Stress is the feeling of emotional strain in response to a perceived threat that disturbs the homeostasis and affects our health and well-being. Short-term stress has some beneficial effects such as improving alertness and performance and boosting memory, but prolonged stress responses can have deleterious effects on human health, including tissue damage and disease. Thus regulating stress levels is important for dealing with difficult situations to mitigate negative impacts. Prevailing approaches to treating stress have some limitations and drawbacks. Slow breathing/Resonant frequency breathing or HRV biofeedback and Music Therapy are some of the widely used methods for dealing with stress and anxiety. These methods are thought to stimulate the vagus nerve that promotes autonomic balance and hence reduce symptoms of stress. The current study investigated the effects of relaxing music and Slow breathing/Resonance frequency breathing on heart rate variability and respiration as well as on subjective measures of perceived stress. Although relaxing techniques are often administered in group classes, research studies in groups are rare. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the effects of music listening and slow breathing in reducing stress evoked by watching a stressful movie in a group setting. The study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of the aforementioned interventions in reducing stress, measured by psychophysiological and self-report measures. Thirty-two participants were recruited and randomly assigned to two groups (Music, Breathing). We hypothesized that after watching the stressful movie, the Breathing group would show greater physiological and self-report changes marking greater stress reduction compared to the Music group. Results indicated that slow Breathing affected perceived stress as well as HRV, whereas Music affected perceived stress, but had no significant effect on HRV. Also, results indicated that Slow Breathing and not Music reduced the complexity of heart and respiration signals. Moreover, the study found that respiration and heart rhythm synchronized maximally during slow breathing. The results suggest that the interventions studied in this research can be used as an effective stress reduction tool in a group setting. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-01T21:58:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 tese_10255_Rayana Alvarenga Costa.pdf: 3195656 bytes, checksum: 244f9112e799add76c1a8840cbe40dce (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-09-29 / Tendo em vista a forte relação entre os crimes de homicídio e o uso de armas de fogo no Brasil, a Balística Forense tem como importante ferramenta a detecção de resíduos originados por disparo de armas de fogo (GSR - GunShot Residues) nas mãos de um suspeito, contribuindo para determinação da autoria de um disparo. Dentre os tipos de munições existentes, a munição limpa foi desenvolvida na última década para minimizar a exposição dos atiradores ao chumbo (Pb), visto que em munições convencionais este elemento, bem como o Ba e Sb se apresentam em concentrações significativas. Estudos mostram dificuldades na detecção de GSR de munição limpa por espectroscopia de energia dispersiva acoplado a microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV/EDS) e teste residuográfico. Técnicas analíticas modernas como a espectrometria de massas com plasma indutivamente acoplado (ICP-MS) vem sendo utilizada como uma análise rápida para a detecção de elementos químicos presentes nos GSR, por apresentar alta sensibilidade, seletividade e caráter multielementar. Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a aplicabilidade da técnica da ICP-MS para quantificar os GSR advindos de munições limpas ou clean range ammunition ou non toxic ammunition utilizando pistola calibre .40 e revólver calibre .38 em função do número de disparos (n = 1-7 e n = 1-5, respectivamente). Os GSR foram coletados nas regiões da pinça-palmar e pinça-dorsal, sendo avaliadas sobre ambas as mãos (direita e esquerda). Os resultados obtidos foram comparados com técnicas clássicas dentro da balística forense: ensaio colorimétrico usando rodizonato de sódio e MEV/EDS. Resultados negativos foram observados para Pb e Ba usando o teste residuográfico para análise de GSR de munições limpas, até 7 disparos. Já a análise por MEV/EDS foi realizada no GSR produzido a partir de n = 7 (pistola calibre .40) e n = 5 (revólver .38) de munição limpa. As fotomicrográficas mostraram que o GSR produzido a partir da munição limpa não apresenta morfologia definida como os do GSR de munição convencional. Além disso, os resultados de EDS identificaram principalmente elementos como C, O, K, Al, S, Si, Cu, Zn, Ti, Cr, Cl, Mo, Sr e Fe. Diferente dos métodos convencionais, a técnica de ICP-MS mostrou resultado positivo para Pb, Ba e Sb com concentração máxima de 2,64 (±0,60) μg∙L-1, 10,9 (±5,44) μg∙L-1 e 0,12 (±0,02) μg∙L-1 para pistola .40 e 4,59 (±1,8) μg∙L-1, 1,95 (±1,1) μg∙L-1, 0,10 (±0,07) μg∙L-1 para revólver .38. Além deles, elementos como Al, Ti, Cr, Mo, Cu, Zn e Sr foram também detectados nos GSR de munições limpas. Observou-se que com o aumento do número de disparos houve o aumento da concentração de todos os elementos investigados e sugere-se que Al, Sr, Zn e Cu possam vir a ser utilizados como novos marcadores de GSR para munições limpas. Portanto, a técnica ICP-MS apresentou resultados promissores e mostrou-se adequada para a análise de GSR de munições limpas

Submitted by João Arthur Martins (joao.arthur@ufpe.br) on 2015-03-03T18:16:33Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação Marcella Auxiliadora de Melo Lucena.pdf: 6289742 bytes, checksum: f7c92de0e29465f2aff09175a7482db4 (MD5) license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-03T18:16:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação Marcella Auxiliadora de Melo Lucena.pdf: 6289742 bytes, checksum: f7c92de0e29465f2aff09175a7482db4 (MD5) license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / CNPq, INCT-INAMI, PROPESQ, CAPES e FACEPE / Anualmente o número de mortes com o uso de armas de fogo tem crescido e tornando a violência armada uma das maiores preocupações da sociedade atual. No que diz respeito ao uso delituoso de armas de fogo, uma importante ferramenta para a produção de prova material é a caracterização de resíduos de tiro (GSR, Gunshot Residue). Entretanto, nos dias atuais, os peritos criminais encontram grandes dificuldades para a sua caracterização de forma rápida e precisa, em especial quando o GSR é gerado por munição livre de chumbo (NTA). Neste trabalho o espinélio ZnAl2O4:TR3+ (TR = Eu, Tb, Dy, Eu-Dy ou Tb-Dy) foi utilizado como marcador luminescente para identificação de GSR. A luminescência do material, conferida pelos íons TR3+, associada a sua estabilidade térmica e química, foi utilizada para que o GSR pudesse ser identificado visualmente, coletado e submetido a análises complementares. Amostras de ZnAl1,95TR0,05O4 (TR = Tb3+, Dy3+, Eu3+-Dy3+ ou Tb3+-Dy3+) foram sintetizadas pelo método de combustão, caracterizadas óptica e estruturalmente e submetidas a testes de incorporação na munição (carga de projeção ou massa iniciadora/primer). Os resultados mostraram que foi possível visualizar facilmente as partículas luminescentes de GSR sobre as mãos do atirador, sobre a arma e no local do disparo, bem como nos suportes utilizados para os testes com primer sob radiação UV (254 nm). Estas partículas foram coletadas e analisadas por FTIR, Raman, Espectroscopia de Emissão e MEV/EDS. Observou-se que, por meio da adição do marcador, é possível caracterizar de forma inequívoca o GSR, mesmo quando produzido por NTA. A presença do marcador ZnAl2O4:TR3+ efetivamente confere uma assinatura química e óptica ao GSR que permite tal caracterização. Observou-se também que o uso de diferentes centros emissores permite a marcação seletiva da munição, abrindo perspectivas para uma futura codificação. Os melhores resultados foram obtidos com marcadores contendo Eu3+ ou Tb3+ e com alta cristalinidade. No tocante à estrutura todas as amostras apresentaram como fase majoritária o espinélio ZnAl2O4, e contaminação de ZnO.

