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With its firm establishment as a neuropsychology subspecialty, forensic neuropsychological assessment is integral to many criminal and civil forensic evaluations. In addition to evaluating cognitive deficits, forensic neuropsychologists can provide reliable information regarding symptom magnification, malingering, and other neurocognitive and psychological issues that may impact the outcome of a particular legal case. This article is an overview and introduction to neuropsychological assessment in the forensic mental health context. Major issues impacting the current practice of forensic neuropsychology are summarized, and several examples from case law are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Some attorneys claim that to adequately cross examine neuropsychological experts, they require direct access to protected test information, rather than having test data analyzed by retained neuropsychological experts. The objective of this paper is to critically examine whether direct access to protected test materials by attorneys is indeed necessary, appropriate, and useful to the trier-of-fact. Method: Examples are provided of the types of nonscientific misinformation that occur when attorneys, who lack adequate training in testing, attempt to independently interpret neurocognitive/psychological test data. Results: Release of protected test information to attorneys introduces inaccurate information to the trier of fact, and jeopardizes future use of tests because non-psychologists are not ethically bound to protect test content. Conclusion: The public policy underlying the right of attorneys to seek possibly relevant documents should not outweigh the damage to tests and resultant misinformation that arise when protected test information is released directly to attorneys. The solution recommended by neuropsychological/psychological organizations and test publishers is to have protected psychological test information exchanged directly and only between clinical psychologist/neuropsychologist experts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Mindfulness-based interventions (including self-compassion interventions) are effective in improving stress management at psychological and physical levels. Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) is a newly developed program particularly aimed at increasing self-compassion. The main objective of this study was to determine whether the psychophysiological stress response during a social-evaluative speaking task differs in inpatients participating in the MSC or the Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) program at the end of their 6-week psychiatric rehabilitation stay (i.e., post-test only design). Method: Data from 50 inpatients (25 MSC, 25 PMR, 35 female) aged 19 to 76 years (M = 47.22, SD = 12.44) were analyzed in terms of psychophysiological stress response. For this purpose, heart rate variability, heart rate, and blood pressure were assessed together with several psychometric variables: positive and negative affect (PANAS), subjective stress perception (Visual Analog Scale), self-compassion (Self-Compassion Scale), cognitive reappraisal and suppression (Emotion Regulation Questionnaire), psychological distress (Brief Symptom Inventory-18), and appraisal and rumination (selected items). Results: After correction for alpha inflation no differences in the psychophysiological stress response and psychometric parameters between the MSC and PMR group were found. Discussion: In general, our results indicate that MSC is not superior to PMR training. However, more research with clinical randomized controlled trials investigating larger samples are needed to further affirm these initial findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A one-step sandwich chemiluminescence immunometric assay (LIA) was developed for the quantification of bifunctional peptidylglycine-α-amidating monooxygenase (PAM) in human plasma (PAM-LIA). PAM is responsible for the activation of more than half of known peptide hormones through C-terminal α-amidation. The assay employed antibodies targeting specific catalytic PAM-subunits, peptidylglycine alpha-hydroxylating monooxygenase (PHM) and peptidyl-alpha-hydroxyglycine alpha-amidating lyase (PAL), to ensure detection of full-length PAM. The PAM-LIA assay was calibrated with a human recombinant PAM enzyme and achieved a detection limit of 189 pg/mL and a quantification limit of 250 pg/mL. The assay demonstrated good inter-assay (6.7%) and intra-assay (2.2%) variabilities. It exhibited linearity when accessed by gradual dilution or random mixing of plasma samples. The accuracy of the PAM-LIA was determined to be 94.7% through spiking recovery experiments, and the signal recovery after substance interference was 94–96%. The analyte showed 96% stability after six freeze–thaw cycles. The assay showed strong correlation with matched EDTA and serum samples, as well as matched EDTA and Li-Heparin samples. Additionally, a high correlation was observed between α-amidating activity and PAM-LIA. Finally, the PAM-LIA assay was successfully applied to a sub-cohort of a Swedish population-based study, comprising 