist (t) with increase in the frequency of t’, t” and tt” in both sexes and in both hands and distal displacement of axial triradii in M+F and in left hand but not statistically significant. • There is significant increase in the frequency of ‘4’ palmar triradii (p<0.05) with significant decrease in the frequency of ‘8’ palmar triradii (p<0.05). • The mean value of ab ridge count in MI is 39 and in controls it is 40 and there is no significant decrease in the mean value of ab ridge count in male patients of MI, but significant decrease is observed in female patients (p<0.05) when compared to controls. • There is significant increase in the mean value of atd angle in both hands of MI patients (p<0.01) and the mean value of atd angle is 41 in MI and 39 in controls. Thus from the present study, it appears that there do exist variations in the dermatoglyphic patterns in Myocardial Infarction. The specific features of dermatoglyphic patterns present in it raise the possibility of using dermatoglyphic study as a mass screening program for prevention of MI

The nature and extent of sexual dimorphism in dental and dermatoglyphic traits of twins

Human teeth and fingerprints have similar embryological origins from epithelial-mesenchymal interactions. The general aim of this study was to determine the nature and extent of sexual dimorphism in the teeth and fingerprints of Australian twins. The specific aims of this research were to 1. investigate the influences of genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors on observed variation in selected dental and dermatoglyphic features; 2. identify which dental and dermatoglyphic traits display sexual dimorphism and whether this is consistent with the Twin Testosterone Transfer Hypothesis; and 3. identify any evidence of associations and covariance between the studied dental and dermatoglyphic phenotypes. These aims were investigated by measuring crown dimensions, mesiodistal (MD) and buccolingual (BL), of primary and permanent teeth; scoring the Carabelli trait (CT) on primary and permanent upper molars; counting friction ridges (RC) and white lines (WLC) of dermatoglyphs; and classifying fingerprint patterns (FP). Dental and dermatoglyphic development stages were assessed against intrauterine testosterone levels. Phenotypic variation was examined within the context of general somatic development and the properties of a Complex Adaptive System by exploring the possible effects of the Y chromosome and testosterone in utero and the role of epigenetic factors. Results showed sexual dimorphism in both the primary and permanent dentitions, with the permanent teeth showing greater differences. Some sexual dimorphism was observed in the fingerprints. The correlations between teeth and fingerprints were found to be statistically significant but low in magnitude. Strong genetic influence in sexual dimorphism was suggested through MD and BL measurements of MZ twins; this was the only zygosity group where all tooth types were observed as sexually different. The additional role of environmental factors was suggested for the sexual dimorphism of WLC in DZSS twins. Epigenetic influence in sexual dimorphism has been observed in DZOS females, with MD and BL measurements and CT scores being larger than MZ and DZSS females. DZOS females were also observed to have more loop or whorl than arch fingerprints compared to MZ and DZSS females. The differences in tooth size and shape and fingerprint pattern provide further support on the Twin Testosterone Transfer (TTT) hypothesis. While teeth and fingerprints had low correlations in both sexes, it was observed that fingerprint patterns were associated with measurements of MD and BL in both primary and permanent teeth. In conclusion, sexual dimorphism in teeth and fingerprints was confirmed by the larger tooth size and higher Carabelli scores in males, and in DZOS females; and the different WLC in DZSS and fingerprint patterns in DZOS. While teeth and fingerprints have low correlations in both sexes, it was observed that fingerprint patterns are associated with measurements of MD and BL in both primary and permanent teeth. Moreover, the findings provide further evidence that the development of teeth and the development of fingerprints are outcomes of Complex Adaptive Systems.Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, Adelaide Dental School, 201

Privacy in Biometric Systems

Biometrics are physiological and/or behavioral characteristics of a person that have been used to provide an automatic proof of identity in a growing list of applications including crime/terrorism fighting, forensics, access and border control, securing e-/m-commerce transactions and service entitlements. In recent years, a great deal of research into a variety of new and traditional biometrics has widened the scope of investigations beyond improving accuracy into mechanisms that deal with serious concerns raised about the potential misuse of collected biometric data. Despite the long list of biometrics’ benefits, privacy concerns have become widely shared due to the fact that every time the biometric of a person is checked, a trace is left that could reveal personal and confidential information. In fact, biometric-based recognition has an inherent privacy problem as it relies on capturing, analyzing, and storing personal data about us as individuals. For example, biometric systems deal with data related to the way we look (face, iris), the way we walk (gait), the way we talk (speaker recognition), the way we write (handwriting), the way we type on a keyboard (keystroke), the way we read (eye movement), and many more. Privacy has become a serious concern for the public as biometric systems are increasingly deployed in many applications ranging from accessing our account on a Smartphone or computer to border control and national biometric cards on a very large scale. For example, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has issued 56 million biometric cards as of January 2014 [1], where each biometric card holds templates of the 10 fingers, the two irises and the face. An essential factor behind the growing popularity of biometrics in recent years is the fact that biometric sensors have become a lot cheaper as well as easier to install and handle. CCTV cameras are installed nearly everywhere and almost all Smartphones are equipped with a camera, microphone, fingerprint scanner, and probably very soon, an iris scanner

