ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ КОРОТКИХ РУКОПИСНИХ ЗАПИСІВ, ВИКОНАНИХ ОСОБАМИ ПОХИЛОГО ТА СТАРЕЧОГО ВІКУ

Nowadays, the objects of forensic handwriting analysis are often become short handwritten records of elderly people and senile. The study of such records is one of the most difficult when conducting handwriting examination. This is due to the nature of this object, which is often subjected to changes due to insufficient written practice, influence of age-related changes in the body or conditions common for the elderly people and senile, frequent execution of short handwritten records in unusual conditions, and sometimes with the help of other people, limitations in the studied graphic material. The article attempts to substantiate and systematize theoretical knowledge on the study of short handwritten records executed by elderly and senile people through analyzing the literature and forensic practice on the study of this type of objects, establishing individual patterns of handwriting, explaining the nature of diagnostic signs occurrence, determining the structure of the process for solving the mentioned tasks. Cases from practice and related problematic aspects of solving identification and diagnostic tasks are considered. The main characteristics of impaired ability (sensory, amnestic and motor aphasia) to write are given. Literature sources are analyzed, which consider the physiological mechanisms of the formation of writing skills and the features of their changes due to various conditions in elderly and senile people. Handwriting can undergo changes owing to aging of the body. Disorder of hand-eye coordination, conditions of the musculoskeletal system, nervous system, circulatory disorders, inherent for elderly and senile people, affect the stability of handwriting features. Testaments, contracts of sale and donation, bank documents are often signed by people of elderly and senile age shortly before death resulting from a serious long illness after experiencing such conditions as stroke or myocardial infarction. It is the aging of the body that is accompanied by deterioration in the state of health, impaired vision, muscle weakness, depletion of the nervous system, decreased mobility of the musculoskeletal system and impaired blood circulation. Features of writing motor skill functioning in the elderly and senile people lead to a slowdown in the tempo of movement, decrease in their amplitude and speed, decrease in the plasticity of movements. The correct ratio of such signs as proficiency and coordination of movements is of great importance. In addition, short handwritten records executed by the elderly and senile people contain a limited amount of graphic material. At the moment of executing a short recording, even under normal conditions, the performer needs a certain adaptation to a situation, which can not be performed while rare or occasional execution of a single short record. Therefore, the stability of a skill while executing short recording has an increased spread, and selective variability has low thresholds.У статті зроблено спробу обґрунтувати й систематизувати теоре-тичні знання щодо дослідження коротких рукописних записів, виконаних особами похилого та старечого віку, шляхом аналізу літератури й екс-пертної практики щодо дослідження подібного виду об’єктів, визначення окремих закономірностей почерку і пояснення природи виникнення діагностичних ознак, а також шляхом визначення структури процесу розв­’язання зазначеного завдання. Наведено основні характеристики порушень здатності писати — сенсорної, амнестичної й моторної афазії. Проаналізо-вано літературні джерела, у яких розглянуто фізіологічні механізми фор-мування навичок письма й особливості їх змін за різних захворювань в осіб похилого та старечого віку. Розглянуто випадки з експертної практики та пов’язані з цим проблемні аспекти розв’язання ідентифікаційних і діагно-стичних завдань

Targeted kinase inhibition relieves slowness and tremor in a Drosophila model of LRRK2 Parkinson’s disease

Disease models: A reflex reaction A simple reflex in flies can be used to test the effectiveness of therapies that slow neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Christopher Elliott and colleagues at the University of York in the United Kingdom investigated the contraction of the proboscis muscle which mediates a taste behavior response and is regulated by a single dopaminergic neuron. Flies bearing particular mutations in the PD-associated gene leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) in dopaminergic neurons lost their ability to feed on a sweet solution. This was due to the movement of the proboscis muscle becoming slower and stiffer, hallmark features of PD. The authors rescued the impaired reflex reaction by feeding the flies l-DOPA or LRRK2 inhibitors. These findings highlight the proboscis extension response as a useful tool to identify other PD-associated mutations and test potential therapeutic compounds