All quantitative measurements have a degree of measurement uncertainty. While the term uncertainty can be essentially defined as doubt, measurement uncertainty in this sense instead inspires assurance in a quantitative value to a certain degree of confidence. Dating back to the advent of modern statistics in the 1700s, an international consensus on measurement uncertainty did not occur until the 1995 release of the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM), the fundamental document on the subject. The GUM was further adopted by major players in the field of measurement including the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM), National Measurement Institutes (NMI), and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and is used as the gold standard of documentary standards in labs around the country. Gunshot residue (GSR) patterns of distribution are used to establish a range of possible distances that the muzzle of the firearm was from the target in order to piece together a particular series of events. Using the firearm and ammunition that was involved in that particular crime, an analyst can perform test fires using fabric swatches attached to test panels at varying muzzle-to-target distances, generally every three to six inches between contact and 48 inches. This allows for the creation of comparable patterns of soot and GSR to the actual pieces of evidence. Because different distances can have considerably different residue patterns, it is important that a method for creating the test panels minimize uncertainty in order to be considered reliable and reproducible. When establishing a protocol for determining the measurement uncertainty in the creation of test panels, the two most important factors are the measuring device and a repeatability study. A measuring device, in this case a stainless-steel ruler, with metrological traceability reduces the measurement uncertainty because every value is reliable and traceable back to an original source. A repeatability study is then used to take numerous measurements over time under similar conditions. Using this data, statistical analysis can be applied to evaluate the standard deviations and uncertainties. A total of 238 measurements were taken by eight members of the Boston Police Department Crime Laboratory on eleven different days over the course of a month. The measurements were divided into eight baseline distances that the firing device, a Ransom Rest, had been set to: 3”, 6”, 9”, 12”, 18”, 24”, 36”, and 42”. The data was analyzed as a whole, as well as split into two groups: a group of four analysts who are proficient and authorized to perform GSR distance determination testing (Group A), and a second group of four analysts with no GSR distance determination training or experience (Group B). At a confidence interval of 95.45%, the reported uncertainty was found to be 0.082 inches for the total group, 0.045 inches for the group trained in performing GSR distance determination, and 0.043 inches for the group with no experience in distance determination testing. F-test statistical analysis of the standard deviations of each distance, along with a comparison of the uncertainties, indicates no significant difference between the abilities of the two groups and that it’s possible a new uncertainty of measurement will not be required when current GSR distance determination analysts leave or new analysts are hired and trained, given that all other variables remain constant. The outlined method and experiment for determining measurement uncertainty was successful in that it met the four main requirements set forward by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) National Accreditation Board (ANAB): (a) include the specific measuring device or instrument used for a reported test result in the estimation of measurement uncertainty for that test method; (b) include the process of rounding the expanded uncertainty; (c) require the coverage probability of the expanded uncertainty to be a minimum of 95.45%; and (d) specify a schedule to review and/or recalculate the measurement uncertainty.

This paper explains the concept of emotion, emotion dimension and how emotions relate to the central nervous system. Additionally, there is research that were the inspiration for this work, the basic types of emotions and their physiological responses. The following are ways to monitor signals caused by emotions. The practical part deals with the sensing signals from the periphery of the body, specifically the EDA, EMG, EOG and PPG. As stimuli to elicit these signals were used photography, music and film. The signals were processed using the program developed in Matlab. Program specific values obtained were statistically analysed.

The purpose of this study is to find out how the mental load varies among drivers in different driving environments, where the perceived stress will be compared with the biological stress while driving a car. Twenty-six experimental runs were performed where the driver drove a car in a real traffic environment. Test participants were both men and women between the ages of 20 and 48, where everyone who participated had a driving license. Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) was used to measuremental strain. After each run, the participants were asked to answer a questionnaire called NASA-TLX, a subjective multidimensional data load index. This is an evaluation tool used to measure the perceived workload. The participants’ self-assessment of the workload while driving was then compared with GSR data. The main result is that accessing the motorway and exiting the motorway means greater mental strain than the other driving environments. Data from GSR and NASA-TLX showed no difference, which means that the participants’ self-assessment is consistent with the physiological measure GSR.