Revisão histórica dos dermatóglifos e estudo comparativo entre o método tradicional de impressão palmar com tinta e método de escaneamento digital em um grupo de escolares de Curitiba, Paraná

Resumo: Os dermatóglifos (derma-pele, glifeín-esculpir) são sistemas de cristas e sulcos do estrato córneo da epiderme, presentes nas áreas ventrais dos dedos das mãos, dos pés bem como de regiões palmares e plantares em seres humanos. Estes sistemas de cristas são formados entre a 13ª e 19ª semana de vida embrionária e apresentam figuras e padrões característicos (arcos, presilhas, verticilos e trirrádios) que permanecem inalterados por toda a vida sofrendo somente variações do crescimento. As primeiras descrições científicas dos dermatóglifos apareceram na literatura no século XVII e sua classificação sistemática em 1823 por Purkinge. A nomenclatura clássica (arco, presilha e verticilo) foi estabelecida por Sir Francis Galton em 1888 e os trirrádios palmares por Wilder em 1897. O termo dermatóglifos foi estabelecido por Cummins e Midlo em 1926 quando iniciou a ciência moderna dos dermatóglifos, com a demonstração da importante correlação entre a Síndrome de Down e a presença da prega transversal palmar única. No Brasil, o estudo dos dermatóglifos teve início no século XX com estudos antropológicos em indígenas brasileiros de várias tribos. Na segunda metade daquele século cientistas brasileiros dedicaram-se á publicação do tema com enfoque na antropologia e medicina. O sistema de classificação das cristas de figuras ou padrões utilizados para a identificação pessoal ou estudos de herança requer procedimentos numéricos como a contagem de linhas entre pontos específicos ou medida de ângulos. Seu estudo é de aplicação forense, antropologia física, biologia humana, genética e clínica médica. Atualmente as tecnologias em imagem e computação facilitaram a captação das imagens dermatoglíficas para fins de identificação pessoal, investigação criminal e controle de indivíduos. Por meio da análise e interpretação científica das alterações dermatoglíficas, em três diferentes métodos de coleta das imagens digito-palmares, foi avaliada a utilidade do estudo dos dermatóglifos em um grupo de escolares da cidade de Curitiba-Paraná. Os métodos foram comparados quanto a sua eficácia de leitura das imagens. Foram coletadas impressões digito-palmares por método clássico de impressão com tinta e realizado escaneamento das mãos com digitalização das imagens. A leitura dermatoglífica das imagens escaneadas foi estudada pelos métodos semiautomático RIDGECOUNTER e automático IMAGO-UFPR. Em um grupo de escolares de ambos os gêneros e nas mãos direita e esquerda foi realizada a comparação dos seguintes parâmetros pelos três métodos: a presença de padrões ou figuras (arco, presilha e verticilo) em cada dígito palmar, a contagem do número de cristas dermatoglíficas (TRC- contagem do número total de cristas) nos dez dígitos palmares, a posição do trirrádio axial proximal, a contagem do número de cristas entre os trirrádios palmares (a-b, b-c e c-d), a medida do ângulo atd, a presença dos padrões dermatoglíficos (arco, presilha e verticilo) nas áreas tenares e hipotenares e nas segunda e quarta áreas interdigitais palmares. Como resultado, quanto aos métodos, foi constatado que a acurácia do método com impressão por tinta dependerá da técnica da tomada da impressão e da avaliação da imagem (contagem visual), pois está sujeita a erros. É método adequado para a análise nível 1 dos dermatóglifos. As imagens escaneadas estão sujeitas à pressão a qual podem originar alterações na vizualização das figuras dos dígitos, levando a erros na leitura visual e marcação de trirrádios. É técnica adequada para o estudo ao nível 1, 2 e 3 dos dermatóglifos. O método de leitura semiautomático RIDGECOUNTER demonstrou ser método adequado para a captura dos três níveis de avaliação dos dermatóglifos. No entanto, esta técnica parece não ser totalmente adequada por não fazer a correção do contraste da imagem escaneada, o que pode prejudicar a leitura e retardar a análise das imagens. O método de leitura automática IMAGO-UFPR demonstrou ser técnica rápida, com precisão na contagem das cristas dermatoglíficas, mas ainda em aperfeiçoamento por apresentar dificuldade na captação e medida de trirrádios. Nenhum dos métodos estudados demonstrou ser mais eficiente que o outro na análise dos parâmetros dermatoglíficos dígito-palmares. Quanto aos parâmetros dermatoglíficos analisados neste estudo, foi constatado haver: diferença quanto aos gêneros para a-b, b-c e c-d no método de leitura com tinta, o mesmo ocorrendo no parâmetro b-c no método semiautomático RIDGECOUNTER e c-d no método IMAGO-UFPR. Foram encontradas diferenças entre mão direita e esquerda, entre os gêneros para o parâmetro a-b no método semiautomático RIDGECOUNTER. O ângulo atd apresentou diferença entre mão direita e esquerda apenas no gênero masculino no método de leitura IMAGO-UFPR. Estudos futuros deverão ser mais precisos, a fim de diminuir a margem de erro que possa existir com os diferentes métodos de leitura das imagens dermatoglíficas, o que poderá levar a uma melhor acurácia nos estudos desta área de pesquisa