bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Methods for pseudosymmetry evaluation: a comparison between the atomic displacements and electron density approaches
Authors: Capillas Cesar , Aroyo Mois I. , Perez-Mato Juan Manuel
Published: October 2005

Structural pseudosymmetry is a fundamental property to be considered when trying to predict structural phase transitions at high temperatures. In the present work, two methods for detecting and characterizing pseudosymmetry, the here-called atomic displacements and electron density methods are briefly introduced, analyzed and compared. Conceptually both approaches are similar: the pseudosymmetry check is carried out with respect to a supergroup of the crystal space group. However, due to the different way of estimating the deviations between the initial and the possible high-symmetry structure, the two approaches study distinct and, to a certain extent, complementary aspects of the pseudosymmetry problem. This conclusion is also confirmed by the lack of functional relationship between the corresponding quantitative parameters used to estimate the structural pseudosymmetry. Several examples illustrate the main features of the two methods. The temperature dependences of the two parameters and their empirical relations with the transition temperature in ferroelectric transitions are discussed.

Algorithmic procedures based on the two approaches have been implemented in two computer programs. They form part of the Bilbao Crystallographic Server as free web tools.
Phase transitions in BaTiO3: a high-pressure neutron diffraction study
Authors: Hayward Stuart A. , Redfern Simon A. T. , Stone Howard J. , Tucker Matthew G. , Whittle Karl R. , Marshall William G.
Published: October 2005

The sequence of ferroelectric phase transitions (Pm3̅m—P4mm—Amm2) in BaTiO3 has been studied as a function of temperature (298 K–130 K) at a fixed pressure (3.2 GPa). The same sequence of transitions is observed as for ambient pressures, but the transition temperatures are reduced. The spontaneous strains of the non-cubic phases are determined. Whilst the structure of the tetragonal phase at high pressure is qualitatively similar to the ambient structure, both the spontaneous strain and the Ti displacement are smaller in the high pressure structure than the ambient structure.
A Molecular-Thermodynamic Lattice Model for Binary Mixtures
Authors: Qin Yuan , Prausnitz John M.
Published: October 2005

Using a method originally proposed for describing a continuum-space polymer fluid, a new expression for the Helmholtz energy of mixing is proposed for a binary lattice mixture. Molecular size asymmetry and nonrandomness due to segment–segment interactions are taken into account. An expression proposed by Yan, Liu and Hu for a binary lattice mixture of monomers, based on the Ising model, is used as a reference system. Calculated critical constants and liquid–liquid coexistence curves are in good agreement with Monte Carlo simulations for lattice mixtures with modest size asymmetry. Because lattice spacing rises with increasing temperature, comparison of calculated binary liquid–liquid equilibria with experiment requires that calculations take into account that the interchange energy falls as temperature rises. While the new expression for the Helmholtz energy of mixing provides much improvement over the Flory–Huggins equation, calculated liquid–liquid equilibria for three binary systems are similar to those from Guggenheim's quasi-chemical theory.
Pressure Effects on the Structure and Phase Behavior of Phospholipid–Polypeptide Bilayers – A Synchrotron Small-Angle X-ray Scattering and 2H-NMR Spectroscopy Study on DPPC–Gramicidin Lipid Bilayers
Authors: Eisenblätter J. , Winter Roland
Published: October 2005

The influence of gramicidin D (GD) incorporation on the structure and phase behavior of aqueous dispersions of fully hydrated phospholipid bilayers of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholin (DPPC) has been studied using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and 2H-NMR spectroscopy. The experiments covered a temperature range of 0–80 °C and a pressure range of 0.001–4 kbar. Pressure has been applied so as to be able to tune the lipid bilayer thickness at constant thermal energy and to select different gel phases, but also because high pressure is an important feature of certain natural membrane environments. SAXS was used to detect lipid bilayer topological changes upon incorporation of GD into the lipid bilayer. The data show that, depending on the GD concentration, the structure of the temperature- and pressure-dependent lipid phases is significantly altered by the insertion of the polypeptide, but also the lipid matrix has the ability to modulate the conformation of the inserted polypeptide. 2H-NMR spectroscopy yields further information on the conformation and dynamics of the lipid acyl-chains as a function of temperature, pressure and peptide concentration by measuring the molecular chain order parameters and spectral moments.
Adsorption of Methane and Ethane on RuO2(110) Surfaces
Authors: Erlekam U. , Paulus U. A. , Wang Y. , Bonzel H. P. , Jacobi K. , Ertl G.
Published: October 2005

