An investigation into the dynamics of lip-prints as a means of identification

Individualisation and identification by analysing the lines and furrows contained within lip patterns has been broadly discussed in the literature; however, due to a lack of research the reliability of this technique as evidence is questioned. Research was undertaken to test the classification system of lip print patterns and features that had previously been established, and it aimed to determine a method for cataloguing lip prints to include lip pattern typing and the comparison of pattern imperfections. Two sets of lip prints (eight impressions in total) were collected from 36 volunteers (25 females, 11 males). Volunteers were recruited at Teesside University and the University of Edinburgh. The ages of volunteers ranged from 21–60 years. The research found that lip patterns could be divided into five types, each type increasing in furrow complexity. Characteristic details from the lip prints were annotated based on the classification terminology used in fingerprint analysis (e.g. bifurcation) as well as classification systems used by other researchers previously. Lip print impressions were compared with known and unknown individuals as well as photographs, and the results demonstrated that it was possible to establish whether an impression could be linked to the source

Engaging students in bioscience research to improve their learning experience

Combining teaching and research is the definitive principle of research-informed teaching (RIT) (Healey, 2005). RIT is pivotal for improving the quality of the student learning experience. All undergraduate students within the School of Science and Engineering, Teesside University (TU), are given the opportunity to become RIT co-creators via curricula mechanisms, primarily via a second year project proposal module combined with their final year project. This case study aims to illustrate how, over three academic years, the authors used co-curricula methods to enhance student engagement within the bioscience research environment utilising co-designed research projects and publication preparation. The success of student involvement in these initiatives was measured against six key personal attributes (Adaptable, Articulate and Aspiring, Creative, Critical, Confident) and questionnaire responses from a total of ten respondents, in addition to a summary of tangible research outputs. An evaluation of staff involvement was also considered through the use of semi-structured interviews. Also outlined are the ways in which RIT can be integrated by early career researchers without significant financial input.Overall, the research-led, partnership approach resulted in increased student motivation, aspiration and confidence in their further learning and employment

Continuity of care in community midwifery

Continuity of care is often critical in delivering high quality health care. However, it is difficult to achieve in community health care where shift patterns and a need to minimise travelling time can reduce the scope for allocating staff to patients. Community midwifery is one example of such a challenge in the National Health Service where postnatal care typically involves a series of home visits. Ideally mothers would receive all of their antenatal and postnatal care from the same midwife. Minimising the number of staff-handovers helps ensure a better relationship between mothers and midwives, and provides more opportunity for staff to identify emerging problems over a series of home visits. This study examines the allocation and routing of midwives in the community using a variant of a multiple travelling salesmen problem algorithm incorporating staff preferences to explore trade-offs between travel time and continuity of care. This algorithm was integrated in a simulation to assess the additional effect of staff availability due to shift patterns and part-time working. The results indicate that continuity of care can be achieved with relatively small increases in travel time. However, shift patterns are problematic: perfect continuity of care is impractical but if there is a degree of flexibility in the visit schedule, reasonable continuity is feasible

Sex chromosome-to-autosome transposition events counter Y-chromosome gene loss in mammals

Background: Although the mammalian X and Y chromosomes evolved from a single pair of autosomes, they are highly differentiated: the Y chromosome is dramatically smaller than the X and has lost most of its genes. The surviving genes are a specialized set with extraordinary evolutionary longevity. Most mammalian lineages have experienced delayed, or relatively recent, loss of at least one conserved Y-linked gene. An extreme example of this phenomenon is in the Japanese spiny rat, where the Y chromosome has disappeared altogether. In this species, many Y-linked genes were rescued by transposition to new genomic locations, but until our work presented here, this has been considered an isolated case. Results: We describe eight cases of genes that have relocated to autosomes in mammalian lineages where the corresponding Y-linked gene has been lost. These gene transpositions originated from either the X or Y chromosomes, and are observed in diverse mammalian lineages: occurring at least once in marsupials, apes, and cattle, and at least twice in rodents and marmoset. For two genes - EIF1AX/Y and RPS4X/Y - transposition to autosomes occurred independently in three distinct lineages. Conclusions: Rescue of Y-linked gene loss through transposition to autosomes has previously been reported for a single isolated rodent species. However, our findings indicate that this compensatory mechanism is widespread among mammalian species. Thus, Y-linked gene loss emerges as an additional driver of gene transposition from the sex chromosomes, a phenomenon thought to be driven primarily by meiotic sex chromosome inactivation.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant HG000257