Black and Hispanic Men Perceived to Be Large Are at Increased Risk for Police Frisk,Search, and Force

Social justice issues remain some of the most pressing problems in the United States. One aspect of social justice involves the differential treatment of demographic groups in the criminal justice system. While data consistently show that Blacks and Hispanics are often treated differently than Whites, one understudied aspect of these disparities is how police officers'' assessments of suspects'' size affects their decisions. Using over 3 million cases from the New York Police Department (NYPD) Stop, Question, and Frisk (SQF) Database, 2006–2013, this study is the first to explore suspects'' race, perceived size, and police treatment. Results indicate that tall and heavy black and Hispanic men are at the greatest risk for frisk or search. Tall and heavy suspects are at increased risk for experiencing police force, with black and Hispanic men being more likely to experience force than white men across size categories.     

Effects of Δ8- and Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol on experimentally induced seizures

Effects of Δ⁸- and Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁸- and Δ⁹-THC) on three experimentally induced seizure models, i.e., audiogenic seizure (AS) test, maximal electroshock seizure (MES) test and pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizure test were determined in the audiogenic rat. Both tetrahydrocannabinols possess a dose-related anticonvulsant effect against AS, MES and PTZ-induced maximal seizure. Although anticonvulsant potencies do not significantly differ, Δ⁸THC is three times more neurotoxic than Δ⁹THC. In addition, both THC's are without effect on minimal seizure and lethality induced by PTZ. Furthermore, the low protective indexes (TD50/ED50) determined in this study suggest that Δ⁸ and Δ⁹ THC may have poor therapeutic potentials as antiepileptic drugs.     

A modification of the single radial immunodiffusion potency test (SRD) for rabies vaccines

In 1983 a WHO collaborative study showed that the single radial immunodiffusion test provided a reliable system for the assay of the glycoprotein content of inactivated rabies vaccines. We have modified the method used in the collaborative study by using round plastic plates with wells arranged in a circle. Potency estimates were made by the multiple slope ratio method and not by single slope estimation procedures adjusted for a common intercept. We carried out a statistical evaluation of the accuracy and reliability of the precipitation area calculation. We confirmed that for the purpose of the potency estimation the area calculations were sufficiently precise in most instances. By analysing the sources of variation for round and for glass plates and by testing the variability of these methods we found that the round plates were as good as the glass plates. The advantage of the round plates was mainly in the ease of their handling: the agarose solution was poured in the plates without the need for a separate mould; an integral moist chamber with these plates was readily available; the precipitation zones were measured easily using a viewer which gave fourfold enlargements and the method required less antiglycoprotein.     

Effect of Selected Herbicides on Bacterial Growth Rates

Specific growth rate constants were used to evaluate the effects of selected herbicides on Erwinia carotovora, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Bacillus sp. Comparison of growth rate constants permitted the identification of either stimulatory or inhibitory effects of these substances. E. carotovora was inhibited by 6,7-dihydrodipyrido(1,2-a:2'-c)pyrazinediium (diquat) and 4-hydroxy-3,5-diiodobenzonitrile (ioxynil) at 25 mug/ml; 1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium (paraquat) at 50 mug/ml; and pentachlorophenol (PCP) at 10 mug/ml. P. fluorescens was inhibited by paraquat and PCP at 25 mug/ml and by 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram) at 50 mug/ml. Stimulation of P. fluorescens was observed with 4-(methylsulfonyl)-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropylaniline (nitralin) at 25 mug/ml. The Bacillus species was inhibited by diquat (25 mug/ml), ioxynil (10 mug/ml), and paraquat and PCP (5 mug/ml). No significant effect of 2-chloro-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-s-triazine (atrazine), 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (diuron), alpha,alpha,alpha-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine (trifluralin), or 1,1-dimethyl-3-(alpha,alpha,alpha-trifluoro-m-tolyl)urea (fluometuron) on growth rates of the bacteria was observed at 25 and 50 mug/ml.     

Simplified spectrophotometric assay for microsomal 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase by measurement of coenzyme A

A new assay for 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase (mevalonate:NADP oxidoreductase [acylating CoA], EC 1.1.1.34) is based upon the measurement of released coenzyme A (SH) during the reduction of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA to mevalonate. Coenzyme A was measured in the presence of dithiothreitol, required for activity, by reaction with 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid). Sodium arsenite forms a complex with the dithiol, but not with monothiols. Thus, reduced coenzyme A reacts instantaneously with the reagent and dithiothreitol reacts slowly. The absorbance due to the coenzyme A-5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) reaction is determined by extrapolating the linear (dithiol) absorbance-time curve to the time of addition of the reagent. After subtraction of control absorbance (deletion of NADPH), the concentration of CoA-SH is calculated from epsilon(max) = 1.36 x 10(4) at 412 nm. The method of protein removal and reduction of sulfhydryl groups on the enzyme are critical. This method provides an immediate assay. Recovery of reduced coenzyme A was 98.7%. The assay is applicable for microsomes or purified enzyme and has an effective range of 0.5-50 nmoles of coenzyme A. It was applied to kinetic measurement of the pigeon liver microsomal enzyme reaction. The apparent K(m) value for 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA was 1.75 x 10(-5) M, and for NADPH the value was 6.81 x 10(-4) M. This method was compared with the dual-label method at high and low levels of activity. The data were not statistically different.