The testosterone–cortisol ratio: A hormonal marker for proneness to social aggression

Social aggression is an escalating hazard for individuals and society. It is most frequently observed as impulsive–reactive aggression in antisocial personality disorder (APD), but in psychopathic aggressive personalities instrumental social aggression is more prominent. However, the psychobiological mechanisms underlying human social aggression are still poorly understood. Here we propose a psychobiological mechanism that may explain human social aggression wherein the steroid hormones cortisol and testosterone play a critical role. High levels of testosterone and low levels of cortisol have been associated with social aggression in several species but it seems that in those individuals wherein these hormonal markers combine social aggression is most violent. In this review we discuss fundamental and clinical research which underscores the potential of the testosterone–cortisol ratio as a possible marker for criminal aggressive tendencies.     

Latent Fingermark Aging Patterns (Part III): Discontinuity Index as One Indicator of Degradation

This article is the third in a series of reports exploring quantifiable visual parameters of the aging process of latent fingermarks. On this occasion, research is focused on the occurrence of ridge discontinuities (i.e. breakages) as a function of time. Experiment variables included type of secretion (eccrine and sebaceous), substrate (glass and plastic), and exposure to natural light (dark, shade, and direct light) over a 6 months period. Fingermarks were sequentially visualized with titanium dioxide powder, photographed, and the number of naturally occurring ridge discontinuities subsequently evaluated. A semi‐quantitative value, named Discontinuity Index, was used to better characterize this aging parameter. Results indicated that ridges of sebaceous depositions on glass were generally less affected by the environmental conditions compared with those on plastic surface. In addition, aging in darkness was not always the best condition for preservation, and the direct exposure to light seemed not to affect the degradation under certain conditions.     

New Zealand

European Journal of Political Research -     

Making sense of HIPAA Privacy: solutions for complex compliance dilemmas

This Article examines and proposes solutions for the following compliance problems under the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act's Privacy Rule: (a) determining compliance requirements when multiple provisions of the Privacy Rule allow a use or disclosure of protected health information; (b) managing minimum necessary for disclosures to noncovered entities; (c) managing interaction between organized healthcare arrangements and noncovered providers; (d) processing joint health and life/disability insurance applications; (e) reconciling family coverage explanations of benefits and family member's confidential communication demands; and (f) explaining denial of protected health information access based on endangerment. In the course of the analysis, the Article presents a Privacy Rule Compliance Tool that summarizes the compliance requirements associated with each Privacy Rule provision that allows protected health information use or disclosure.