To Be or Not to Be a Flatworm: The Acoel Controversy

Since first described, acoels were considered members of the flatworms (Platyhelminthes). However, no clear synapomorphies among the three large flatworm taxa - the Catenulida, the Acoelomorpha and the Rhabditophora - have been characterized to date. Molecular phylogenies, on the other hand, commonly positioned acoels separate from other flatworms. Accordingly, our own multi-locus phylogenetic analysis using 43 genes and 23 animal species places the acoel flatworm Isodiametra pulchra at the base of all Bilateria, distant from other flatworms. By contrast, novel data on the distribution and proliferation of stem cells and the specific mode of epidermal replacement constitute a strong synapomorphy for the Acoela plus the major group of flatworms, the Rhabditophora. The expression of a piwi-like gene not only in gonadal, but also in adult somatic stem cells is another unique feature among bilaterians. These two independent stem-cell-related characters put the Acoela into the Platyhelminthes-Lophotrochozoa clade and account for the most parsimonious evolutionary explanation of epidermal cell renewal in the Bilateria. Most available multigene analyses produce conflicting results regarding the position of the acoels in the tree of life. Given these phylogenomic conflicts and the contradiction of developmental and morphological data with phylogenomic results, the monophyly of the phylum Platyhelminthes and the position of the Acoela remain unresolved. By these data, both the inclusion of Acoela within Platyhelminthes, and their separation from flatworms as basal bilaterians are well-supported alternatives

RESEARCH OF LETTERLESS SIGNATURES TO SOLVE IDENTIFICATION PROBLEMS

Based on the analysis of the literature and expert practice on the study of letterless signatures, theoretical knowledge was systematized in relation to the study of this type of objects in order to solve identification problems, certain patterns and ways of forming letterless signatures were established, and the structure of the process of solving the identification problem was determined. The authors have proposed certain criteria by which one could testify about the stability of features in letterless signatures. Unlike handwritten notes, any signature is made not in order to convey certain thoughts to the reader, but in order to verify the identity of the writer, since the signature is a verification mark. When making handwritten notes, the writer tries to make letters and numbers in a form that would not cause the reader to doubt what words and numbers they represent. When executing the signature, the performer does not strive for such a goal and only wants to convince the reader that the signature was made by a specific person. These circumstances explain the wide distribution of signatures, which entirely or for the most part consist of letterless strokes. To clarify the nature of the graphic material contained in letterless signatures, it is essential to know the ways of its formation. First, most often letterless signatures are applied by simplifying letter signatures. The signature, first produced in letterform, is gradually simplified in the process of its frequent application, and the strokes lose its original appearance. The combinations of strokes, although they are random on the outside, however, according to the artist’s intention, correspond to certain letters and its combinations and can be interpreted by it. The second way to form letterless signatures is to deliberately complicate or simplify letters in the process of developing signatures, which leads to the impossibility of reading what is written. Additional ornate strokes are added to the letters, the letters are applied upside down, sometimes elements of different letters merge, forming monograms. This is usually done to make it more difficult to forge a signature. Thirdly, a letterless signature can be made by drawing strokes, which, according to the artist’s intention, do not correspond to any strokes of the letters. A peculiar kind of this way of forming a signature is imitation of the signature of another person bearing a different surname. In the process of analyzing the literature and expert practice, the authors of this article established that the study of letterless signatures can and should be based on the same basic principles as the study of handwritten records and letter signatures. It should be noted that the study of letterless signatures has a number of features, in particular, one should take into account not the transcription of signatures, but the composition, shape and mutual arrangement of strokes, that is, the general construction of signatures. When examining such objects, an expert encounters a difficulty, expressed in the absence of that unit, those elements of the signature, in relation to which it is possible to study particular features. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account a number of points that the authors mentioned in this work. In addition, the authors of the article drew attention to the peculiarities of the preparation by the investigator and the court of materials for the examination by letterless signatures.</jats:p

