Preliminary measurement scales for sparkle and graininess.

Large effect pigments, widely used in various fields of industrial applications, produce characteristic visual textures known as sparkle and graininess, which need to be quantified by objective or subjective methods. The development of preliminary measurement scales for sparkle and graininess, whose recommendation is now under discussion in the International Commission on Illumination (CIE), is described in this article. These scales are absolute, linear and traceable to standards of optical radiation metrology. The main purpose of this article is to justify the convenience of adopting these preliminary measurements scales, showing clear evidence that they correlate well with subjective evaluations. Before standardization, these scales need to be validated with more experimental data, including different specimens and experimental systems from other research groups.

Definition of a measurement scale of graininess from reflectance and visual measurements.

Effect pigments in coatings produce eye-catching colour and texture effects and are widely used in automotive, cosmetics, coatings, inks, flooring, textile or decoration. One of these texture effects is graininess, which is the perceived texture exhibited when the effect coating is observed under diffuse illumination. To date there is not a standard procedure to measure graininess from reflectance measurements. The objective of this work is to propose a methodology for traceable graininess measurements, similarly as it was proposed for colour in 1931. In this article, the relevant reflectance-based quantities are clearly defined, and a formal relation with data from visual experiments is given. This methodology would allow a measurement scale of graininess and a difference formula to be agreed once conclusive visual data become available.

Multilateral spectral radiance factor scale comparison.

The field of spectral radiance factor (SRF) measurements has seen growing interest in recent years. Scale conformity has so far only been established between the national metrology institutes (NMIs) of Germany and the USA. This study aims at a bigger, multilateral scale comparison. For this purpose, a total of six NMIs participated in a scale comparison of goniospectrophotometers based on neutral and colored diffusely reflecting ceramics samples. In addition, two universities, providing a home-built gonioreflectometer and two widely used commercially available color measurement instruments, respectively, were involved. The wavelength range of the scale comparison covers the visible wavelength range from 380 nm to 780 nm. Results indicate systematic issues and that the uncertainty evaluation of the NMIs requires further work; although for the greatest part of the covered spectral range the agreement is good.

Color characterization of coatings with diffraction pigments.

Coatings with diffraction pigments present high iridescence, which needs to be characterized in order to describe their appearance. The spectral bidirectional reflectance distribution functions (BRDFs) of six coatings with SpectraFlair diffraction pigments were measured using the robot-arm-based goniospectrophotometer GEFE, designed and developed at CSIC. Principal component analysis has been applied to study the coatings of BRDF data. From data evaluation and based on theoretical considerations, we propose a relevant geometric factor to study the spectral reflectance and color gamut variation of coatings with diffraction pigments. At fixed values of this geometric factor, the spectral BRDF component due to diffraction is almost constant. Commercially available portable goniospectrophotometers, extensively used in several industries (automotive and others), should be provided with more aspecular measurement angles to characterize the complex reflectance of goniochromatic coatings based on diffraction pigments, but they would not require either more than one irradiation angle or additional out-of-plane geometries.

Global color estimation of special-effect coatings from measurements by commercially available portable multiangle spectrophotometers.

Colors of special-effect coatings have strong dependence on illumination/viewing geometry and an appealing appearance. An open question is to ask about the minimum number of measurement geometries required to completely characterize their observed color shift. A recently published principal components analysis (PCA)-based procedure to estimate the color of special-effect coatings at any geometry from measurements at a reduced set of geometries was tested in this work by using the measurement geometries of commercial portable multiangle spectrophotometers X-Rite MA98, Datacolor FX10, and BYK-mac as reduced sets. The performance of the proposed PCA procedure for the color-shift estimation for these commercial geometries has been examined for 15 special-effect coatings. Our results suggest that for rendering the color appearance of 3D objects covered with special-effect coatings, the color accuracy obtained with this procedure may be sufficient. This is the case especially if geometries of X-Rite MA98 or Datacolor FX10 are used.

A tactile handle for cane use monitoring.

Assistive ambulatory devices are used for gait rehabilitation and assistance. In both cases, their benefit is greater when they are used properly. As for canes, embedded sensors can be used for monitoring purposes. In this paper, a custom tactile handle equipping a cane is described. It is composed of cost-effective commercially available pressure sensors. Experimental results involving 10 subjects show that the developed handle can provide information on the cane orientation as well as on the load applied to it during assisted gait. These data can help monitoring the cane usage and misuses detection.

