CLPEX Chat Board

A quick look on Google did not yield much and I would appreciate some input from folks on here on (a) the idea of researching the permanence of 3rd level detail and (b) the practical observations and problems in doing so.

Generally all sketches of the layers of friction ridge skin I have seen show a spiralling perspiration duct connecting the pore with the perspiration gland. It is generally accepted that the epidermis regenerates itself every thirty or so days.

This leads me to believe that the permanence of third level detail could be open for attack.

It could surely be argued that the shapes and sizes of pores could change with time?

Similarly, the edge detail of ridges could change with time?

I have, however, encountered difficulty in recording my own friction ridge skin at sufficient levels of detail in order to compare these intricate details over time. I have tried different powders but could not achieve records I was happy with.

I am considering direct photography but simply have not yet had the time to find a way that yields adequate results.

Any input would be appreciated.

I have done a little work on 3rd Level Detail. Pore's do not retain their size or shape as they swell and retract with changes in temperature. Also the shape does not remain constant. What you can use though is the centres of the pores as these do remain constant.

Third level detail was the basis of my final year project at university and the basis of a colleagues MPhil.

Hello EmmaC

Thanks for your reply. If the pores change shape and size, would it be fair to say that the ridges would also show minute changes in edge shape.

Also, what is your basis for saying that the centres of the pores remain constant?

I appreciate the fact that ridges are series of ridge units and as such it is understandable that pores will not "move" too far. Is it then correct to say that the only value of pores (if visible) would be their physical distribution per unit of measurement over distance?

The basis of my project was to test whether 3rd Level detail was equivocal between rolled prints and those developed with Ninhydrin.

To see whether my method worked first I had to see whether the 3rd level detail remained constant in the rolled prints by themselves. Because of the measuring software/microscope we had available I could only work on those around the core of the prints. For a comparison I also did a set of tapped ink prints to see if there was any distortion between rolling and tapping.

Using some basic sine/cosine theory I made sure that a set of two reference pores were lined up, to remove any rotational errors that I may have made when seating the fingerprint under the microscope. The software I used (Image Pro Plus) allowed me to trace the circumference of each pore and then calculated an x and y value for the centre of each pore. After the rotational adjustment I plotted all the values on a graph.

You could definately see each grouping of each pore clearly defined on the graph. Unfortunately I ran out of time, as it was only an undergraduate project, and didn't have a sufficiently detailed graphical package that allowed me to perform a pictorial cluster analysis on the groupings.

The tapped prints gave the best correlation. The rolled prints showed excellent vertical correlation but there was some drifting on the horizontal (due to skin stretching as you roll the prints).

Hope this helps...

I remember when I was in college my pores would sometimes expand and contract before my very own eyes. Then, they would begin to glisten and glow and fluoresce. They would move around and begin to speak. But their language was not one of words, but colors would come out of the pores and fill the air with symphonic sounds...

Oops, wrong list.

George

The work of Michael Okajima would suggest that the arrangement of some third level detail is not permanent.
If the position of dermal pappilae changes with age, and if these papillae aslo increase in numbers, the third level detail they create would also have to change.
In my opinion, Latent Print Examiners have to be very careful not to over-value third level detail.

Shane Turnidge

Hi Roland,

Firstly third level detail is permanent since it is derived from the same biological development as the friction skin and maintained by the same physiology. The variables involved in transferring the pattern of third level detail onto a substrate will produce a range of results. If you wish to record your own skin do so without the transfer process and observe the skin detail over time, it wont change. A technique you could use is to position a mirror near your skin and record the image in the mirror. Ive submitted a research paper dealing with literature research on the subject of biological development and this is part of CLPEX Holy Grail. Please use the 2008 version). One issue that needs clarification is the terminology of 'pores'. The spiral epidermal duct ( Acrosyringium) has a lumen which when this reaches the free surface the point of opening is known as the pore. The surface of the friction skin has inverted cones known as ostia inside which the pore is located. When friction skin is recorded the ostia are what we observe and not the position of the pore. The ostia are formed by the actions of the dermal duct anlagen which deform the basement membrane in the shape of an inverted cone. Another issue is that the epidermal duct is independent of the surrounding epidermal tissue such that if the epidermis was delaminated there would be long strands of duct tissue still attached to the dermis. Purkinje made this observation very early in our recorded literature and associated the combination of sweat ducts with the development of the friction skin. Regards from oz.

Thank you very much to all who responded here. You have given me much food for thought and I will work through this thoroughly before anything else is attempted in this vein.

Have a great day!

If anyone has any further reading material / articles which they would be willing to forward I would appreciate it and abide by any conditions. I plan to use it purely for further reading and if ever used, it will be used on any and all conditions of original authors and with full credit.