THE EXAMINATION OF SHORT HANDWRITTEN RECORDS EXECUTED BY PERSONS OF THE ELDERLY AND SENILE AGE

Nowadays, the objects of forensic handwriting analysis are often become short handwritten records of elderly people and senile. The study of such records is one of the most difficult when conducting handwriting examination. This is due to the nature of this object, which is often subjected to changes due to insufficient written practice, influence of age-related changes in the body or conditions common for the elderly people and senile, frequent execution of short handwritten records in unusual conditions, and sometimes with the help of other people, limitations in the studied graphic material. The article attempts to substantiate and systematize theoretical knowledge on the study of short handwritten records executed by elderly and senile people through analyzing the literature and forensic practice on the study of this type of objects, establishing individual patterns of handwriting, explaining the nature of diagnostic signs occurrence, determining the structure of the process for solving the mentioned tasks. Cases from practice and related problematic aspects of solving identification and diagnostic tasks are considered. The main characteristics of impaired ability (sensory, amnestic and motor aphasia) to write are given. Literature sources are analyzed, which consider the physiological mechanisms of the formation of writing skills and the features of their changes due to various conditions in elderly and senile people. Handwriting can undergo changes owing to aging of the body. Disorder of hand-eye coordination, conditions of the musculoskeletal system, nervous system, circulatory disorders, inherent for elderly and senile people, affect the stability of handwriting features. Testaments, contracts of sale and donation, bank documents are often signed by people of elderly and senile age shortly before death resulting from a serious long illness after experiencing such conditions as stroke or myocardial infarction. It is the aging of the body that is accompanied by deterioration in the state of health, impaired vision, muscle weakness, depletion of the nervous system, decreased mobility of the musculoskeletal system and impaired blood circulation. Features of writing motor skill functioning in the elderly and senile people lead to a slowdown in the tempo of movement, decrease in their amplitude and speed, decrease in the plasticity of movements. The correct ratio of such signs as proficiency and coordination of movements is of great importance. In addition, short handwritten records executed by the elderly and senile people contain a limited amount of graphic material. At the moment of executing a short recording, even under normal conditions, the performer needs a certain adaptation to a situation, which can not be performed while rare or occasional execution of a single short record. Therefore, the stability of a skill while executing short recording has an increased spread, and selective variability has low thresholds.</jats:p

Актуальні питання почеркознавчих досліджень підписів, виконаних зі значним розривом у часі