Color representation and interpretation of special effect coatings.

A representation of the color gamut of special effect coatings is proposed and shown for six different samples, whose colors were calculated from spectral bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) measurements at different geometries. The most important characteristic of the proposed representation is that it allows a straightforward understanding of the color shift to be done both in terms of conventional irradiation and viewing angles and in terms of flake-based parameters. A different line was proposed to assess the color shift of special effect coatings on a*,b*-diagrams: the absorption line. Similar to interference and aspecular lines (constant aspecular and irradiation angles, respectively), an absorption line is the locus of calculated color coordinates from measurement geometries with a fixed bistatic angle. The advantages of using the absorption lines to characterize the contributions to the spectral BRDF of the scattering at the absorption pigments and the reflection at interference pigments for different geometries are shown.

Bases genéticas y moleculares del cáncer colorrectal / Genetic and molecular basis in colorectal cancer

El cáncer colorrectal (CCR) es la tercera neoplasia más frecuente a un nivel mundial. El riesgo de CCR depende de factores genéticos y ambientales que interactúan en el proceso de carcinogénesis mediante mecanismos epigenéticos. Aunque sólo el 25 % de los CCR presenta agregación familiar, en todos los casos de CCR entre los que se incluyen los esporádicos se producen mutaciones genéticas que desencadenan tres tipos distintos de vías moleculares de carcinogénesis que influyen en un comportamiento tumoral diferente. El conocimiento de los genes y las vías moleculares implicados en el desarrollo del CCR tiene unas aplicaciones clínicas debido a que ayuda a definir el pronóstico, a elaborar un consejo genético en caso de síndromehereditario y a diseñar un plan terapéutico más específico de acuerdo a las características moleculares del tumor. Por otro lado, según la teoría de las células madre, una célula madre del epitelio colónico con una acumulación de aberraciones genéticas puede ser la célula origen del CCR. El diseño de nuevos fármacos dirigidos contra marcadores de las células madre del CCR pueden potenciar la respuesta de la quimioterapia convencional y disminuir las recurrencias locales y metástasis a distancia (AU)

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer wordlwide. Relative CRC risk is defined by genetic and environmental factors contributing to carcinogenesis by epigenetic mechanisms. Though only a 25 % CRC has been determined to have a familiar agregation with an important genetic component, all cases of CRC including sporadic ones present genetic aberrations that initiate three distinct molecular pathways of carcinogenesis implicating in different tumoral behaviours. Investigations about genes and molecular pathways implicated in the development of CRC have clinic aplications due to it could contribute to determine prognosis, elaborate a genetic conseling in case of familiar agregation and design therapeutic strategies according with molecular characteristics of tumor. On the other hand, A stem cell located in colonic epithelium with an acumulation of genetic mutations could be the cell that initiates the origin of CRC. The design of stem cell-targeted drugs could enhance reponsiveness to traditional therapeutic strategies and reduce local recurrence and metástasis (AU)

The 1258 G>A polymorphism in the neuropeptide Y gene is associated with greater alcohol consumption in a Mediterranean population.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a neurotransmitter widely distributed in the central nervous system. Several studies have demonstrated that increases of NPY are associated with reduced alcohol intake and anxiety manifestations. The Leu7Pro polymorphism in the NPY has been associated with alcohol consumption, but evidence is scarce. In the Spanish Mediterranean population, this variant is not polymorphic. Thus, our aim is to identify novel functional variants in the NPY and to investigate the impact of these markers and others previously described on alcohol consumption in this population. A total of 911 subjects (321 men and 590 women) from the Spanish Mediterranean population were recruited. Alcohol consumption, and demographic and lifestyle variables were measured. Nucleotide sequence determination and SNP analyses were carried out. Only one exonic SNP was detected by direct sequencing (1258 G>A or rs9785023; allele frequency 0.47). From the intronic markers chosen (483 A>G or rs13235938, 2517 A>G or rs4722342, and 7065 A>G or rs4722343), only the two latter ones were polymorphic (allele frequencies 0.46 and 0.04, respectively), and none of them were associated with alcohol consumption. However, the 1258 G>A SNP was associated (recessive pattern) with higher alcohol intake. This association was particularly relevant in men with high alcohol intake (59.1±5.0 g/day in AA as opposed to 40.6±7.5 in the G carriers, P=.022) and women with moderate alcohol intake (7.3±5.5 g/day in AA as opposed to 4.6±3.9g/day in G carriers, P=.048). The 1258 G>A polymorphism in the NPY is associated with higher alcohol consumption in the Mediterranean population.