Appreciated,

Anton

Here's few references...

ASHBAUGH, D. R. (1982) Poroscopy. Identification News, 32.
ASHBAUGH, D. R. (1999) Quantitative-Qualitative Friction Ridge Analysis - An Introduction to Basic and Advanced Ridgeology, CRC Press.
BARCLAY, F. (1991) Friction Ridge Identification Based on Pore Structure A Case Study. RCMP Gazette, 53, 18-21.
BINDRA, B., JASUJA, O. P. & SINGLA, A. K. (2000) Poroscopy: A Method of Personal Identification Revisited. Internet Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 1.
CASEY, W. (2005) Perspectives on Livescan Imaging and Image Quality. The Print, 21, 1-4.
CZARNECKI, E. (1995) Poroscopy: An Overview. The Print, 11, 1-3.
HALE , A. R. (1952) Morphogenesis of Volar Skin in the Human Fetus. The American Journal of Anatomy, 91.
HAMM, E. D. (2006) Friction Ridge Levels of Detail: Bane or Boon? Fingerprint Whorld, 32, 160-166.
JAIN, A. K., CHEN, Y. & DEMIRKUS, M. (2006a) Pores and Ridges: Fingerprint Matching Using Level 3 Features. International Conference on Pattern Recognition, 477-480.
JAIN, A. K., CHEN, Y. & DEMIRKUS, M. (2006b) Pores and Ridges: High Resolution Fingerprint Matching Using Level 3 Features. Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence.
KUHN, K. E. (1994) The Fingerprint Science and Ridgeology. The Print, 10, 1-3.
PRABHAKAR, S., JAIN, A. K. & PANKANTI, S. (2003) Learning Fingerprint Minutiae Location and Type. Pattern Recognition, 36, 1847-1857.
RODDY, A. & STOSZ, J. D. (1997) Fingerprint Features - Statistical Analysis and System Performance Estimates. Proceedings of the IEEE, 85, 1390-1421.
STOSZ, J. D. & ALYEA, L. A. (1994) Automated System for Fingerprint Authentication Using Pores and Ridge Structure. Proceedings of the SPIE Conference on Automatic Systems for the Identification and Inspections of Humans, San Diego, USA, 2277, 210-223.

LEVESQUE, V. & HAYWARD, V. Experimental Evidence of Lateral Skin Strain During Tactile Exploration.
STOSZ, J. D. & ALYEA, L. A. Automated System for Fingerprint Authentication Using Pores and Ridge Structure.

Thanks EmmaC

I have David Ashbaugh's book and Ernie Hamm was kind enough to send me a copy of his 2006 paper.

As for the rest, are they available online? will Google...

If not, can I buy hard copies somewhere?

Regards,

Anton

Most of the articles should be available online - it depends on whether you have access to University library systems...

If there's any you can't get hold of I'll see whether I still have the electronic copies.

That would be jolly kind and highly appreciated.

I have access to our local University library but this material will surely not be there.

Thanks,

Anton

I would like to know more myself about third level detail. I really appreaciate both those who raise the questions and those who have responded.

Many years ago, I spent some time on a task force of sorts to clean up some logistical problems with fingerprinting people for a state child warefare system whose backgound investigation methods were in shambles. I fingerprinted literally thousands of people, because everyone over 18 year old in a home or agency had to be fingerprinted. I observed a wide variety of skin conditions. I also fingerprinted numerous sets of twins and I fingerprinted people from 18 to 90 years old.

One thing I noticed was those with diabetes were extraordinarily hard to print. I soon was able to detect a diabetic person as soon as I started printing them. I would ask them, "Are you a diabetic?" They would be surprised and ask, "How did you know?" Their hands were also often cold, even in warm weather. Additionally, certain types of medications also have a deteriorating effect on ridge quality and clarity. Diabetes and other conditions have a deteriorating effect on the circulatory system, which brings blood and nutrients to the extremities of the limbs, which includes the fingers and hands.

Unfortunately, I did not take notes as I was under some time constraints. But, I would think something like diabetes would cause a near permanent deterioration of 3rd level detail. Some diabetes is genetic.

Now, my question: Fingerprints are unique and permanent. But, is third level detail always permanent?

Bill

Bill,

Your question is the same as Antons. The experience you use for highlighting the diabetic effect is not dissimilar to other medical conditions that can alter the appearance of the skin. Dishwash hands,brick layers, welders are occupational effects that are also recognisable when fingerprinting. The permanence of fingerprint detail is a biological principle independent of changes that occur during life. The taking of a set of fingerprints is a transfer process the repeatability of which is variable. To understand the biological principle requires learning how the anatomy and physiology of friction skin is developed and maintained. The answer to your question lies in that knowledge.