Parental reference photos do not always improve the accuracy of forensic age progressions

During long-term missing children cases, forensic artists construct age-progressions to estimate the child’s current appearance. It is commonly believed that incorporating information about the child’s biological relatives is critical in accurately estimating the child’s current appearance. However, some evidence suggests that predicting appearance based on inheritance of features may be error prone. The present studies examine whether age-progressions constructed with the aid of a biological reference photos led to better recognition than those constructed without a biological reference. We also investigated whether there would be any variation depending on the age-range of the age-progressions. Eight professional forensic artists created age-progressions based upon photographs provided by each of our eight targets. Half of their age progressions with the aid of parental reference photos and half without parental reference photos. Furthermore, half were age-progressed across a longer age-range (5–20 years) and half covered a shorter age-range (12–20 years). In Experiment 1 similarity scores were higher over shorter age-ranges. Further, across longer age-ranges age-progressions created with the aid of a parental reference were lower than those without a reference. In Experiment 2 recognition performance was higher across shorter age-ranges. Additionally, across longer age-ranges age-progressions created with the aid of a parental reference were recognized worse than those without a reference. These results suggest that in long-term missing person cases, forensic artists may benefit from not relying on biological references. Finally, consistent with previous research (e.g. Lampinen et al., 2012) age-progressions provided no benefit over using outdated photographs.     

Do Pilot and Demonstration Projects Work? Evidence from a Green Building Program

Pilot and demonstration (P&D) projects are commonly deployed to catalyze early adoption of technology but are poorly understood in terms of mechanism and impact. We conceptually distinguish unique functions of pilots and demonstrations, then examine whether they accelerate adoption in the case of green building technology. To identify effects on adoption, we develop a difference-in-difference-in-differences strategy, exploiting variation in timing, location, and technologies of green building P&Ds. Results indicate local quarterly green building adoption rates double following completion of a P&D project. Further analyses examine mechanisms driving this effect. The results suggest green building demonstration projects create learning externalities, proliferating technology diffusion in local markets and through building owner networks. Together, these results suggest that investments in P&D projects by public and private actors can lower costs for subsequent adoption.     

DESI-HRMS-HDI在添改字迹鉴定中的应用研究

目的 通过电喷雾解吸电离(DESI)—高分辨飞行时间质谱(HRMS-HDI)成像技术建立了 一种新型添改字迹鉴别技术.方法 对10支黑色签字笔书写的"11"被添改成"47"的90个样本用分子成像技术测试.结果 该技术可将84个被添改的原始字迹"11"以二维成像方式显现.结论 DESI-HRMS-HDI技术无需检材预处理...     

The Effect of Time and Temperature on the Persistence and Quality of Latent Fingerprints Recovered from 60-Watt Incandescent Light Bulbs

To understand how time and temperature could affect latent fingerprints, wooden pallets were used to construct five units that each housed ten 60-watt incandescent light bulbs. Fingerprints were deposited on the top, middle, and base of the globes. The bulbs were powered on (except the control bulb in each unit) for 18, 48, 72, 120, 168, 336, 504, and 672 h. Fingerprints recovered from the bulbs by tape lift after black powder processing were given a quality score. A thermal imaging camera determined temperatures on three areas of the bulbs. Fingerprints on the top of the globe (156.3°C) had the lowest quality score, and fingerprints on the middle of the globe (112.6°C) had the highest quality score. The mean quality scores of the three temperature classes were within one standard deviation of one another, meaning there is no way to estimate fingerprint age based on its quality after heat exposure.     

Policy diffusion in subnational governments: State–local relationships in the Brazilian education policy

Intergovernmental relations play a key role in policy diffusion among constituent units. Federal governments have adopted different mechanisms to guarantee minimum standards across the countries, but historical trajectories and widely shared policy ideas are also mentioned as relevant in diffusion processes. This paper focuses on the influence of federalism in policy diffusion at the subnational level in Brazil. The 1988 Constitution consolidated decentralization of the Brazilian education policy but required cooperation between states and municipalities. The lack of a national definition resulted in a great variety of cooperative programmes and coordination arrangements, allowing the identification of similarities and differences among their diffusion processes. This article shows that state governments are the main policy-makers regarding cooperation, which highlights that the role of the federal government does not entirely explain these processes. Nevertheless, policy trajectories and the movement of ideas and people municipalities were keys for policy diffusion.     

