[The experience of comparing reconstructions of the external appearance made on skulls with existing lifetime photographs]. / Opyt sopostavleniya rekonstruktsii vneshnego oblika, vypolnennykh po cherepam, s imeyushchimisya prizhiznennymi fotografiyami.

The conducted research is aimed at correcting the method of graphic reconstruction of the appearance based on the skull. The method is widely used in both anthropology and criminology. The Forensic Center of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia was sent the skulls for which there were lifetime photographs. The restoration of the appearance in the form of graphic reconstructions was carried out by students who completed the course of Anthropological reconstruction at the RSUH, under the guidance of Prof., head of the Laboratory E.V. Veselovskaya. Strictly after the restoration of the appearance was completed, lifetime photos were provided, on the basis of which the degree of similarity of the reconstruction with the original was assessed. The purpose of the experiment is to correct the method of graphic reconstruction of the appearance based on the skull and supplement it with new details. Anthropologists carried out gender and age determination of individuals for a more accurate representation of appearance. Based on the results of comparing lifetime photographic images with the performed reconstructions, it can bed that their overall satisfactory level of compliance is sufficient for correct identification. However, a number of inaccuracies have been identified. As a result, areas of the face have been identified that require further refinement of the method of anthropological reconstruction. So, the thickness, and especially the shape, of the lips turned out to be an unresolved problem. The size of the iris is an important physiognomic feature. It is recommended to clarify the definition of the skull of the lifetime physiognomic height of the face, the width of the nose and the distance between the nasolabial folds.

MEPROCS framework for Craniofacial Superimposition: Validation study.

Craniofacial Superimposition (CFS) involves the process of overlaying a skull with a number of ante-mortem images of an individual and the analysis of their morphological correspondence. The lack of unified working protocols and the absence of commonly accepted standards, led to contradictory consensus regarding its reliability. One of the more important aims of 'New Methodologies and Protocols of Forensic Identification by Craniofacial Superimposition (MEPROCS)' project was to propose a common framework for CFS, what can be considered the first international standard in the field. The framework aimed to serve as a roadmap for avoiding particular assumptions that could bias the process. At the same time, it provides some empirical support to certain practices, technological means, and morphological criteria expected to facilitate the application of the CFS task and to improve its reliability. In order to confirm the utility and potential benefits of the framework use, there is a need to empirically evaluate it in CFS identification scenarios as close as possible to the reality. Thus, the purpose of this study is to validate the CFS framework developed. For that aim 12 participants were asked to report about a variable number of CFS following all the recommendations of the framework. The results are analysed and discussed according to the framework understanding and fulfilment, the participants' performance, and the correlation between expected decisions and those given by the participants. In view of the quantitative results and qualitative examination criteria we can conclude that those who follow the MEPROCS recommendations improve their performance.

Study on the performance of different craniofacial superimposition approaches (II): Best practices proposal.

Craniofacial superimposition, although existing for one century, is still a controversial technique within the scientific community. Objective and unbiased validation studies over a significant number of cases are required to establish a more solid picture on the reliability. However, there is lack of protocols and standards in the application of the technique leading to contradictory information concerning reliability. Instead of following a uniform methodology, every expert tends to apply his own approach to the problem, based on the available technology and deep knowledge on human craniofacial anatomy, soft tissues, and their relationships. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability of different craniofacial superimposition methodologies and the corresponding technical approaches to this type of identification. With all the data generated, some of the most representative experts in craniofacial identification joined in a discussion intended to identify and agree on the most important issues that have to be considered to properly employ the craniofacial superimposition technique. As a consequence, the consortium has produced the current manuscript, which can be considered the first standard in the field; including good and bad practices, sources of error and uncertainties, technological requirements and desirable features, and finally a common scale for the craniofacial matching evaluation. Such a document is intended to be part of a more complete framework for craniofacial superimposition, to be developed during the FP7-founded project MEPROCS, which will favour and standardize its proper application.

Study on the performance of different craniofacial superimposition approaches (I).

As part of the scientific tasks coordinated throughout The 'New Methodologies and Protocols of Forensic Identification by Craniofacial Superimposition (MEPROCS)' project, the current study aims to analyse the performance of a diverse set of CFS methodologies and the corresponding technical approaches when dealing with a common dataset of real-world cases. Thus, a multiple-lab study on craniofacial superimposition has been carried out for the first time. In particular, 26 participants from 17 different institutions in 13 countries were asked to deal with 14 identification scenarios, some of them involving the comparison of multiple candidates and unknown skulls. In total, 60 craniofacial superimposition problems divided in two set of females and males. Each participant follow her/his own methodology and employed her/his particular technological means. For each single case they were asked to report the final identification decision (either positive or negative) along with the rationale supporting the decision and at least one image illustrating the overlay/superimposition outcome. This study is expected to provide important insights to better understand the most convenient characteristics of every method included in this study.

Experimental study on the efficacy of the drug Brizantin in the model of nicotine dependence.

We estimated the efficacy of Brizantin preparation in suppressing nicotine dependence in rats. It was shown that nicotine-dependent rats in the situation of choice between the chamber with smoke or the chamber with food more frequently entered the chamber with tobacco smoke and stayed there longer. The rats that received Brizantin demonstrated significantly fewer visits to the chamber with smoke and spent there less time. Reduced locomotor activity and orientation and exploratory behavior in rats against the background of Brizantin administration also suggest reduced motivation for smoke inhalation. Thus, Brizantin effectively diminished nicotine dependence in rats in the model of nicotine addiction.

Facial image of Biblical Jews from Israel.

The present report deals with reconstructing the facial shapes of ancient inhabitants of Israel based on their cranial remains. The skulls of a male from the Hellenistic period and a female from the Roman period have been reconstructed. They were restored using the most recently developed programs in anthropological facial reconstruction, especially that of the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Balueva & Veselovskaya 2004). The basic craniometrical measurements of the two skulls were measured according to Martin & Saller (1957) and compared to the data from three ancient populations of Israel described by Arensburg et al. (1980): that of the Hellenistic period dating from 332 to 37 B.C., that of the Roman period, from 37 B.C. to 324 C.E., and that of the Byzantine period that continued until the Arab conquest in 640 C.E. Most of this osteological material was excavated in the Jordan River and the Dead Sea areas. A sample from the XVIIth century Jews from Prague (Matiegka 1926) was also used for osteometrical comparisons. The present study will characterize not only the osteological morphology of the material, but also the facial appearance of ancient inhabitants of Israel. From an anthropometric point of view, the two skulls studied here definitely belong to the same sample from the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine populations of Israel as well as from Jews from Prague. Based on its facial reconstruction, the male skull may belong to the large Mediterranean group that inhabited this area from historic to modern times. The female skull also exhibits all the Mediterranean features but, in addition, probably some equatorial (African) mixture manifested by the shape of the reconstructed nose and the facial prognatism.

Effect of allotransplantation of embryonic brain tissues and administration of potentiated antibodies to bombesin on hemodynamics in rats with emotional hypertension.

Transcutaneous allotransplantation of embryonic tissues from the anterior hypothalamus and amygdaloid complex and administration of potentiated antibodies to bombesin normalized blood pressure and parameters of ECG in rats with emotional hypertension.