Variation between laboratory procedures for the microscopic examination of human hair

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston UniversityA critical overview of forensic science was performed by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in 2009 which resulted in several recommendations for the advancement of the hair analysis discipline within the field of trace evidence examination. Among them included improvements to training and proficiency testing requirements, adaptation of uniform protocols between all laboratories, and enhanced research and development efforts aimed at reducing the subjectivity between multiple analysts or within the same analyst. A survey was created for forensic hair analysts to determine what current microscopic hair examination procedures are being used and to identify variability between characteristics of individual examiners and laboratory practices in the field, three years following the NAS report. The survey was completed by 117 members of the American Society of Trace Evidence Examiners (ASTEE) and contained questions about the experience and training of the analyst, impact of the NAS report findings, type of hair examinations performed, and hair features referenced during microscopic hair comparisons. Most analysts surveyed received the same substantial amount of training and have several years of experience; however, very few reported that any laboratory procedures were affected as a result of the NAS report. Though hair analysis is not structured by mandated, uniform standard operating procedures, largely the same number and type of hair features are being referenced when microscopic hair comparisons are performed, indicating that little variability exists between laboratories or individual examiners. A trend toward more frequent root screenings for DNA viability and less frequent full microscopic hair comparisons was detected and supplemented by a shift of hair analysis from trace evidence sections to biology or DNA sections. Several technologies new to forensic hair analysis are currently being explored to supplement hair analyses with numerical data and, therefore, reduce subjectivity of forensic hair analysis

The Purpose of Capstone in an Entry-level Clinical Doctorate: A Scoping Review

This scoping review examined outcomes of capstones in relation to entry-level doctoral education programs within the health professions. Aims of the study included mapping existing evidence related to capstone across entry-level clinical doctorates; investigating the purpose of capstones within health professions education; and identifying future research initiatives. Researchers applied and reported via the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews systematic approach, and Best Evidence Medical Education global scale. The study indicated a gap in existing literature. Few health professions described requirements for capstones as part of an entry-level doctorate. Reviewed articles offered no consistent definition, intent, process, or outcome for capstones. The majority of publications documented Kirkpatrick Level 2a educational outcomes, modification of learner attitudes and perceptions. No publications documented Level 3, 4a, or 4b educational outcomes reporting student behavioral change, change in organizational practice, or direct improvement to the health and well-being of patients or clients. The researchers recommend additional evidence-based educational research to expand the body of evidence related to the capstone

Modelling multi-scale state-switching functional data with hidden Markov models

Data sets comprised of sequences of curves sampled at high frequencies in time are increasingly common in practice, but they can exhibit complicated dependence structures that cannot be modelled using common methods of Functional Data Analysis (FDA). We detail a hierarchical approach which treats the curves as observations from a hidden Markov model (HMM). The distribution of each curve is then defined by another fine-scale model which may involve auto-regression and require data transformations using moving-window summary statistics or Fourier analysis. This approach is broadly applicable to sequences of curves exhibiting intricate dependence structures. As a case study, we use this framework to model the fine-scale kinematic movement of a northern resident killer whale (Orcinus orca) off the coast of British Columbia, Canada. Through simulations, we show that our model produces more interpretable state estimation and more accurate parameter estimates compared to existing methods.Comment: 23 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables. Supplementary material appended to submissio

Appetite Suppression and Altered Food Preferences Coincide with Changes in Appetite-Mediating Hormones During Energy Deficit at High Altitude, But Are Not Affected by Protein Intake

Appetite suppression and altered food preferences coincide with changes in appetite-mediating hormones during energy deficit at high altitude, but are not affected by protein intake. High Alt Med Biol. 19:156–169, 2018.—Anorexia and unintentional body weight loss are common during high altitude (HA) sojourn, but underlying mechanisms are not fully characterized, and the impact of dietary macronutrient composition on appetite regulation at HA is unknown. This study aimed to determine the effects of a hypocaloric higher protein diet on perceived appetite and food preferences during HA sojourn and to examine longitudinal changes in perceived appetite, appetite mediating hormones, and food preferences during acclimatization and weight loss at HA. Following a 21-day level (SL) period, 17 unacclimatized males ascended to and resided at HA (4300 m) for 22 days. At HA, participants were randomized to consume measured standard-protein (1.0 g protein/kg/d) or higher protein (2.0 g/kg/d) hypocaloric diets (45% carbohydrate, 30% energy restriction) and engaged in prescribed physical activity to induce an estimated 40% energy deficit. Appetite, food preferences, and appetite-mediating hormones were measured at SL and at the beginning and end of HA. Diet composition had no effect on any outcome. Relative to SL, appetite was lower during acute HA (days 0 and 1), but not different after acclimatization and weight loss (HA day 18), and food preferences indicated an increased preference for sweet- and low-protein foods during acute HA, but for high-fat foods after acclimatization and weight loss. Insulin, leptin, and cholecystokinin concentrations were elevated during acute HA, but not after acclimatization and weight loss, whereas acylated ghrelin concentrations were suppressed throughout HA. Findings suggest that appetite suppression and altered food preferences coincide with changes in appetite-mediating hormones during energy deficit at HA. Although dietary protein intake did not impact appetite, the possible incongruence with food preferences at HA warrants consideration when developing nutritional strategies for HA sojourn

Prospectus, September 10, 1980

ARE YOU A \u27REAL STUDENT\u27?; Parkland People; Gamut challenges you; Emergency course offered; Oops!; Stugo hopefuls list qualifications; Kinks wow U of I fans; Coates announces student audtions; Country music is moving up; Women\u27s Program offers self-series; Classifieds; Students are....well, just students; Student disappointed; Correction; Science You Can See: Ask not what Cable T.V. can do for you, ask what you can do for Cable T.V.; B-ball deadline is Sept. 22; Football and tennis are IM openers; PC Datebook; Golfers begin season with win over Danville; After some surprises last week, Fast Freddy is ready; LaBadie confident of his runners; Fast Freddy Contest; Bench Warmer: Cobras show talenthttps://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_1980/1022/thumbnail.jp

Author Correction: Transcriptomic and cellular decoding of regional brain vulnerability to neurogenetic disorders

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper

Parent-of-origin-specific allelic associations among 106 genomic loci for age at menarche.

Age at menarche is a marker of timing of puberty in females. It varies widely between individuals, is a heritable trait and is associated with risks for obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, breast cancer and all-cause mortality. Studies of rare human disorders of puberty and animal models point to a complex hypothalamic-pituitary-hormonal regulation, but the mechanisms that determine pubertal timing and underlie its links to disease risk remain unclear. Here, using genome-wide and custom-genotyping arrays in up to 182,416 women of European descent from 57 studies, we found robust evidence (P < 5 × 10(-8)) for 123 signals at 106 genomic loci associated with age at menarche. Many loci were associated with other pubertal traits in both sexes, and there was substantial overlap with genes implicated in body mass index and various diseases, including rare disorders of puberty. Menarche signals were enriched in imprinted regions, with three loci (DLK1-WDR25, MKRN3-MAGEL2 and KCNK9) demonstrating parent-of-origin-specific associations concordant with known parental expression patterns. Pathway analyses implicated nuclear hormone receptors, particularly retinoic acid and γ-aminobutyric acid-B2 receptor signalling, among novel mechanisms that regulate pubertal timing in humans. Our findings suggest a genetic architecture involving at least hundreds of common variants in the coordinated timing of the pubertal transition