Parmi les patients souffrant d'épilepsie, particulièrement du lobe temporal (ELT), 30% restent résistants aux médicaments malgré l'administration optimale des traitements pharmacologiques. Le caractère imprédictible des crises est l’un des aspects les plus invalidants de la maladie. De plus, les troubles dépressifs et anxieux sont des comorbidités psychiatriques fréquemment associées à l’épilepsie et impactent encore plus négativement la qualité de vie que les crises. Les approches par biofeedback, ont démontré leur efficacité dans le contrôle des crises. Une thérapie par biofeedback sur la conductance cutanée (GSR biofeedback) a montré son efficacité sur les symptômes psychiatriques. Cependant, les mécanismes sous-tendant l’efficacité sur ces symptômes restent peu connus. L’objectif de cette thèse est de mieux comprendre ces mécanismes. Deux pistes sont explorées : une physiologique dans laquelle il existerait un effet direct du GSR biofeedback sur la régulation physiologique des émotions ; une attentionnelle, dans laquelle il y aurait un effet indirect de l’entraînement sur le contrôle de l’attention. Les études menées ont permis de montrer que les patients avec ELT présentent des réponses électrodermales aux émotions plus faibles que des témoins, mais qu'elles ne sont pas plus élevées après des séances de GSR biofeedback. En revanche, l’amélioration des symptômes anxieux et dépressifs est liée à des modifications du traitement attentionnel des informations menaçantes. Le GSR biofeedback en améliorant le contrôle attentionnel induirait une diminution de la vigilance face à la menace, conduisant à une réduction de la vulnérabilité émotionnelle chez ces patients. / Among patients with epilepsy, particularly temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), 30% remain drug-resistant despite optimal administration of pharmacological treatments. The unpredictability of seizures is one of the most disabling aspects of the disease. In addition, depressive and anxiety disorders are psychiatric comorbidities frequently associated with epilepsy and have a greater negative impact on quality of life than seizures. Biofeedback approaches have been shown to be effective in controlling seizures. A biofeedback therapy on skin conductance (GSR biofeedback) has shown its efficacy on psychiatric symptoms. However, the mechanisms underlying this efficacy remain poorly understood. The objective of this thesis is to better understand these mechanisms. Two tracks are explored: a physiological one in which there is a direct effect of GSR biofeedback on the physiological regulation of emotions; an attentional one, in which there would be an indirect effect of the training on the control of attention. The studies presented have shown that TLE patients have weaker electrodermal responses than controls but that they are not higher after GSR biofeedback sessions. In contrast, the improvement of anxiety and depressive symptoms is related to changes in the attentional processing of threatening information. GSR biofeedback by improving attentional control would lead to a decrease in alertness to threat, leading to a reduction in emotional vulnerability in these patients.

Titel: Omedveten arousal i butiksmiljön. Nyckelord: Arousal, omedveten arousal, servicescape, butiksmiljö, konsumtionsbeteende, GSR-armband, eyetracking, elektrodermal aktivitet. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka vilka faktorer som framkallar omedveten arousal i en riktig butiksmiljö. Vidare vill vi undersöka om skillnader i kundrelaterade konsumtionsvariabler påverkar omedveten arousal. Metod: Studien kombinerar en kvantitativ och kvalitativ ansats där 60 respondenter deltog i studien. Data samlades in via två enkäter, GSR-armband och ett par eyetracking-glasögon. Bidrag: Studien har bidragit med en kategorisering av omedvetna arousalutslag baserat på vad respondenter reagerat på i butiken. Skillnader i kundrelaterade konsumtionsvariabler har identifierats i förhållande till omedveten arousal. Originalitet: Med hjälp av studiedesignen har data kunnat samlas in i en riktig butiksmiljö. Respondenterna har således kunnat handla som vanligt i en miljö med andra kunder, personal och fysiska faktorer i butiken. / Title: Unconscious arousal in a store environment. Key words: Arousal, unconscious arousal, servicescape, store environment, consumer behavior, GSR-wristband, eye tracking, electrodermal activity. Purpose: The purpose with this study is to examine what factors evoke unconscious arousal in a real store environment. We will also examine if there are any differences in customer related consumption variables which affect unconscious arousal. Method: The study combines a quantitative and a qualitative approach where 60 respondents participated in the study. Data was collected by two surveys, a GSR-wristband and a pair of eyetracking-glasses. Contributions: The study has contributed with a categorization of unconscious arousal peaks based on what the respondents reacted to in the store. Differences in customer related consumption variables have been identified in relation to unconscious arousal. Originality: The study design has allowed data to be collected in a real store environment. The respondents have been able to shop as usual in an environment with other customers, staff and physical factors in the store.

