Startling secrets: startle eye blink modulation by concealed crime information

We used the startle eye blink paradigm to investigate the processes underlying physiological responding to concealed information. Autonomic responding was measured together with eye blink responses to startle probes presented during mock crime and control pictures. Based upon 'orienting theory', greater startle modulation to crime pictures in comparison to control pictures was expected. The electrodermal, heart rate and respiratory changes in Experiment 1 (n=29) showed enhanced orienting to the crime pictures, but we observed reduced rather than enhanced startle modulation. In Experiment 2 (n=91) and Experiment 3 (n=38), participants either were or were not instructed to inhibit physiological responding in order to test whether inhibition was an explanation for the pattern of startle blink responding. Reduced startle modulation was observed only when participants inhibited physiological responding, confirming the proposed role of inhibition. The data suggest that not only orienting, but also inhibition contributes to physiological responding to concealed information.     

Antisociality, underarousal and the validity of the Concealed Information Polygraph Test

The Concealed Information Polygraph Test has been advocated as the preferred method for the physiological detection of deception. In this study, we further examined the validity of the Concealed Information Test in antisocial individuals. Physiological responding to concealed information was assessed in 48 male prisoners, and compared with responding in 31 male community volunteers. Based upon the association between antisociality and autonomic hyporesponsivity, lower detection rates were expected in the prisoners. Participants were questioned on five personally significant items (e.g., day of birth), instructed to deny recognition of this information, and promised a financial reward when able to hide recognition. Prisoners showed reduced autonomic reactivity in comparison to the community volunteers. This hyporesponsivity had little impact on the sensitivity of the Concealed Information Test. Detection efficiency in the prisoners was significantly above chance (d=2.67; a=0.82; 79%), and did not differ significantly from that obtained in the community volunteers (d=3.04; a=0.85; 87%). The present data support the validity of the Concealed Information Test in criminal populations.     

The intraspleen huPBL NOD/SCID model to study the human HIV-specific antibody response selected in the course of natural infection

The intrasplenic injection of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) into severely immune deficient NOD/SCID mice, causes a massive and transient dominant expansion of human B cells in the spleen. This permits the easy isolation of human monoclonal antibodies specific for different antigens by a Kohler and Milstein-based method. Here we studied the human HIV-specific antibody response in the circulation of mice after intrasplenic transfer of PBMC from untreated HIV-infected patients with detectable to high viral load as well as from HAART-treated and from untreated patients, who kept an undetectable viral load (the latter referred to as “natural suppressors”). Excellent B cell expansion was obtained for all PBMC. High level replication of virus was observed after transfer of PBMC of untreated viremic patients only. A strong and multispecific HIV-specific antibody response was observed after transfer of PBMC of untreated viremic patients and natural suppressors. In contrast, only a weak and pauci-specific antibody response was detected in mice reconstituted with PBMC from successfully treated patients. Based on these observations we conclude that the use of the intraspleen mouse model confirmed a) the presence of HIV-specific circulating memory B cells in untreated patients and natural suppressors; b) the nearly complete absence of circulating memory B cells in patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy. Using the intraspleen model we generated large numbers of immortalized B cells and isolated two anti-p24 human monoclonal antibodies. We further conclude that the intraspleen huPBL NOD/SCID model is a small animal model useful for the analysis of the antibody response against HIV found in patients.     

Stereo vision enhances the learning of a catching skill

The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of stereo vision to the acquisition of a natural interception task. Poor catchers with good (N = 8; Stereo+) and weak (N = 6; Stereo-) stereo vision participated in an intensive training program spread over 2 weeks, during which they caught over 1,400 tennis balls in a pre-post-retention design. While the Stereo+ group improved from a catching percentage of 18% to 59%, catchers in the Stereo- group did not significantly improve (from 10 to 31%), this progress being indifferent from a control group (N = 9) that did not practice at all. These results indicate that the development and use of of compensatory cues for depth perception in people with weak stereopsis is insufficient to successfully deal with interceptions under high temporal constraints, and that this disadvantage cannot be fully attenuated by specific and intensive training.     

Updating the Evidence on Functional Capacity Evaluation Methods: A Systematic Review

Objectives To synthesize the evidence on the psychometrics functional capacity evaluation (FCE) methods. Methods A systematic literature search in nine databases. The resulting articles were screened based on predefined in- and exclusion criteria. Two reviewers independently performed this screening. Included studies were appraised based on their methodological quality. Results The search resulted in 20 eligible studies about nine different FCE methods. The Baltimore Therapeutic Equipment work simulator showed a moderate predictive validity. The Ergo-Kit (EK) showed moderate variability and high inter- and intra-rater reliability. Low discriminative abilities and high convergent validity were found for the EK. Concurrent validity of the EK and the ERGOS Work Simulator was low to moderate. Moderate to high test–retest, inter- and intra-reliability was found in the Isernhagen Work-Systems (IWS) FCE. The predictive validity of the IWS was low. The physical work performance evaluation (PWPE) showed moderate test–retest reliability and moderate to high inter-rater reliability. Low internal and external responsiveness were found for the PWPE, predictive validity was high. The predictive validity of the short-form FCE was also high but need to be further examined on several psychometric properties. Low discriminative and convergent validity were found for the work disability functional assessment battery. The WorkHab showed moderate to high test–retest, inter- and intra-rater reliability. Conclusion Well-known FCE methods have been rigorously studied, but some of the research indicates weaknesses in their reliability and validity. Future research should address how these weaknesses can be overcome.     

Dental and buccal complications of lip and tongue piercing

Oral and facial piercing with different kinds of body art are being observed more frequently in medical and dental practices. Principally, piercing is not a new form of body art and is traditional in different geographical areas. In this review, the possible risks and complications are described. Postprocedural complications are oedema, haemorrhage and infection. Other adverse outcomes include mucosal or gingival trauma, chipped or fractured teeth, increased salivary flow, calculus build-up, and interference with speech, mastication and swallowing. Dentists, and oral- and maxillofacial surgeons should be in the position to advise patients with orofocial piercings or those who plan to have this type of body art performed.     

One-stop routing for surgical interventions: a cost-analysis of endoscopic groin repair

Surgical Endoscopy - Single-visit (SV) totally extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair is an efficient service without impairment of safety or complication rate. Data on the economic impact of...