The adsorption of methane and ethane on the stoichiometric and O-rich RuO2(110) surfaces, respectively, was studied by thermal desorption and high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy. The results support weak adsorption (physisorption) of these molecules on the surface, regardless of the presence of undercoordinated Ru and oxygen surface sites. The vibrational spectra recorded at about 90 K are compared with spectra calculated for gaseous CH4 and C2H6. The nearly complete agreement of frequencies and relative intensities is consistent with physisorption. No evidence of adsorption induced molecule activation is found.
Direct Synthesis of Supported Noble Metal Catalysts via the Activated Carbon Route
Authors: Schwickardi Manfred , Spliethoff Bernd , Schmidt Wolfgang , Schüth Ferdi
Published: October 2005

Simultaneous impregnation of activated carbon with a base metal oxide precursor and a noble metal precursor with subsequent combustion of the activated carbon leads in one step to supported metal particles on very high surface area support oxides having specific surface areas of several hundred square metres per gram. For some of the noble metals (Rh, Pt) it is possible to synthesize supported particles in the size range of one to a few nanometers via this route.
Structure-Activity Correlations for the Oxidation of CO over Polycrystalline RuO2 Powder Derived from Steady-State and Transient Kinetic Experiments
Authors: Narkhede Vijay , Aßmann Jens , Muhler Martin
Published: October 2005

The oxidation of carbon monoxide was studied at atmospheric pressure in a plug-flow reactor over polycrystalline ruthenium dioxide powder in the temperature range from 363 to 453 K as a function of the pretreatment. Calcining RuO2 in flowing oxygen resulted in purified bulk RuO2, whereas reduction in hydrogen led to bulk Ru metal, which was partially oxidized again in flowing oxygen at increasing temperatures (T
ox) up to 573 K to obtain RuO2/Ru shell-core particles with increasing RuO2 shell thickness. Using the TPR technique subsequent to steady-state CO oxidation to monitor the degree of oxidation, the most active and stable state of the unsupported ruthenium catalysts was identified as an ultra-thin RuO2 layer covering a metallic Ru core in agreement with the shell-core model established for supported Ru catalysts. Steady-state turnover frequencies (TOFs) obtained with the ultra-thin RuO2 films are in good agreement with TOFs reported for studies on Ru single crystal surfaces and with supported Ru catalysts. Only for RuO2 films thicker than 1 nm (T
ox ≥ 473 K) and for fully oxidized RuO2 deactivation was observed, presumably due to the formation of inactive RuO2 surfaces such as the RuO2(100)-c(2×2) facet. Moreover, it was demonstrated that the presence of moisture in the reactant feed inhibits the oxidation of CO completely.
Comparison of Fibroblast and Vascular Cell Adhesion to Nano‐Structured Poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) Films
Authors: Miller D. C. , Vance R. J. , Thapa A. , Webster T. J. , Haberstroh K. M.
Published: October 2005

The success of small diameter vascular grafts may be attributed to the ability to accurately mimic the nano‐structured topography of extra‐cellular matrix components of natural vascular tissue. Using this knowledge, the goal of the present study was to develop synthetic biomaterials that promote vascular cell adhesion and growth, while subsequently limiting fibrous tissue formation. For this purpose, poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) with increased nanometer surface roughness was created by treating the surfaces of conventional PLGA with NaOH. Cell experiments on these surfaces indicated that nano‐structured PLGA enhanced vascular smooth muscle cell adhesion and growth, while decreasing endothelial cell and fibroblast adhesion and growth, compared to their conventional counterparts. These favorable results were attributed to the selective adsorption of vitronectin. In combination, results of the present in vitro study provided evidence that nano‐structured surface features have the potential to significantly improve the efficacy of small diameter vascular implants.
Crucial Transcription Factors in Endoderm and Embryonic Gut Development Are Expressed in Gut-Like Structures from Mouse ES Cells
Authors: Matsuura Rie , Kogo Hiroshi , Ogaeri Takunori , Miwa Takashi , Kuwahara Masaki , Kanai Yoshiakira , Nakagawa Takumi , Kuroiwa Atsushi , Fujimoto Toyoshi , Torihashi Shigeko
Published: October 2005

Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells are pluripotent and retain the potential to form an organ similar to the gut showing spontaneous contractions in vitro. The morphological features of these structures and their formation, as assessed using the hanging drop method to produce embryoid bodies (EBs), seem to be similar to those in vivo. To determine whether the same molecular mechanisms are involved in the formation process, the expression pattern of transcription factors regulating endoderm and gut development in the mouse embryo was examined by in situ hybridization and compared with in vivo expression. Expression of gene products was also examined by immunohistochemistry, and expression colocalization was analyzed with double staining. The results showed that all factors examined, that is, Sox17, Id2, HNF3β/Foxa2, and GATA4, were expressed in both EBs and gut-like structures. Moreover, their expression patterns were similar to those in the mouse embryo. EBs after the hanging drop period and before outgrowth already expressed all factors that were colocalized with each other in EB epithelial structures. These findings suggest that the origin of the gut-like structure is determined during the hanging drop period and that the gut-like structure is formed as the epithelial structure in EBs during the hanging drop period. They also indicate that the in vitro system using mouse ES cells mimics in vivo development and should prove useful in the study of molecular mechanisms for endoderm and gut development.
STAT5 activation by human GH protects insulin-producing cells against interleukin-1β, interferon-γ and tumour necrosis factor-α-induced apoptosis independent of nitric oxide production
Authors: Jensen Janne , Galsgaard Elisabeth D , Karlsen Allan E , Lee Ying C , Nielsen Jens H
Published: October 2005

The proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) are toxic to pancreatic β-cells and are implicated in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes. We have previously found that GH and prolactin (PRL) stimulate both proliferation and insulin production in pancreatic β-cells and rat insulin-producing INS-1 cells. Here we report that human (h) GH can prevent the apoptotic effects of IL-1β, IFN-γ and TNF-α in INS-1 and INS-1E cells. Using adenovirus-mediated gene transfer, we found that the anti-apoptotic effect of hGH is abrogated by expression of a dominant negative signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT5) mutant in INS-1E cells. hGH and the cytotoxic cytokines was found to additively increase suppressor of cytokine signalling-3 mRNA expression after 4 h of exposure. In order to identify possible targets for the STAT5-mediated protection of INS-1E cells, we studied the effect of hGH on activation of the transcription factors STAT1 and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) by IFN-γ and IL-1β+TNF-α respectively. Gel retardation experiments showed that hGH affects neither IFN-γ+ TNF-α-induced STAT1 DNA binding nor IL-1β and IFN-γ+TNF-α-induced NFκB DNA binding. The lack of influence of hGH on cytokine-mediated activation of STAT1 and NFκB is in accordance with the finding that hGH had only a minor effect on cytokine-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene expression and in fact augmented the IL-1β-stimulated nitric oxide production. As the anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL gene has been shown to harbour a STAT5-binding element we measured the expression of Bcl-xL as well as the pro-apoptotic Bax. We found that hGH increased the Bcl-xL/Bax ratio both in the absence and in the presence of cytotoxic cytokines. In conclusion, these results suggested that GH and PRL protect β-cells against cytotoxic cytokines via STAT5-dependent mechanisms distal to iNOS activation possibly at the level of Bcl-xL.
Thyroid hormone in health and disease
Authors: Boelaert K , Franklyn J A
Published: October 2005

Thyroid disease is common, affecting around 2% of women and 0.2% of men in the UK. Our understanding of the effects of thyroid hormones under physiological circumstances, as well as in pathological conditions, has increased dramatically during the last two centuries and it has become clear that overt thyroid dysfunction is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Both hypo-and hyperthyroidism and their treatments have been linked with increased risk from cardiovascular disease and the adverse effects of thyrotoxicosis in terms of osteoporosis risk are well established. Although the evidence suggests that successful treatment of overt thyroid dysfunction significantly improves overall survival, the issue of treating mild or subclinical hyper- and hypothyroidism remains controversial. Furthermore, the now well-established effects of thyroid hormones on neurodevelopment have sparked a whole new debate regarding the need to screen pregnant women for thyroid function abnormalities. This review describes the current evidence of the effects of thyroid hormone on the cardiovascular, skeletal and neurological systems, as well as the influence of thyroid diseases and their treatments on the development of malignancy. Furthermore we will describe some recent developments in our understanding of the relationship between thyroid status and health.
Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 2 and FGF9 mediate mesenchymal–epithelial interactions of peritubular and Sertoli cells in the rat testis
Authors: Ramy R El , Verot A , Mazaud S , Odet F , Magre S , Le Magueresse-Battistoni B
Published: October 2005

