They May Not Believe You Remembered That Nose: Juror Perceptions Of Eyewitness\u27 Featural Justifications

The featural justification effect occurs when an eyewitness provides a confidence statement at the time of lineup identification that includes reference to a facial feature or component that aided them in their identification (Dodson & Dobolyi, 2015, 2017, 2018; Slane & Dodson, 2019). The result of the effect, found across several manipulations, is that jurors tend to discredit the confidence of an eyewitness that references a facial feature (such as eyes, nose, chin) in the identification statement. The current studies examined featural justification, along with eyewitness viewing conditions and legal safeguards. Participants were presented with either expert testimony (study 1) or jury instruction (study 2) with the aim of sensitizing mock jurors to eyewitness factors in the case, as well as alleviate the featural justification effect. Results of both studies replicated the featural justification effect and found a significant main effect of viewing condition on verdict, such that good viewing conditions resulted in more guilty verdicts than bad viewing conditions. Other significant findings varied between the two studies. The current findings contribute to research on the featural justification effect and include discussion of implications for cases including eyewitness evidence

Effects of Postural Position, EEG Asymmetry, and Temperamental Style on Cognitive Task Performance

The literature shows hemispheric asymmetry in individuals corresponding with temperamental style. Those with greater right-frontal activation tend towards withdrawal/inhibition and those with greater left-frontal activation tend towards approach/activation (e.g., Davidson, 1992). Other literature suggests that greater right-parietotemporal activation is associated with increased arousal (Heller, 1993; Wolfe & Bell, 2014). Temperamental style has been linked with cognitive performance with approach-oriented temperaments being associated with both higher and lower performance depending on the task requirements (Khan et al., 2024; Wolfe & Bell, 2007). Literature further suggests that postural position (e.g., sitting, standing, lying down) may influence feelings of approach/withdrawal and cognitive processing. To explore the combination of these variables, college student participants completed a series of cognitive tasks in seated and supine positions while wearing an EEG device. Participants also reported their temperamental style (i.e., ATQ; Evans & Rothbart, 2007). Results showed relationships between temperamental style and performance on all cognitive tasks. Low approach participants performed better in the color Stroop, emotion Stroop, and verbal fluency tasks. High approach participants performed better in the backwards digit span task. Further, there appeared to be trends toward larger temperamental style differences on cognitive tasks in the seated positions that were minimized in the supine conditions; however, due to the small sample size, our results should be interpreted with caution. Finally, findings from our single EEG participant were consistent with what might be expected based on the literature (i.e., higher arousal, anxious anticipation in the baseline condition and less aroused, attention focused during the task condition). These results suggest a viable research program and paradigm. Future research should replicate this study with increased sample size and functional EEG

Engineered metallic foam for controlling sound and vibration

Many structural acoustic and vibration designs rely extensively on materials that are light-weight, stiff, and highly damped. Advanced materials such as metallic foams can be engineered to achieve these properties in order to control sound and vibration for a variety of aerospace, maritime, and ground transportation applications. In this work, the structural and acoustic properties of commercially available and digitally designed metallic foams are analyzed through numerical and experimental methods. Furthermore as a post-manufacturing process, metallic foams can be engineered in order to preferentially alter the microstructure and achieve material property enhancements. In this work, the following engineering methods are proposed and investigated: plastic deformation and material saturation. When a metallic foam is plastically deformed, the foam's porosity and pore shape are dramatically altered. This transformation in microstructure can lead directly to changes in bulk properties. In this work, a method for triaxial hydrostatic compression of metallic foams is proposed and demonstrated experimentally. The structural properties of transformed foams are tested using a load cell with digital image correlation. Transformed foams exhibit higher compliance, higher toughness, and a reduced Poisson ratio. Measurement and analysis of acoustic properties indicate that the transformed foams can absorb significantly more sound than the conventional samples of equal thickness in the test range of 0.25 - 4.50 kHz. Due to their open-cell microstructure, metallic foams can be filled with saturating materials. In this work, metallic foams saturated with viscous liquids are investigated for reducing vibration transmissibility in a structure. For the best performing saturated foam subject to a transient excitation, an order of magnitude increase in damping ratio is measured. Additionally, a composite foam (consisting of metallic foam saturated with polyurethane foam) is fabricated to enhance acoustic properties. For the best performing composite foam at normal incidence, the sound absorption coefficient is improved by a factor of 6 near 0.60 kHz and by a factor of 2 up to 4.5 kHz. Lastly, two methods for estimating acoustic absorption in metallic foams are presented which utilize finite element analysis and boundary layer theory. The proposed methods are discussed for commercially available foams as well as for representative digital designs. Limitations and assumptions of the methods pertaining to size scales and boundary layer features are addressed