4850 individuals, confirming its suitability for routine high throughput screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To provide education regarding the critical importance of test security for neuropsychological and psychological tests, and to establish recommendations for best practices for maintaining test security in forensic, clinical, teaching, and research settings. Previous test security guidelines were not adequately specified. Neuropsychologists practicing in a broad range of settings collaborated to develop detailed and specific guidance regarding test security to best ensure continued viability of neuropsychological and psychological tests. Implications of failing to maintain test security for both the practice of neuropsychology and for society at large were identified. Types of test data that can be safely disclosed to nonpsychologists are described. Specific procedures can be followed that will minimize risk of invalidating future use of neuropsychological and psychological measures. Clinical neuropsychologists must commit to protecting sensitive neuropsychological and psychological test information from exposure to nonpsychologists, and now have specific recommendations that will guide that endeavor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reconfigurable caches offer an intriguing opportunity to tailor cache behavior to applications for better run-times and energy consumptions. While one may adapt structural cache parameters such as cache and block sizes, we adapt the memory-address-to-cache-index mapping function to the needs of an application. Using a LEON3 embedded multi-core processor with reconfigurable cache mappings, a metaheuristic search procedure, and MiBench applications, we show in this work how to accurately compare non-deterministic performances of applications and how to use this information to implement an optimization procedure that evolves application-specific cache mappings for the LEON3 multi-core processor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dipeptidyl amino-peptidase 3 (DPP3) is an aminopeptidase involved in peptide degradation, including hormone peptides as angiotensin II and enkephalins. DPP3 plasma activity increases in septic patients and correlates with mortality risk. However, the exact physiological role of DPP3 remains unclear and animal studies are necessary to reveal the function of DPP3 in vivo. To this demand, we developed a two-step purification procedure for isolation of native human DPP3 from blood cell lysate (BCL) that is suitable for in vivo applications. With the use of monoclonal antibodies coupled to beads in combination with an ion-exchange chromatography, we recovered 68% of human DPP3 activity from BCL with a purity of ≥ 95%. Purified human DPP3 was assayed for activity and protein concentration using recently published DPP3-activity- and immunoassays. Additionally, protein stability and storage in relevant buffers were tested. Our results provide a promising strategy for fast and efficient isolation of human DPP3. The purified human DPP3 represents the native state of DPP3, suitable for future in vivo applications to investigate the physiological role of DPP3 and its involvement in pathophysiological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, an enzyme‐based electrochemical biosensor system for determination of trimethylamine N‐oxide (TMAO) is described. It employs an active chimeric variant of TorA in combination with an enzymatically deoxygenating system and a low‐potential mediator for effective regeneration of the enzyme and cathodic current generation. TMAO reductase (TorA) is a molybdoenzyme found in marine and most enterobacteria that specifically catalyzes the reduction of TMAO to trimethylamine (TMA). The chimeric TorA, named TorA‐FDH, corresponds to the apoform of TorA from Escherichia coli reconstituted with the molybdenum cofactor from formate dehydrogenase (FDH). Each enzyme, TorA and TorA‐FDH, was immobilized on the surface of a carbon electrode and protected with a dialysis membrane. The biosensor operates at an applied potential of −0.8 V [vs. Ag/AgCl (1 M KCl)] under ambient air conditions thanks to an additional enzymatic O2‐scavenger system. A comparison between the two enzymatic sensors revealed a much higher sensitivity for the biosensor with immobilized TorA‐FDH. This biosensor exhibits a sensitivity of 14.16 nA/μM TMAO in a useful measuring range of 2–110 μM with a detection limit of LOD=2.96 nM (S/N=3), and was similar for TMAO in buffer and in spiked serum samples. With a response time of 16±2 s, the biosensor is stable over prolonged daily measurements (n=20). This electrochemical biosensor provides suitable applications in detecting TMAO levels in human serum. Chimeras for biosensing: An enzyme‐based electrochemical biosensor for the determination of trimethylamine N‐oxide (TMAO) is presented, where enhanced sensitivity is obtained by utilizing a chimeric TorA, corresponding to the apoform of TorA from Escherichia coli reconstituted with the molybdenum cofactor from the Rhodobacter capsulatus formate dehydrogenase. Structure of Shewanella massilia TorA (PDB: 1tmo). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]