Physical Appearance Characteristics Research Articles

Clinical Evaluation of the Safety and Tolerability of Film-Forming Sprays in Patients With Psoriasis and Eczema.

Background Treating dermatological pathologies under occlusion therapy is a popular adjunct, especially in thickened, lichenified areas of psoriasis where sustained contact with topical corticosteroids plays a pivotal role. Film-forming spray (FFS) can be a novel, alternate approach along with topical treatment in this area for carefully selected cases. This study aimed to evaluate the safety profile and physical characteristics of a novel formulation of an FFS in patients with psoriasis and eczema. Methods This open-label, multicentre, comparative study included subjects diagnosed with chronic plaque psoriasis requiring topical corticosteroid therapy or those with eczema necessitating its application and occlusion therapy. The study product was applied to two groups of subjects. For patients in group 1, the FFS was applied to the skin area affected by the dermatological condition, which was covered with ointment only. In the second group, the FFS was applied to the corresponding unaffected skin area. The FFS was applied for 60-90 seconds and was observed for two hours after the application. The subjects were evaluated for primary outcomes, including safety assessment, overall physical characteristics, and appearance of FFS from local skin effects. The secondary outcomes included physical appearance characteristics and overall patient satisfaction following the application of FFS at the target sites. Further statistical assessments were conducted using the SAS software version 9.4 (2023; SAS Institute Inc., Cary, North Carolina, United States). Result A total of 100 subjects were included in the study across 10 outpatient centers, of which 79% had psoriatic plaques and 21% had eczematous lesions. Primary outcomes showed a lack of appearance of clinical symptoms such as dryness, flakiness, or irritation. A total of 10% of subjects in group 1 had erythema, and 6% had a tingling sensation, which was transient and mild. The secondary outcomes showed that only 12% of subjects in Group 1 and 6% of subjects in Group 2 showed a feeling of stickiness at the application site. In group 1, 8% reported a cooling sensation, which disappeared in one and two minutes, and none experienced a cooling sensation in Group 2. The average drying time for FFS in subjects with dermatological conditions was 5.19 minutes compared to 1.51 minutes on unaffected skin. The film washability results indicated that 96% of subjects in group 1 reported complete removal in less than two minutes. At the end of the study period, the mean satisfaction scorewas8.99. No significant adverse events were reported in the patients. Conclusion This study highlights the potential application of a novel formulation of FFS as a safe and well-tolerated option for enhancing uniform skin coverage with the topical corticosteroid in patients affected with psoriasis and eczema.

Media Image Landscape: Age Representation in Online Images

This study looked at the extent to which the 50-plus population is portrayed in media images online. A random sample of images was drawn from 2.7 million images downloaded from professional and semiprofessional domains and social distributions for brands and thought leaders. Natural language processing technology was employed to find images using topical guides chosen to be reflective of online images. Results of this study showed that while some media has moved toward more positive visual representation of older people, the 50-plus population is still not accurately portrayed in the media. For example, while nearly half of the U.S. adult population is age 50-plus, only 15% of images containing adults include people this age. In addition, when the 50-plus are shown, they are more likely to be portrayed negatively than those under age 50. The 50-plus population is often portrayed as dependent and disconnected from the rest of world although most are actively engaged in their communities. They are rarely shown with technology and in work settings. Furthermore, while a myriad of vibrant personalities come across in images of adults under age 50, the representation of people 50-plus starts to homogenize and exaggerate stereotypical and outdated physical appearance characteristics. This study demonstrates the need for visual representations that reflect greater diversity and authenticity of the 50-plus population as these images affect the attitudes, expectations, and behaviors of older and younger people alike. Keywords: ageism, reframing aging, media image representation

HIrisPlex-S system for eye, hair, and skin color prediction from DNA: Massively parallel sequencing solutions for two common forensically used platforms