Análisis de la metodología aula invertida en enseñanza de posgrado en una Institución de Educación Superior de Paraguay

The main objective of this research work was to analyze the acceptance and valuation of the method called "Inverted Classroom by Nora Ruoti", as a learning approach in graduate education by students of the Master's Degree in Taxation of the second semester of 2019 of the FOTRIEM Faculty of the Republic of Paraguay. A quantitative approach methodology was used, descriptive design, non-experimental, the data collection instrument was the questionnaire through the Google form. The data were collected longitudinally from the students. The sample of the study was 114 participants. The results obtained showed that the deep learning approach, with active participation, encouraged through the inverted classroom method, even when it requires greater investment of time and dedication of various actors of the educational community, are highly satisfactory in the performance of graduate level students. It is recommended to other researchers to deepen the subject of studies with the use of audio books for the inverted classroomEl presente trabajo de investigación tuvo por objetivo principal analizar la aceptación y valoración del método denominado “Aula invertida by Nora Ruoti”, como enfoque de aprendizaje en la educación de posgrado por parte de los estudiantes de la maestría en impuestos del segundo semestre del año 2019 de la Facultad FOTRIEM de la República del Paraguay. Se utilizó una metodología de enfoque cuantitativo, de diseño descriptivo, no experimental, el instrumento de recolección de datos fue el cuestionario a través del formulario de Google. Los datos se recogieron de manera longitudinal a los estudiantes. La muestra del estudio fue de 114 participantes. Los resultados obtenidos demostraron que el enfoque de aprendizaje profundo, con participación activa, incentivada mediante el método de aula invertida, aun cuando requiera mayor inversión de tiempo y dedicación de diversos actores de la comunidad educativa, son altamente satisfactorios en el rendimiento de los estudiantes de nivel de postgrado. Se recomienda a otros investigadores profundizar el tema de estudios con el uso de audio libros para el aula invertida

Análisis de la metodología aula invertida en enseñanza de posgrado en una Institución de Educación Superior de Paraguay

The main objective of this research work was to analyze the acceptance and valuation of the method called "Inverted Classroom by Nora Ruoti", as a learning approach in graduate education by students of the Master's Degree in Taxation of the second semester of 2019 of the FOTRIEM Faculty of the Republic of Paraguay. A quantitative approach methodology was used, descriptive design, non-experimental, the data collection instrument was the questionnaire through the Google form. The data were collected longitudinally from the students. The sample of the study was 114 participants. The results obtained showed that the deep learning approach, with active participation, encouraged through the inverted classroom method, even when it requires greater investment of time and dedication of various actors of the educational community, are highly satisfactory in the performance of graduate level students. It is recommended to other researchers to deepen the subject of studies with the use of audio books for the inverted classroom.El presente trabajo de investigación tuvo por objetivo principal analizar la aceptación y valoración del método denominado “Aula invertida by Nora Ruoti”, como enfoque de aprendizaje en la educación de posgrado por parte de los estudiantes de la maestría en impuestos del segundo semestre del año 2019 de la Facultad FOTRIEM de la República del Paraguay. Se utilizó una metodología de enfoque cuantitativo, de diseño descriptivo, no experimental, el instrumento de recolección de datos fue el cuestionario a través del formulario de Google. Los datos se recogieron de manera longitudinal a los estudiantes. La muestra del estudio fue de 114 participantes. Los resultados obtenidos demostraron que el enfoque de aprendizaje profundo, con participación activa, incentivada mediante el método de aula invertida, aun cuando requiera mayor inversión de tiempo y dedicación de diversos actores de la comunidad educativa, son altamente satisfactorios en el rendimiento de los estudiantes de nivel de postgrado. Se recomienda a otros investigadores profundizar el tema de estudios con el uso de audio libros para el aula invertida

Exploring the impact of the reclassification of a hereditary cancer syndrome gene variant: emerging themes from a qualitative study