The role of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 2 and FGF9 as mediators of cell–cell interactions between Sertoli cells (SCs) and peritubular cells (PCs) was investigated. Using RT-PCR, we demonstrated that SCs and PCs recovered from 20-day-old rats expressed several of the seven FGF receptors (FGFRs), and more specifically the FGFR1 IIIc. FGF2 and FGF9 did not elicit any morphological changes in primary cultures of SCs, nor did they alter the number of SCs in culture. By contrast, changes in shape were observed in FGF2- and FGF9-treated PCs. In addition, FGF2 but not FGF9 enhanced significantly and dose-dependently the number of PCs in culture, indicating that FGF2 was a survival factor for these cells. It was also mitogenic because it enhanced the [3H]thymidine labeling index in PCs. We next examined the effects of FGF2 and FGF9 in a coculture system using 20-day-old rat SCs and PCs, and in an organotypic culture system using XY rat embryonic gonads. In both models, FGF2 and FGF9 were found to promote cellular interactions as evidenced by the extent of cellular reorganization in the coculture system, and cord morphogenesis and growth in the organotypic culture system. A key feature in SC–PC interactions is the synthesis and remodeling of the basement membrane which is co-elaborated by the two cell types. Since basement membrane homeostasis depends upon the coordinated activity of proteinases and inhibitors, the proteinases and inhibitors produced by PCs and SCs degrading or opposing degradation of the major components of the basement membrane were further studied. Specifically, we monitored the metalloproteinases (MMP)- 2 and -9 and the tissue inhibitors -1, -2 and -3, the plasminogen activators (PAs) and the PA inhibitor-1, using zymography for the proteinases and Western blots for the cognate inhibitors. Cocultures received FGF or an analog of cAMP in order to prevent cellular reorganization. We found that FGF2 was unique in inducing MMP-9 in coculture. Also, the enhanced levels of the PA inhibitor-1 and the 30 kDa band glycosylated form of tissue inhibitor-3 correlated with the enhanced SC–PC reorganization. It was concluded that FGF2 and FGF9 are morphogens for the formation of testicular cords.
Regulated expression of putative membrane progestin receptor homologues in human endometrium and gestational tissues
Authors: Fernandes M S , Pierron V , Michalovich D , Astle S , Thornton S , Peltoketo H , Lam E W-F , Gellersen B , Huhtaniemi I , Allen J , Brosens J J
Published: October 2005

Rapid non-genomic actions of progesterone are implicated in many aspects of female reproduction. Recently, three human homologues of the fish membrane progestin receptor (mPR) have been identified. We combined bioinformatic analysis with expression profiling to define further the role of these mPRs in human reproductive tissues. Sequence analysis confirmed that the mPRs belong to a larger, highly conserved family of proteins, termed ‘progestin and adiponectin receptors’ (PAQRs). A comparison of the expression of mPR transcripts with that of two related PAQR family members, PAQRIII and PAQRIX, in cycling endometrium and pregnancy tissues revealed markedly divergent expression levels and profiles. For instance, endometrial expression of mPRα and γ and PAQRIX was cycle-dependent whereas the onset of parturition was associated with a marked reduction in myometrial mPRα and β transcripts. Interestingly, mPRα and PAQRIX were most highly expressed in the placenta, and the tissue expression levels of both genes correlated inversely with that of the nuclear PR. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that PAQRIX belongs to the mPR subgroup of proteins. We also validated a polyclonal antibody raised against the carboxy-terminus of human mPRα. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated more intense immunoreactivity in placental syncytiotrophoblasts than in endometrial glands or stroma. The data suggest important functional roles for mPRα, and possibly PAQRIX, in specific reproductive tissues, particularly those that express low levels of nuclear PR.
Briefing: Waste to low-energy cement substitute
Authors: Richards Ivor
Published: October 2005

A four-year research programme in Wales has found a new, low-energy way to make effective cement substitutes out of ordinary industrial wastes. Ivor Richards of the research team leader Richards, Moorhead & Laing reports.
Up–up construction takes off in Korea
Authors: Hong Won-Kee , Kim Sang-Dae , Kim Sun-Kuk
Published: October 2005

An innovative deep-basement construction technique pioneered in Korea is proving highly beneficial and looks set for adoption worldwide. Experience on over 40 deep-basement building projects shows that it cuts construction times and costs by 15–20% and significantly reduces ground movements and personal injuries. The technique eliminates the need for installing and removing traditional temporary propping systems by using a permanent steel basement framework to support lateral soil loads during excavation. When the excavation and framework reach the bottom, upward construction of the basement and superstructure start simultaneously—hence the description ‘up–up’. This paper describes the first project on which the technique was used and sets out its many advantages over temporary propping systems as well as alternative top–down construction techniques.
Briefing: NEC3 gets UK Government endorsement
Authors: Gerrard Robert
Published: October 2005