At the present stage, the objects of forensic handwriting analysis are signatures performed with a significant gap in time. In this case, such objects are both signatures in studied documents, made at different intervals and studied signatures performed in relation to the comparative material with a time gap. Establishing stability of signature signs depending on performing time is possible taking into account&nbsp; characteristic signs&nbsp; of the stages of the signature handwriting formation. Since the factors causing changes in signatures are a lengthy process of forming the signature skill and the amount of signature practice (that is how often a person has to sign). While research on signatures that are at the formation stage, different signs, established together with significant coinciding signs canindicate a further improvement of movements. In personsof middle age (30-60 years old) who have a formed signature handwriting, significant changes do not occur over time until they stop practicing writing. While research on elderly people signatures along with the established coinciding signs, differing ones appear: signs of ataxia, decreased coordination of movements, low coherence of written signs, etc. These signs indicate degradation of movements due to physiological changes in the body in old age and a decrease in writing practice including practice of performing signature. Considering the above, research on signatures performed with a significant time gap is a rather complicated process that often causes difficulties when forensic expert evaluates revealed signs. Within the framework of this research paper, the authors focused on some topical issues existing in modern forensic expert practice of handwriting analyses of signatures performed with a significant time gap. The state of development of modern practical handwriting studies requires improvement of methodological approaches to this type of research. Currently, forensic experts are conducting R&amp;D on the topic: “Improving research methods of signatures performed with a significant gap in time” which relevance is due to the need to improve forensic expert algorithm while handwriting research on signatures performed with a significant gap in time, as well as requirements of modern scientific standards.На сучасному етапі об’єктами судово-почеркознавчої експертизи часто стають підписи, виконані зі значним розривом у часі. При цьому такими об’єктами є як підписи, виконані у різні проміжки часу, так і підписи, виконані відносно порівняльного матеріалу, із розривом у часі. Установити стійкість ознак підпису залежно від часу виконання мож-на, зважаючи на ознаки, характерні для стадій формування підписного почерку. Оскільки факторами що викликають зміни в підписах, є тривалий процес формування підписної навички й обсяг практики виконання підпису (тобто як часто особі доводиться розписуватися). Під час дослідження підписів, що перебувають на стадії формування, розбіжності, установлені разом із суттєвими збіжними ознаками, можуть свідчити про подальше вдосконалення рухів. В осіб середнього та зрілого віку (30—60 років), які мають сформований підписний почерк, сут-тєвих змін у підписі з часом не настає, доки вони не припиняють займатися письмовою практикою, наприклад, у зв’язку з виходом на пенсію. Під час досліджень підписів осіб похилого та старечого віку разом зі встановленими збіжними ознаками виявляються розбіжні: ознаки атаксії, зниження координації рухів, низька зв’язність письмових знаків і велика розстановка, вид з’єднання, звивистість і кутастість під час виконання прямолінійних і дугових елементів літер, форма рухів у початкових і заключних штрихах, наявних у пізніших за часом виконання підписах. Ці ознаки свідчать про деградацію рухів унаслідок фізіологічних змін організму в старості й зменшення письмової практики, зокрема практики виконання підпису. З огляду на викладене, дослідження підписів, виконаних зі значним ро-зривом у часі, — це доволі складний процес, що нерідко спричиняє труднощі в оцінюванні експертом-почеркознавцем виявлених ознак. У межах цієї наукової роботи автори розглянули актуальні питання, наявні в сучасній експертній практиці почеркознавчого дослідження підписів, виконаних зі значним розривом у часі. Стан розвитку сучасного практичного почеркознавства потребує вдосконалення методичних підходів до такого виду досліджень. Станом на сьогодні експерти проводять науково-дослідну роботу за темою «Удосконалення методики дослідження підписів, виконаних зі значним розривом у часі», актуальність якої зумовлена необхідністю вдосконалити алгоритм дій судового експерта під час проведення почеркознавчого дослідження підписів, виконаних зі значним розривом у часі, а також вимогами сучасних наукових стандартів

Topical issues of handwriting analysis of signatures performed with a significant gap in time

At the present stage, the objects of forensic handwriting analysis are signatures performed with a significant gap in time. In this case, such objects are both signatures in studied documents, made at different intervals and studied signatures performed in relation to the comparative material with a time gap.&#x0D; Establishing stability of signature signs depending on performing time is possible taking into account  characteristic signs  of the stages of the signature handwriting formation. Since the factors causing changes in signatures are a lengthy process of forming the signature skill and the amount of signature practice (that is how often a person has to sign). While research on signatures that are at the formation stage, different signs, established together with significant coinciding signs canindicate a further improvement of movements. In personsof middle age (30-60 years old) who have a formed signature handwriting, significant changes do not occur over time until they stop practicing writing. While research on elderly people signatures along with the established coinciding signs, differing ones appear: signs of ataxia, decreased coordination of movements, low coherence of written signs, etc. These signs indicate degradation of movements due to physiological changes in the body in old age and a decrease in writing practice including practice of performing signature.&#x0D; Considering the above, research on signatures performed with a significant time gap is a rather complicated process that often causes difficulties when forensic expert evaluates revealed signs. Within the framework of this research paper, the authors focused on some topical issues existing in modern forensic expert practice of handwriting analyses of signatures performed with a significant time gap.&#x0D; The state of development of modern practical handwriting studies requires improvement of methodological approaches to this type of research. Currently, forensic experts are conducting R&amp;D on the topic: “Improving research methods of signatures performed with a significant gap in time” which relevance is due to the need to improve forensic expert algorithm while handwriting research on signatures performed with a significant gap in time, as well as requirements of modern scientific standards.</jats:p