Information diffusion within the electorate:: the asymmetric transmission of political–economic information

This paper examines the connection between information and expectations. Drawing upon Lazarsfeld et al.'s (Lazarsfeld, P.F., Berelson, B., Gaudet, H., 1944. The People's Choice. Duell, Sloan, and Pearce, New York) classic work on communication flows, we devise an asymmetric transmission model of expectation formation. This model assumes that the expectations of the less informed segments within the electorate are influenced by the expectations of more informed groups but that the opposite does not hold. We use educational differences as a proxy for information heterogeneity. A vector autoregression (VAR) analysis on monthly surveys of inflation expectations supports the asymmetric transmission hypothesis.     

The diffusion of e-government innovations in Turkey： A conceptual framework

This paper aims to draw a conceptual framework about combining the diffusion of innovations literature with the use of e-government applications that are being used newly in Turkey. In recent years, their development still continues to grow rapidly. Thus, these applications can be accepted as innovations. In order to understand the patterns of diffusion that depend on a time process, we argue that the characteristics of e-government applications have effects on diffusion and rate of diffusion itself. With the combining efforts of literature and characteristics of e-government applications, some propositions are suggested with the help of diffusions of innovations literature and the validity of the conceptual framework that is drawn by the study that is aimed to be tested empirically for Turkey in further studies.     

针刺持续时间及刺激方案对针刺脑功能成像的影响

目的 利用BOLD-fMRI技术,在保持其他影响因素不变的情况下研究针刺持续时间及针刺刺激方案对脑功能成像激活区定位的影响。方法 选取健康志愿者40例,平均分为2组,为持续时间组及刺激方案组,第1组采用相同的针刺刺激方案（改良组块设计）进行3轮（R1、R2、R3）功能像数据采集,第2组采用3种不同的针刺刺激方案（包括典型组块、改良组块设计及事件相关设计）进行3轮功能像采集,两组数据均采用相同的MR扫描参数,用AFNI软件进行数据处理,用Monte Carlo阈值校正方法确定脑功能激活区,得出每组的组内分析结果及组内不同轮次比较的结果。 结果 持续时间组及刺激方案组的组内fMRI信号存在明显差异。组内不同轮次fMRI信号比较也均存在显著差异的脑区,两组的R2与R1相比均存在fMRI信号减低区域,但刺激方案组的R3与R1相比存在广泛的fMRI信号减低区域,持续时间组的R3与R1相比存在fMRI信号增高区域。 结论 针刺持续时间及刺激方案均会对脑功能成像的激活区定位产生影响。     

针刺舌根部穴对人生理状态下吞咽功能影响的功能性核磁共振成像研究

目的通过对比健康成人舌根部穴针刺前后执行吞咽任务时脑功能区的激活差异,探讨针刺舌根部穴对吞咽功能影响的中枢机制。方法青年健康志愿者10名,分别于针刺舌根部穴前后运用功能磁共振技术进行吞咽任务(含静息状态、吞咽准备和吞咽任务)扫描,分析针刺前后数据集,获得针刺舌根部穴后执行吞咽任务的差异脑功能激活区。结果针刺前,脑激活区主要分布于左侧的颞上回和右侧的岛叶;针刺后,脑激活区主要分布于左侧小脑后叶、小脑叶、梭状回以及右侧舌状回,负激活区主要分布于左侧中央前回、中央后回以及右侧中央后回;针刺前后对比,差异脑激活区分布于左侧的梭状回、颞中回及额内侧回,负激活区位于左侧顶下小叶。结论针刺舌根部穴影响吞咽功能的原因可能是通过增强吞咽相关脑区参与任务执行的积极性,提高吞咽任务执行效率,以达到调节吞咽运动肌群的目的。     

Juvenile Facial Growth and Mimicry: A Preliminary 3D Study

Studies focused on facial development during childhood have been conducted by means of 3D technology to provide modifications of anthropometric parameters. Facial mobility was also considered. This study proposed a 3D approach to facial growth changes. Facial surface data of 6 subjects were acquired in T1 (age 7–14 years) and after 7 years (T2), in rest position, and during voluntary movements, by a 3D laser scanner. Linear and angular measurements on rest position scans at T1 and T2 were compared. Each mimic scan was superimposed with the corresponding rest scan. Displacement of significant anthropometric points was measured for each facial gesture and at T1 and T2 statistically compared. Vertical measurements were those most influenced by aging. Some measurements of central facial area were consistent over time. The pattern of soft tissues displacement for each expression was consistent in T1 and T2. These results may be helpful for missing children identification.