[Pulmonary torsion complicating lobectomy: report of 2 cases]. / Torsión pulmonar como complicación de una lobectomía pulmonar, descripción de dos casos.

We report 2 cases of pulmonary torsion discovered during the early postoperative recovery of patients who had undergone lobectomy. Early diagnosis, based on chest radiography and confirmed by computed tomography, meant we were able to avoid major surgical resection and the development of further complications. Pulmonary torsion is a rare but potentially serious abnormality. Prompt diagnosis is the key to preventing tissue injury and complications such as necrotizing pneumonitis, thromboembolic disease, or septic shock. Among the diagnostic tests that can be carried out if there is good reason to suspect torsion, we emphasize simple chest radiography and fiberoptic bronchoscopy, supported by computed tomography or arteriography, even though a firm diagnosis requires surgical exploration of the affected lung. Definitive treatments range from reversing the torsion and securing the lung to resecting the lung if the parenchymal tissue has been fully compromised.

Torsión pulmonar como complicación de una lobectomía pulmonar, descripción de dos casos / Pulmonary torsion complicating lobectomy: report of 2 cases

Descripción de dos casos de torsión pulmonar enpacientes intervenidos de lobectomía por neoplasia pulmonar.Se muestran dos pacientes que sufrieron complicaciónde torsión de lóbulo pulmonar tras realizarselobectomía pulmonar aparecida en el postoperatorioinmediato. Se realizó el diagnóstico precoz mediante unaradiografía del tórax y la confirmación mediante unTAC, que indicó la toracotomía la cual evitó mayorresección quirúrgica y aparición de otras complicaciones.La torsión pulmonar es una alteración infrecuentepero de potencial gravedad. El diagnóstico precoz es devital importancia para evitar el compromiso tisular yprevenir complicaciones como neumonitis necrotizante,enfermedad tromboembólica o shock séptico. Entre laspruebas diagnósticas que pueden llevar a la alta sospechadiagnóstica destacamos la radiología simple de tóraxy fibrobroncoscopia, apoyadas por la tomografía axial ola arteriografía, aunque el diagnóstico definitivo es laexploración quirúrgica del parénquima afecto. El tratamientodefinitivo abarca desde la simple detorsión y fijacióndel pulmón, hasta resección pulmonar o neumonectomíasi el compromiso tisular es completo(AU)

We report 2 cases of pulmonary torsion discoveredduring the early postoperative recovery of patients whohad undergone lobectomy. Early diagnosis, based onchest radiography and confirmed by computedtomography, meant we were able to avoid major surgicalresection and the development of further complications.Pulmonary torsion is a rare but potentially seriousabnormality. Prompt diagnosis is the key to preventingtissue injury and complications such as necrotizingpneumonitis, thromboembolic disease, or septic shock.Among the diagnostic tests that can be carried out ifthere is good reason to suspect torsion, we emphasizesimple chest radiography and fiberoptic bronchoscopy,supported by computed tomography or arteriography,even though a firm diagnosis requires surgicalexploration of the affected lung. Definitive treatmentsrange from reversing the torsion and securing the lungto resecting the lung if the parenchymal tissue has beenfully compromised(AU)

Investigación médico forense de los delitos contra la libertad e indemnidad sexuales / Medico-legal investigation of sexual assault crimes

Los delitos contra la libertad e indemnidad sexualessiguen siendo un campo de extraordinaria importancia enla práctica diaria médico forense. En esta revisión se presentacuál es el estado actual del problema, se apuntauna posible estrategia para mejorar su estudio y se exponela literatura científica más reciente respecto a las distintasvariedades con que se presentan(AU)

Sexual crimes remain an area of paramountimportance in daily forensic practice. This review carriesout what is the current state of the problem, it suggests apossible strategy for improving their study and presents thelatest scientific literature regarding the different types fromwhich they are presented(AU)

PPAR-alpha L162V and PGC-1 G482S gene polymorphisms, but not PPAR-gamma P12A, are associated with alcohol consumption in a Spanish Mediterranean population.