Forensic DNA Phenotyping (FDP) provides the ability to predict externally visible characteristics from minute amounts of crime scene DNA, which can help find unknown perpetrators who are typically unidentifiable via conventional forensic DNA profiling. Fundamental human genetics research has led to a better understanding of the specific DNA variants responsible for physical appearance characteristics, particularly eye, hair, and skin color. Recently, we introduced the HIrisPlex-S system for the simultaneous prediction of eye, hair, and skin color based on 41 DNA variants generated from two forensically validated SNaPshot multiplex assays using capillary electrophoresis (CE). Here we introduce massively parallel sequencing (MPS) solutions for the HIrisPlex-S (HPS) system on two MPS platforms commonly used in forensics, Ion Torrent and MiSeq, that cover all 41 DNA variants in a single assay, respectively. Additionally, we present the forensic developmental validation of the two HPS-MPS assays. The Ion Torrent MPS assay, based on Ion AmpliSeq technology, illustrated the successful generation of full HIrisPlex-S genotypic profiles from 100 pg of input control DNA, while the MiSeq MPS assay based on an in-house design yielded complete profiles from 250 pg of input DNA. Assessing simulated forensic casework samples such as saliva, hair (bulb), blood, semen, and low quantity touch DNA, as well as artificially damaged DNA samples, concordance testing, and samples from numerous species, all illustrated the ability of both versions of the HIrisPlex-S MPS assay to produce results that motivate forensic applications. By also providing an integrated bioinformatics analysis pipeline, MPS data can now be analyzed and a file generated for upload to the publically accessible HIrisPlex online webtool (https://hirisplex.erasmusmc.nl). In addition, we updated the website to accept VCF input data for those with genome sequence data. We thus provide a user-friendly and semi-automated MPS workflow from DNA sample to individual eye, hair, and skin color prediction probabilities. Furthermore, we present a 2-person mixture separation tool that not only assesses genotype reliability with regards genotyping confidence but also provides the most fitting mixture scenario for both minor and major contributors, including profile separation. We envision this MPS implementation of the HIrisPlex-S system for eye, hair, and skin color prediction from DNA as a starting point for further expanding MPS-based forensic DNA phenotyping. This may include the future addition of SNPs predictive for more externally visible characteristics, as well as SNPs for bio-geographic ancestry inference, provided the statistical framework for DNA prediction of these traits is in place.

Human Identifcation and Anthropometric Identifcation: Correlation between Concepts

The article is devoted to the distinction between anthropometric identifcation and establishment of identity in the legal sense. The need for the distinction is due to the fact that for a long time (since the ‘50s of the 20th century) the terms ‘personal identifcation’ (establishment of identity) and ‘identifcation of a person’ were used as synonyms. However, this synonymy contradicts the content of the concepts of ‘person’s identity’ and ‘personal identifcation’. The issue of identity establishment does not relate to the problem solved by the anthropometric identifcation as well as by morphological identifcation, including based on fngerprints. The results of the identifcation can only be used in the conduct of operative investigation activities and investigative actions executed for the purpose of identity establishment. In legal terms, establishment of identity is a criminological problem. And the task of anthropometric identifcation is solved by conducting a forensic facial recognition when examining human images. It is therefore proposed to adhere to the distinction of these terms in courseware for issues relating to the use of person’s physical appearance characteristics in forensic inquiry, law enforcement practice in appointments of the forensic facial recognition and the use of their results in criminal and civil proceedings.

FACIAL PROFILING: RACE, PHYSICAL APPEARANCE, AND PUNISHMENT*

We investigate the associations among physical appearance, threat perceptions, and criminal punishment. Psychological ideas about impression formation are integrated with criminological perspectives on sentencing to generate and test unique hypotheses about the associations among defendant facial characteristics, subjective evaluations of threatening appearance, and judicial imprisonment decisions. We analyze newly collected data that link booking photos, criminal histories, and sentencing information for more than 1,100 convicted felony defendants. Our findings indicate that Black defendants are perceived to be more threatening in appearance. Other facial characteristics, such as physical attractiveness, baby‐faced appearance, facial scars, and visible tattoos, also influence perceptions of threat, as do criminal history scores. Furthermore, some physical appearance characteristics are significantly related to imprisonment decisions, even after controlling for other relevant case characteristics. These and other findings are discussed as they relate to psychological research on impression formation, criminological theories of court actor decision‐making, and sociological work on race and punishment.

