Polarization-dependence of anomalous scattering in brominated DNA and RNA molecules, and importance of crystal orientation in single- and multiple-wavelength anomalous diffraction phasing

In this paper the anisotropy of anomalous scattering at the Br K-absorption edge in brominated nucleotides is investigated, and it is shown that this effect can give rise to a marked directional dependence of the anomalous signal strength in X-ray diffraction data. This implies that choosing the correct orientation for crystals of such molecules can be a crucial determinant of success or failure when using single- and multiple-wavelength anomalous diffraction (SAD or MAD) methods to solve their structure. In particular, polarized absorption spectra on an oriented crystal of a brominated DNA molecule were measured, and were used to determine the orientation that yields a maximum anomalous signal in the diffraction data. Out of several SAD data sets, only those collected at or near that optimal orientation allowed interpretable electron density maps to be obtained. The findings of this study have implications for instrumental choices in experimental stations at synchrotron beamlines, as well as for the development of data collection strategy programs

Systematic review of the current status of cadaveric simulation for surgical training

Background: There is growing interest in and provision of cadaveric simulation courses for surgical trainees. This is being driven by the need to modernize and improve the efficiency of surgical training within the current challenging training climate. The objective of this systematic review is to describe and evaluate the evidence for cadaveric simulation in postgraduate surgical training. Methods: A PRISMA‐compliant systematic literature review of studies that prospectively evaluated a cadaveric simulation training intervention for surgical trainees was undertaken. All relevant databases and trial registries were searched to January 2019. Methodological rigour was assessed using the widely validated Medical Education Research Quality Index (MERSQI) tool. Results: A total of 51 studies were included, involving 2002 surgical trainees across 69 cadaveric training interventions. Of these, 22 assessed the impact of the cadaveric training intervention using only subjective measures, five measured impact by change in learner knowledge, and 23 used objective tools to assess change in learner behaviour after training. Only one study assessed patient outcome and demonstrated transfer of skill from the simulated environment to the workplace. Of the included studies, 67 per cent had weak methodology (MERSQI score less than 10·7). Conclusion: There is an abundance of relatively low‐quality evidence showing that cadaveric simulation induces short‐term skill acquisition as measured by objective means. There is currently a lack of evidence of skill retention, and of transfer of skills following training into the live operating theatre

19F and 13C GIAO-NMR chemical shifts for the identification of perfluoro-quinoline and -isoquinoline derivatives

Reaction of perfluoroquinoline 1 and perfluoroisoquinoline 2 with benzylamine gave mono- and di-aminated quinoline and isoquinoline systems, respectively, depending upon the reaction conditions by selective SNAr processes. Optimised model geometries of the aminated derivatives at MP2/6-31G* were in very good agreement with available X-ray crystallographic data and were used to compute 19F and 13C GIAO-NMR shifts. Comparison with observed 19F and 13C NMR shifts give excellent correlations, indicating that 19F and 13C GIAO-NMR computations are powerful tools in structurally identifying polyfunctional, polycyclic perfluoroheteroaromatic compounds and aiding NMR resonance assignment

Cooperative Jahn-Teller Distortion in PrO2

We report neutron diffraction data on single crystal PrO2 which reveal a cooperative Jahn-Teller distortion at TD = 120 +/- 2 K. Below this temperature an internal distortion of the oxygen sublattice causes the unit cell of the crystallographic structure to become doubled along one crystal axis. We discuss several possible models for this structure. The antiferromagnetic structure below TN = 13.5 K is found to consist of two components, one of which shares the same doubled unit cell as the distorted crystallographic structure. We also present measurements of the magnetic susceptibility, the specific heat capacity and the electrical conductivity of PrO2. The susceptibility data show an anomaly at a temperature close to TD. From the specific heat capacity data we deduce that the ground state is doubly degenerate, consistent with a distortion of the cubic local symmetry. We discuss possible mechanisms for this. The conductivity shows an activated behaviour with an activation energy Ea = 0.262 +/- 0.003 eV.Comment: 12 pages, 14 figures, 2 tables. Additional suggested structure in v

Fear and Loathing in the Planning Profession: Ten Comments on the Political Factor

Based on the author's experiences with local and state land use planning programs in North Carolina, Florida, and Virginia, this article concludes that the value of technical planning skills must be considered secondary to the more significant and unpredictable world of political reality. To integrate politics into the planning process, the planner must have the determination to see the job through, more than a passing awareness of public relations, and the ability to project fairness above all else

Integrasi Pembelajaran Kanji dengan Pembelajaran Sakubun untuk Meningkatkan Kemampuan Menulis

Research aims to find the influence of strategies used in intermediate kanji learning, i.e. in a more applicative class using kanji, on middle kanji and composition class (sakubun). Research viewed and compared the influence of students\u27 mark in Intermediate Kanji with their mark in Sakubun. The questionnaire used in this research was the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) consisting of 50 questions associated with types of strategy to learn kanji. The result obtained using T-test and correlation test was the students\u27 mark in kanji affected their mark in Sakubun. The relationship is the higher mark in kanji, the higher mark in Sakubun. As a conclusion, student essay writing ability is affected by the numbers of kanji remembered and used by students

Estimating fuel channel bore from fuel grab load trace data

Detailed measurements of the graphite core fuel channels are made by specialist inspection equipment during planned outages, typically every 18 months to 3 years. The bores of the graphite fuel bricks are obtained during these inspections and are used to provide important information about the health of the core. Additionally, less detailed online monitoring data is obtained much more frequently during refuelling events, called the fuel grab load trace (FGLT), which can be also used to infer the health of the graphite core. This paper describes the process of creating a model which isolates a component of the refuelling data and maps it directly to dimensional measurements of fuel channel bore. The model is created from a combination of the theoretical understanding of the physical interactions of the fuel stringer during refuelling events and several years of refuelling and inspection data to estimate suitable model parameters. Initially the model created was a coarse estimation of FGLT to fuel bore dimension but through refinements a much more accurate model has been created. An application of this model is shown through a case study of a recent outage where estimations were made on refuelling data and were compared to previously unseen inspection data