BACKGROUND: Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs) and its co-activators are regulatory elements of the cellular lipid homeostasis and have been associated with feeding behavior modulation. Animal models suggest that these genes may be involved in alcohol consumption regulation. However, no studies in humans exist. Our aim is to estimate the possible association between polymorphisms in the PPAR-alpha, PPAR-gamma and PPAR-gamma co-activator 1A (PGC-1A) genes and alcohol consumption in humans. METHODS: We have conducted a cross-sectional study between the PPAR-alpha L162V, PPAR-gamma P12A and PGC-1A G482S polymorphisms, and alcohol consumption in a general Mediterranean Spanish population (303 men and 443 women). RESULTS: We have found an association between the L162V polymorphism and alcohol consumption in which, carriers of the V allele were more prevalent among alcohol consumers (19.4% vs. 9.8%; OR 2.69; 95% CI: 1.31-5.54, p=0.007). The G482S polymorphism showed a significantly higher frequency in the group of high alcohol drinkers than in non-high alcohol drinkers (33.4% vs. 20.6%; OR 2.28; 95% CI: 1.07-4.88, p=0.034). Mean alcohol consumption was higher as the number of G alleles increased (GG 8.6+/-12.8 g/day, GS 6.6+/-9.2 g/day, SS 5.6+/-7.8 g/day, p=0.003). These results remained statistically significant after covariate adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: PPAR-alpha L162V and PGC-1A G482S polymorphisms are associated with alcohol consumption in the Mediterranean population.

El diagnóstico genético del sexo mediante el test de la amelogenina: Métodos y posibles fuentes de error / Sex typing through the Amelogenin test: Methods and possible pitfalls

El diagnóstico del sexo a partir de indicios biológicoses crucial en la ciencia forense en general y en lainvestigación criminal, en particular. La amelogenina–proteina codificada en los cromosomas sexuales– seviene utilizando con ese fin desde la última década delsiglo pasado.Existen divergencias en secuencia y tamaño entrelos alelos codificados en el cromosoma X y el cromosomaY (AMELX y AMELY, respectivamente). Esta es la base queha permitido su amplia utilización en ciencias forensespara el diagnóstico genético del sexo. No obstante,recientemente se han publicado casos en los cuales elresultado del test de la amelogenina no corresponde conel sexo legal (oficial) del individuo. El presente trabajopresenta una revisión de los protocolos publicados, localizandolas áreas más comúnmente amplificadas del gende la amelogenina, así como de las técnicas utilizadaspara la detección de los fragmentos amplificados deAMELX y AMELY. Por último se analizan las condiciones enlas cuales el test de la amelogenina, puede mostrarse discrepantecon el sexo fenotípico del individuo y que han deser tenidas en cuenta para evitar errores potencialmentegraves en el curso de la investigación con fines forenses

Sex typing of biological evidences is crucial inforensics in general, and in criminal investigation, inparticular. The amelogenin –a protein codified in the sexualchromosomes– has been used with these purposes sincethe last decade of the past century. There are sequenceand size divergences between the X and Y-codified allelesof this gene (AMELX and AMELY). This fact is in the baseof its using as a genetic sex typing test. However somecases in which the amelogenin test outcome does notcorrespond with the legal (official) sex have been published.The present work offers a revision of the publishedprotocols of the amelogenin sex typing test, locating themost common amplified areas of this gene, and thedifferent techniques employed to detect the AMELX andAMELY fragments. Finally, the conditions in which theamelogenin test can differ from the phenotypic sex areanalyzed. These conditions must be taken into account inorder to avoid potentially serious errors in the forensicinvestigation

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Amelogenin test: From forensics to quality control in clinical and biochemical genomics.

BACKGROUND: The increasing number of samples from the biomedical genetic studies and the number of centers participating in the same involves increasing risk of mistakes in the different sample handling stages. We have evaluated the usefulness of the amelogenin test for quality control in sample identification. METHODS: Amelogenin test (frequently used in forensics) was undertaken on 1224 individuals participating in a biomedical study. Concordance between referred sex in the database and amelogenin test was estimated. Additional sex-error genetic detecting systems were developed. RESULTS: The overall concordance rate was 99.84% (1222/1224). Two samples showed a female amelogenin test outcome, being codified as males in the database. The first, after checking sex-specific biochemical and clinical profile data was found to be due to a codification error in the database. In the second, after checking the database, no apparent error was discovered because a correct male profile was found. False negatives in amelogenin male sex determination were discarded by additional tests, and feminine sex was confirmed. A sample labeling error was revealed after a new DNA extraction. CONCLUSION: The amelogenin test is a useful quality control tool for detecting sex-identification errors in large genomic studies, and can contribute to increase its validity.