The complexity of genetic variant interpretation means that a proportion of individuals who undergo genetic testing for a hereditary cancer syndrome will have their test result reclassified over time. Such a reclassification may involve a clinically significant upgrade or downgrade in pathogenicity, which may have significant implications for medical management. To date, few studies have examined the psychosocial impact of a reclassification in a hereditary cancer syndrome context. To address this gap, semi-structured telephone interviews were performed with eighteen individuals who had a BRCA1, BRCA2 or Lynch syndrome-related (MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 or PMS2) gene variant reclassified. The interviews were analysed utilising an inductive, qualitative approach and emergent themes were identified by thematic analysis. Variable levels of recall amongst participants were found. Common motivations for initial testing included a significant personal and/or family history of cancer and a desire to “find an answer”. No individual whose uncertain result was upgraded reported negative psychosocial outcomes; most reported adapting to their reclassified result and appraised their genetic testing experience positively. However, individuals whose likely pathogenic/pathogenic results were downgraded reported feelings of anger, shock and sadness post reclassification, highlighting that additional psychosocial support may be required for some. Genetic counselling issues and recommendations for clinical practice are outlined

Selective abdominal venous congestion induces adverse renal and hepatic morphological and functional alterations despite a preserved cardiac function

Venous congestion is an important contributor to worsening renal function in heart failure and the cardiorenal syndrome. In patients, it is difficult to study the effects of isolated venous congestion on organ function. In this study, the consequences of isolated abdominal venous congestion on morphology and function of the kidneys, liver and heart were studied in a rat model. Twelve shamoperated (SHAM) male Sprague Dawley rats were compared to eleven inferior vena cava-constricted (IVCc) rats for twenty-one weeks. Abdominal venous pressure was significantly higher in the IVCc versus SHAM group (p < 0.0001). Indices of liver and kidney weight, function and morphology, inflammation as well as collagen deposition were significantly increased in the IVCc compared to SHAM group, (p < 0.05). Echocardiographic and hemodynamic parameters were largely unaffected by abdominal venous congestion. In this rat model of isolated abdominal venous congestion, retrogradely conducted glomerular hypertension without a concomitant change in glomerular filtration rate was observed. Adverse short-term hepatic morphological alterations were developed which explain the observed organ function dysfunction. Importantly, cardiac function remained comparable between both groups. This study provides relevant insight in the pathophysiology of abdominal congestion on organ function

The tissue-type plasminogen activator-plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 complex promotes neurovascular injury in brain trauma: evidence from mice and humans

The neurovascular unit provides a dynamic interface between the circulation and central nervous system. Disruption of neurovascular integrity occurs in numerous brain pathologies including neurotrauma and ischaemic stroke. Tissue plasminogen activator is a serine protease that converts plasminogen to plasmin, a protease that dissolves blood clots. Besides its role in fibrinolysis, tissue plasminogen activator is abundantly expressed in the brain where it mediates extracellular proteolysis. However, proteolytically active tissue plasminogen activator also promotes neurovascular disruption after ischaemic stroke; the molecular mechanisms of this process are still unclear. Tissue plasminogen activator is naturally inhibited by serine protease inhibitors (serpins): plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, neuroserpin or protease nexin-1 that results in the formation of serpin:protease complexes. Proteases and serpin:protease complexes are cleared through high-affinity binding to low-density lipoprotein receptors, but their binding to these receptors can also transmit extracellular signals across the plasma membrane. The matrix metalloproteinases are the second major proteolytic system in the mammalian brain, and like tissue plasminogen activators are pivotal to neurological function but can also degrade structures of the neurovascular unit after injury. Herein, we show that tissue plasminogen activator potentiates neurovascular damage in a dose-dependent manner in a mouse model of neurotrauma. Surprisingly, inhibition of activity following administration of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 significantly increased cerebrovascular permeability. This led to our finding that formation of complexes between tissue plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in the brain parenchyma facilitates post-traumatic cerebrovascular damage. We demonstrate that following trauma, the complex binds to low-density lipoprotein receptors, triggering the induction of matrix metalloproteinase-3. Accordingly, pharmacological inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-3 attenuates neurovascular permeability and improves neurological function in injured mice. Our results are clinically relevant, because concentrations of tissue plasminogen activator: plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 complex and matrix metalloproteinase-3 are significantly elevated in cerebrospinal fluid of trauma patients and correlate with neurological outcome. In a separate study, we found that matrix metalloproteinase-3 and albumin, a marker of cerebrovascular damage, were significantly increased in brain tissue of patients with neurotrauma. Perturbation of neurovascular homeostasis causing oedema, inflammation and cell death is an important cause of acute and long-term neurological dysfunction after trauma. A role for the tissue plasminogen activator-matrix metalloproteinase axis in promoting neurovascular disruption after neurotrauma has not been described thus far. Targeting tissue plasminogen activator: plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 complex signalling or downstream matrix metalloproteinase-3 induction may provide viable therapeutic strategies to reduce cerebrovascular permeability after neurotraum