Asian American phenotypicality and experiences of psychological distress: More than meets the eyes.

Research on Asian Americans’ experiences of racism has examined the impact of generation status and ethnicity. This study investigates how phenotypic and physical appearance characteristics are implicated in self-reports of racialization and social anxiety in Asian American college students (n 170) who completed measures of psychological distress, well-being, and racialization (e.g., Subtle and Blatant Racism Scale; Yoo, Steger, & Lee, 2010). Participants’ digital photographs were analyzed to test whether specific physical characteristics correlated with self-reported distress. Results suggest eyeglasses and darker skin tone are strongly associated with greater reports of racialization and psychological distress in Asian American college students.

Salience of physical appearance characteristics among young women in Thailand

Our aim in the present study was to identify key components of physical appearance among young Thai women. Free listings, focus groups and pile sorting were used. One-hundred twenty young women generated 78 unique physical appearance characteristics. Ninety-four nursing students validated these characteristics in focus groups and then sorted them into piles that reflected separate domains of physical appearance and labeled them. Salience analysis revealed that facial appearance (e.g., bright facial skin, high nose bridge, big eyes) was the most important domain, followed by body weight and shape, skin color and texture, hair (color, texture, length), and ‘other’ physical appearance (e.g., slender neck, slim fingers). This is the first study to identify aspects of physical appearance that are most salient to young Thai women and that may differ from women in other cultural contexts. These findings could be used to develop culturally grounded measures of physical appearance in Thai women.

Regional Differences in Physical Appearance Identity Among Young Adult Women in Thailand

Physical appearance concerns lead to serious health compromising behaviors among women in Thailand. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in physical appearance identity among young women in four regions of Thailand based on 30 physical appearance characteristics generated and validated in two previous samples of young Thai women. Using Q methodology, 200 Thai young women sorted the physical appearance characteristics in terms of importance. Across-region differences exist for the most important physical appearance characteristics. Regional differences in physical appearance identity may explain the variety of behaviors used by Thai women to enhance their physical appearance. Further research should focus on regional factors that contribute to these aspects of physical appearance becoming a dominant source of self-definition so that effective prevention strategies can be developed and targeted to women at high risk.

Listeners' perceptions of nonspeech characteristics of normal and dysarthric children

The purpose of this investigation was to compare listeners' evaluations of nonspeech characteristics of dysarthric and normal speakers. A total of 16 speakers, eight cerebral-palsied and eight normal children ranging in age from 6 to 11 years, recorded six three-word phrases. The cerebral-palsied speakers were judged to have disorders in at least two of the three areas of articulation, phonation, and resonance, and all were judged to have an articulation disorder as one of the two disordered areas. All normal speakers were found to have normal speech characteristics. A master tape containing the 16 speakers' recordings was presented to 25 listeners, who were asked to rate each of the speakers on a 24-item semantic differential scale that contained polarized adjective pairs concerned with personality and physical-appearance traits. Results of their ratings indicated that for all but two of the 24 adjective pairs, the normal speakers were judged more favorably than the dysarthric speakers, and for all but one of the 24 adjective pairs there were significant differences in judges' ratings between the normal and dysarthric speakers. It appears, therefore, that dysarthric speech adversely affected listeners' perceptions of the dysarthric speakers' personality and physical-appearance characteristics.

Consensus in personality judgments at zero acquaintance.

This research focused on the target effect on a perceiver's judgments of personality when the perceiver and the target are unacquainted. The perceiver was given no opportunity to interact with the target, a condition we refer to as zero acquaintance. We reasoned that in order to make personality judgments, perceivers would use the information available to them (physical appearance). Consensus in personality judgments would result, then, from shared stereotypes about particular physical appearance characteristics. Results from three separate studies with 259 subjects supported this hypothesis. On two of the five dimensions (extraversion and conscientiousness) on which subjects rated each other, a significant proportion of variance was due to the stimulus target. Consensus on judgments of extraversion appears to have been largely mediated by judgments of physical attractiveness. Across the three studies there was also evidence that the consensus in judgments on these two dimensions had some validity, in that they correlated with self-judgments on those two dimensions.