Predisposición genética en el consumo de alcohol: el caso de la Alcohol Deshidrogenasa 1C / Genetic predisposition to alcohol consumption: the case of Alcohol Dehydrogenase 1C

Introducción: El consumo de alcohol se presenta frecuentemente asociado a determinados delitos, siendo en unas ocasiones atenuante o eximente, y en otras una infracción penal per se. Se han identificado numerosos factores genéticos y ambientales que predisponen al consumo de alcohol. Nuestro objetivo ha sido estudiar la prevalencia del polimorfismo Ile349Val en la alcohol deshidrogenasa 1C que da lugar a la isoforma gamma 2 (metabolizador lento), y estudiar su asociación con el consumo de alcohol así como reflexionar sobre la dimensión de la implicación de estas variantes genéticas en la Medicina Legal. Material y Métodos: Se ha genotipado el polimorfismo Ile 349Val en 869 individuos procedentes de una población mediterránea española. Se ha estimado su prevalencia y su asociación con el consumo de alcohol tanto de manera contínua como categórica. Resultados: La prevalencia de la variante fue: 41%Ile/Ile, 44,5%Ile/Val y 14%Val/Val. En las mujeres Val/Val (homozigotas para la variante gamma 2), el consumo de alcohol fue superior a las portadoras de la variante gamma 1 (Ile); p=0,013. Además, el riesgo de consumo elevado de alcohol en estas mujeres fue estadísticamente significativo (OR 2,59: IC al 95%: 1,01-6,65; p=0,048). Conclusión: En nuestro estudio, la variante Ile349val en el gen de la Alcohol Deshidrogenasa 1C está asociada con el riesgo de mayor consumo de alcohol en las mujeres. Estos datos hacen pensar en la posibilidad futura de valorar el perfil de genes asociados al consumo de alcohol en personas imputadas en determinados actos en estado de ebriedad, pudiendo matizar potencialmente la voluntariedad e imputabilidad de dicho acto ilícito

Introduction: Alcohol consumption is present in several crimes, being an extenuating or exculpating circumstance. In other cases it represents per se a penal infraction. Several genetic and environmental factors predisposing to alcohol consumption have been identified. Our aim is to study the prevalence of the Ile349Val polymorphism in the Alcohol Dehydrogenase 1C, that generates the gamma 2 isoform (slow metabolizers) and to assess its association with alcohol consumption, and to reflect upon the degree of the dimension of these genetic variants in Legal Medicine. Material and methods: We have genotyped 869 individuals from a Mediterranean Spanish population for the Ile349Val polymorphism in the ADH1C. We estimated the prevalence of this polymorphism and we studied its association with alcohol consumption. Continuous and categorical analysis was carried out. Results: Prevalence of this variant was: 41%Ile/Ile, 44,5%Ile/Val and 14%Val/Val. Women carrying the Val/Val genotype (homozygous for the gamma 2 variant) had greater alcohol consumption than carriers of the gamma 1 (Ile variant); p=0.013. Furthermore, the high alcohol consumption risk was statistically significant (OR 2.59: 95% CI: 1.01-6.65. p=0.048). Conclusions: In our study, the Ile349Val variant in the ADH1C gene is associated with greater risk of having high alcohol consumption in women. This data suggest a future possibility of assessing the genetic profile of alcohol consumption-linked genes in case of individuals involved in committing several acts when drunk, enabling us to potentially clarify the responsibility for this illicit act

More about the developing of invisible lipstick-contaminated lipmarks on human skin: the usefulness of fluorescent dyes.

At the present time fingerprints are one of the simplest, and most reliable means of identification. Increasingly, crime scene investigators look for palm, foot, ear or lip prints. With regard to lip prints, the use, very common today, of protective or permanent lipsticks allow the production an invisible lipmark (or invisible lipstick-contaminated lipmark) which is possible to develop. Some results have already been published about developers useful for different kinds of surfaces (both porous and non-porous) as well as those which are more efficient in case of old or recent prints. The latest studies are about the developing on human skin, and they prove the usefulness of lysochromes (specifically Sudan Black) for the develop of recent invisible lipstick-contaminated lipmarks on corpse skin. This study attempts to determine the efficiency of fluorescent reagents to develop invisible lipstick-contaminated lipmark on human skin. Results show that REDescent Fluorescent Latent Prints Powder is effective for obtaining recent invisible lipstick-contaminated lip mark on the skin of deceased.