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Millions of dollars are spent annually in private litigation against jails. This article analyzes a novel dataset developed from dockets and reports of cases filed against jails by the estates of individuals who died in jail custody. The total amount of plaintiffs' awards represented in the sample was over $292,234,224. Cases attributing the cause of death to officer use of force had the highest average award ($2,243,079). Our findings suggest that suicide is still the most common cause of death for people in jail custody. Yet complications from a physical illness were not far behind, and nearly 20% of all cases in the sample were drug or alcohol related. In the first 24 hours of custody, people in jail were most at risk of drug-related deaths and suicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper investigates a variable stiffness elastic actuator, which was adjusted using a special-purpose mechanism. A model was derived to obtain the response of the actuator. Concurrently, an experimental setup was designed and manufactured to validate the theoretical model. A novel control scheme is adopted to enhance the response through stiffness variation. Results showed that the time of response is reduced by 73% as compared to that of a constant stiffness actuator. In order to find the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme, a PID controller is implemented, where the response time was reduced by 58% using the former. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an artificial neural network (ANN) trained on the patterns of slip signals; these patterns were generated by using conventional sensors with a novel design of fingertip mechanism for detecting the slippage of a grasped object under different types of dynamic loads. This design is to be used with an underactuated triple finger artificial hand based on the pulleys-tendon mechanism. The grasped object is designed in a prism shape with three direct current motors with unbalance rotating mass to generate excitation in the object. Also, this object is covered with different types of surface materials, namely, spongy rubber, glass, and wood. Three types of external loads are used to disturb the grasping process represented by quasistatic pulling on the object, the dynamic load on the object, and on the artificial arm in separate form. The mathematical modeling has been derived for the proposed design to generate the signal of contact force components ratio through using the conventional sensor signals with the aid of Matlab-Simulink software. The ANN has been trained on the basis of the patterns of force component ratio signals at slippage occurrence, in order to detect slippage and then prevent it without the need for any knowledge about the surface properties of the grasped object. The experimental results are discussed in comparison with the physical aspect of the slippage phenomenon, and they show good agreement with the physical definition of the slippage phenomenon. In addition, the network evaluation results are discussed with different parameters that govern the controller operation, such as network error, classification efficiency, and delay in response time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous works mainly focused on the isotope effect of boron on the Tc performance and superconducting mechanism of MgB2 superconductors but were never concerned with its effect on the chemical doping and critical current density (Jc) performance of MgB2, which is of great importance in terms of electromagnetic applications. In the present work, the isotope effect of 11B on carbon doping and Jc of MgB2 superconductors was for the first time studied systemically. It is found that as the chemical activity of 10B is higher than 11B, the substitution of B by C can more easily occur on 10B than on the 11B site of the MgB2 lattice. This is why carbon doping fails to increase the Jc value of isotope Mg11B2 superconductors. Our result is quite different from the case in carbon doped normal MgB2 superconductors with a natural boron source (composed of 10B – 18.98% and 11B – 81.02%) reported in most previous studies, where C can substitute a part of 10B and thus significantly improve Jc performance at high fields. Our results provide a deeper understanding on the boron isotope effect and chemical doping mechanism in MgB2 superconductors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human fingers possess mechanical characteristics, which enable them to manipulate objects. In robotics, the study of soft fingertip materials for manipulation has been going on for a while; however, almost all previous researches have been carried on hemispherical shapes whereas this study concentrates on the use of hemicylindrical shapes. These shapes were found to be more resistant to elastic deformations for the same materials. The purpose of this work is to generate a modified nonlinear contact-mechanics theory for modeling soft fingertips, which is proposed as a power-law equation. The contact area of a hemicylindrical soft fingertip is proportional to the normal force raised to the power of γcy, which ranges from 0 to 1/2. Subsuming the Timoshenko and Goodier (S. P. Timoshenko and J. N. Goodier, Theory of Elasticity, 3rd ed. (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1970) pp. 414–420) linear contact theory for cylinders confirms the proposed power equation. We applied a weighted least-squares curve fitting to analyze the experimental data for different types of silicone (RTV 23, RTV 1701, and RTV 240). Our experimental results supported the proposed theoretical prediction. Results for human fingers and hemispherical soft fingers were also compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tactile detection and two-point discrimination tests are commonly used in neurological examinations. However, questions remain about the influence of both body and patient characteristics on test thresholds. The left side of the body has sometimes been reported more tactilely sensitive than the right, and females are said to be more sensitive than males. We measured tactile detection and two-point discrimination thresholds on the finger, palm, and forehead of a large sample of young adults ( N == 171), examining laterality and sex differences, and the effects of body surface area (BSA) and body fat ratio (BFR). In tactile detection, there were no effects of laterality, BSA, or BFR, although females had lower thresholds than males. In two-point discrimination, there was an effect of laterality, with lower thresholds on the left side. This probably reflects hemispheric spatial processing differences. A significant BFR effect implies that subcutaneous fat affects skin deformation, but there were no effects of sex or BSA. The two-point discrimination findings differ in several respects from recent findings using grating orientation discriminations. A small positive correlation between the tasks, falling far short of test-retest reliabilities, indicates that they use largely disjoint but partially overlapping processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yttria stabilized zirconia powders were synthesized by the reverse microemulsion method. Powders were calcined from 600 °C to 1000 °C and sintered at 1450 °C. Crystalline properties and microstructure of samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Oxygen ionic conductivity was measured by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Sizes of yttria stabilized zirconia particles calcined at 1000 °C are lower than 100 nm, and approximately, 1 µm grain was obtained after sintering at 1450 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sporophytes induction from spore-derived gametophytes and the morphogenic potential of homogenised sporophytes were performed in several ferns: Adiantum capillus-veneris, Asplenium adiantum-nigrum, Ceterach officinarum, Davallia canariensis, Dicksonia antarctica, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas, and Polypodium cambricum. The influence of growth rate, the formation of sexual organs, and the homogenisation of the gametophyte on sporophyte formation were studied. Gametophytic growth and sporophyte development were not antagonistic events and no correlation was found between the proportion of sexual phenotypes and rate of sporophyte formation. A pre-treatment of the rhizome with BAP exhibited swelling and upon transferral to Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium developed numerous fronds. Homogenised sporophytes of A. capillus-veneris, D. canariensis, and P. cambricum cultured on MS basal medium regenerated sporophytes while on MS with 4.4 μM BAP favoured formation of aposporous gametophytes and/or dedifferentiated cellular aggregates. In A. adiantum-nigrum, BAP induced either aposporous gametophytes or sporophytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a clinical report of the Finnish chromosome t(18q; 10p) translocation family with an overview of eight other selected immunoglobulin A (IgA)-deficient 18q deletion (18q−) patients from seven published articles. The family members show features common to 18q− syndrome such as mental retardation, multiple facial dysmorphism, foot/hand deformities, abnormal myelination of brain white matter, and a spectrum of immunological/infectious disorders including IgA deficiency (IgAD). Genotype–phenotype correlation study of the unbalanced t(18q−; 10p+) translocation family members and other 18q− syndrome reports led to definition of a potential susceptibility gene locus for IgAD at distal region of 18q22.3–q23 between markers D18S812–18qter. The haplo-insufficiency of the 18q22.3–q23 gene region is suggested to be a cause of the IgAD phenotype in 18q− individuals. This 7 Mb IgAD critical region shows significant association with susceptibility region for celiac disease that is frequently connected to IgAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We employed several experimental techniques to measure the concentration dependence of the important laser parameters, and directly determine the optimum ion concentration for continuous-wave (CW) operation in room temperature Cr2+:ZnSe lasers. By using diffusion doping, 40 polycrystalline Cr2+:ZnSe samples with ion concentrations in the range of 0.8 times 1018 to 66 times 1018 ions/cm3 were prepared and used in this paper. Based on the spectroscopic measurements, empirical formulae showing the concentration dependence of the passive laser losses, fluorescence lifetime, and the fluorescence efficiency were obtained. By using the fluorescence efficiency data, the optimum chromium concentration, which maximizes the 2400-nm fluorescence intensity at a fixed excitation power, was determined to be 6 times 1018 ions/cm3. The dependence of the optimum concentration on sample length was further discussed. The CW power performance of the samples was also evaluated. At an incident pump power of 2.1 W, the optimum concentration for lasing was determined to be 8.5 times 1018 ions/cm3 that was in good agreement with the fluorescence measurements. The predictions of the fluorescence analysis and laser power measurements were in good agreement at low chromium concentrations. The observed discrepancy at higher doping levels was attributed to thermal loading. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Presents a study on the molecular genetic basis for sporadic Sotos syndrome (SS)or cerebral gigantism. Characteristics of the genetic disorder; Rarity of familial SS; Role of NSD1 gene in the pathogenesis of SS.

The PEHO syndrome (progressive encephalopathy with oedema, hypsarrhythmia, and optic atrophy) is a recently recognised disorder of unknown biochemical background. Diagnostic features have been found in neuroradiological and neuropathological studies, which show characteristic severe cerebellar atrophy. In combined neuroradiological and ophthalmological studies, 10 out of 21 possible PEHO patients fulfilled the criteria for true PEHO syndrome. All were abnormal at birth showing hypotonia, drowsiness, or poor feeding. Head circumference was normal, but usually dropped to 2 SD below average during the first year of life. Visual fixation was either absent from birth or lost during the first months of life. Nine patients had peripheral oedema in early childhood. The mean age of onset of infantile spasms was 4.9 months. All patients were extremely hypotonic and no motor milestones were reached. Patellar reflexes were brisk. Brain stem and somatosensory evoked potentials were abnormal in each case studied, cortical responses of somatosensory evoked potentials could not be elicited, and motor conduction velocities became delayed with age. Altogether 19 PEHO patients were found in 14 Finnish families. Autosomal recessive inheritance is likely. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A three generation family with X linked myotubular myopathy (MTM1) was studied with several polymorphic markers from the distal long arm of the X chromosome. A recombination between the disease gene and four markers (loci DXS52, DXS134, DXS15, F8C) from the Xq28 cluster was detected. A new polymorphic marker (U6.2) defining the locus DXS304 in the Xq27-28 region proximal to the Xq28 cluster did not show any recombination with MTM1. These results suggest the following order of loci in distal Xq: cen-DXS42-DXS105-(DXS304, MTM1)-(DXS52, DXS134, DXS15, F8C)-tel. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We report a sibship of a sister and brother with osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome. Several other family members became blind or showed signs of bone involvement. There was considerable consanguinity in the pedigree. The proband was small in size and had prominent skeletal deformities and clinical muscle weakness. These features were not present in her brother, suggesting clinical variability. Mental function was normal in both. Bone histology showed osteopenia. Several biochemical events of procollagen biosynthesis were analysed in fibroblast cultures, but no significant abnormalities compared to control fibroblast cultures were detected. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]