Gunshot primer residue (P-GSR) is released from the openings of a firearm when it is discharged12,13. P-GSR is made of microscopic particles that are considered characteristic of being derived from firearm ammunition when composed of barium (Ba), lead (Pb), and antimony (Sb) and have the correct morphology4. Morphology describes the shape of the P-GSR particle, which can be spherical, irregularly shaped, and must be non-crystalline. Forensic labs are commonly requested to test for the presence of P-GSR on evidential items, such as hands, clothing, vehicles, and gloves, in order to provide circumstantial evidence showing that they were, in some way, possibly involved with a shooting. Occasionally these evidential items are also expected to undergo fingerprint processing to potentially link someone to a crime. Latex gloves are often utilized in the commission of a crime with the impression that fingerprints cannot be left behind, however latent prints can often be developed on this non-porous material. Due to the evidential value of fingerprints and in order to ensure that potential prints are not damaged during P-GSR collection, latent print development is routinely performed first. Considering that P-GSR particles are easily dislodged, it is possible that some loss of P-GSR may occur during latent print processing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of processing a non-porous item for latent fingerprints on the subsequent recovery and detection of P-GSR. Latex gloves were worn during the discharge of either a pistol or a revolver and then processed for latent prints by undergoing cyanoacrylate fuming followed by either white powder or yellow dye. The latex gloves were then sampled for P-GSR using aluminum stubs containing an adhesive coating which were dabbed over the gloves until they loss their tackiness. The stubs were then carbon coated using a Denton Vacuum Desk IV in order to prevent charging in the analytical instrument. Utilizing a JEOL JSM-6460LV Scanning Electron Microscope (JEOL USA Inc., Peabody, MA coupled with an EDAX Apollo X Analyzer (EDAX Inc., Mahwah, NJ) and EDAX Genesis GSR Software, the stubs were processed for three-component particles characteristic of P-GSR. It was determined that P-GSR can still be recovered on latex gloves after undergoing latent print processing involving cyanoacrylate fuming followed by either white powder or yellow dye processing. Three-component particles were found on both the interior and exterior of the latex gloves after being processed for latent prints. On average, 33 P-GSR particles were found on the exterior of the gloves and four P-GSR particles were found on the interior of the gloves. Although significantly less were found on the interior of the gloves (<10), it is recommended that both sides of gloves be stubbed when collecting P-GSR for the greatest chances of collecting three-component particles if they are in fact present on a pair of gloves. Although more particles were found on the gloves that were not processed for latent prints, a sufficient number of particles (≥3 particles) were consistently found on the latex gloves after undergoing latent print processing to provide a positive P-GSR result according to the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab guidelines for P-GSR analysis. Therefore, this research shows that latex gloves can first be processed for latent prints and then subsequently be processed for P-GSR effectively in order to try and obtain both forms of evidence for a case.

This study examined the association of the experience of emotion and somatic changes. The study compared reported somatic changes generally experienced when anxious with the actual association of the experience of emotion and somatic changes as measured during a specific event. Emotions were measured as both general negative emotion as well as specific emotions: anger, disgust, fear, sadness and shame. Participants were volunteers from a Victorian university who agreed to watch a video depicting the dramatisation of child abuse. Throughout the video, participants indicated their experience of emotion. Measures were also taken throughout the procedure of facial expression and Galvanic Skin Response (GSR). In order to examine emotional-congruence, subjects were divided into three groups. These groups were divided according to the congruence of subjects’ experienced emotion with autonomic changes and facial expressivity. Groups were divided separately for each of the emotion types. Where there was little difference between the reported experience of emotion and that, which would have been expected from the observed somatic changes, the subject was deemed to be in the Congruent Group. Subjects whose reported experience of emotion was greater or less than would be expected from observed somatic changes were allocated to the Over-reporter and Under-Reporter Groups respectively. This data was then compared to participants’ reports of the number of somatic symptoms usually experienced when anxious. It was found that participants who under-report the experience of general negative-emotion compared with their observed somatic changes (both GSR and facial expressivity) had lower trait-somatic-anxiety (reported fewer somatic symptoms usually experienced when anxious). There was no significant difference between the Congruent Group and Over-Reporter Group. The Under-Reporter Groups had significantly lower trait-somatic-anxiety than the Congruent Group when emotional-congruence was defined by fear and GSR, anger and GSR and sadness and facial expressivity. The actual association of shame and disgust with either somatic change, sadness with autonomic change and anger and fear with facial expressivity was unrelated to the number of somatic symptoms reported to be usually experienced when anxious. The results supported the idea that subjective reports of the number of somatic symptoms reported to be usually experienced when anxious reflect the actual association of somatic change and experience, but with limitations. The actual association of experience of fear with autonomic change seems to reflect the number of somatic symptoms reported to be usually experienced when anxious more than other emotions. Further for those for whom the experience of anger and negative-emotion has a greater association with somatic change, there was a greater number of somatic symptoms reported to be usually experienced when anxious. This would suggest that some people have a greater association of some experiences of emotion and somatic change. Furthermore, while there is an association between reported somatic changes generally experienced when anxious with the actual association of the experience of emotion and somatic changes as measured during a specific event, this was dependant on the association of the emotion types rather than being generalised for all emotions.