The UK Government has singled out the ICE's NEC 3rd edition contract, launched last month, as the only form it recommends for Britain's £40 billion annual spend on public-sector construction. Robert Gerrard, chairman of the NEC Users' Group, reports.
Markers of Older Widows’ Trust of Nonprofessional Home-Care Helpers
Authors: Porter Eileen J. , Lasiter Sue
Published: October 2005

There is little literature about the relationships of older women who live alone and the paid, nonprofessional helpers who assist them. Studies of interpersonal trust have focused on the vulnerability of the trusting person and actions of the trusted person. The actions of the trusting person, or empirical indicators of trust, have had little attention. Our purpose was to describe the actions of older women that were indicative of their trust in nonprofessional home-care helpers. In a descriptive phenomenological study of 25 older widows, a subsample of 11 women who had hired nonprofessional helpers reported actions toward the helpers that we deemed markers of trust. The overarching marker of trust was keeping my eyes off of the helper, with five subsidiary markers, including allowing the helper to enter my house at will. Findings extend empirical knowledge about trust, raise new questions about interpersonal theories of trust, and suggest further areas of study.
Stimulating Creativity in All Elders: A Continuum of Interventions
Authors: Sierpina Michelle , Cole Thomas R.
Published: October 2005

Contemporary society seldom associates creativity with people in later adult years. We challenge that perception. A continuum of creative programs defined here shows promise for eliciting late life creativeness offering elders in the community, in residential settings, in adult day care, and in home care new avenues for expression. Life story writing and sharing groups, Visible Lives storyboards, and TimeSlips© storytelling method for patients with dementia equip caregivers with new tools to nourish creativity in all elders. Evidence suggests that stimulating creativity in elders at all levels of functioning improves health outcomes. This article introduces programs designed to engage, encourage, and inspire elders regardless of functionality. All three related but discreet interventions share core components of listening with intention, utilizing positive affirmation, and facilitating sharing in community as participants develop surprising new capabilities. Health care providers, community volunteers, and family members can develop skills and techniques to implement any of the programs described. Fostering creative expression through cognitive exercise and imagination among those in later years may forestall dementias, improve quality of life for elders and their caregivers, and meet unmet personal and societal needs. These programs demonstrate the possibility of growth and creative potential at every stage in life, including the latest years, even for those with dementias.
A Ministry of Memory: Spiritual Care for the Older Adult With Dementia
Authors: Mooney Sharon Fish
Published: October 2005

The primary focus of research related to spiritual and ministry needs of older people, historically and in the present, has been on those whose cognitive abilities are only minimally impaired. The older adult with a dementia like Alzheimer’s disease, however, has not received as much attention. This may be related to a lack of any theoretical framework from which to understand what may be happening to a markedly confused person spiritually, and how a person with progressive cognitive impairment might still be able to maintain a relationship with God and be ministered to by a God who may only be remembered vaguely, if at all. Elderly persons with dementia with a faith background rooted in the Judeo-Christian worldview are often able to respond to various rituals of their faith, verbally, physically, and emotionally. Common practices like familiar prayers, Bible readings, hymns, and attendance at worship services where collective memory is shared can serve as memory joggers to reconnect the person, not only to the faith community, but to a faithful God. A spiritual care ministry to older people with dementia can be considered a ministry of memory.
Prosecution of Batterers: Views of African American Battered Women
Authors: Weisz Arlene N.
Published: October 2005

Findings from 207 interviews of urban, African American women indicated that 65% of the women said they favored prosecution of their abusers. A logistic regression showed that the following independent variables were related to significantly decreased odds of opposing prosecution: prosecution being initiated, being separated from partner, and abuser’s use of alcohol and/or drugs during violent incidents in the last 6 months. Bivariate analysis showed that a long history of severe abuse by the partner was associated with favoring prosecution. The most common reasons that women gave for favoring prosecution were that abuse is illegal and not acceptable and that abusers should not violate or touch women. The most common reasons for opposing prosecution were that women believed the incident was not serious or was the first time he was violent. The study can be used to expand discussion about prosecution of batterers.
Repeat Rape and Multiple Offending Among Undetected Rapists
Authors: Lisak David , Miller Paul M.
Published: October 2005

Pooling data from four samples in which 1,882 men were assessed for acts of interpersonal violence, we report on 120 men whose self-reported acts met legal definitions of rape or attempted rape, but who were never prosecuted by criminal justice authorities. A majority of these undetected rapists were repeat rapists, and a majority also committed other acts of interpersonal violence. The repeat rapists averaged 5.8 rapes each. The 120 rapists were responsible for 1,225 separate acts of interpersonal violence, including rape, battery, and child physical and sexual abuse. These findings mirror those from studies of incarcerated sex offenders (Abel, Becker, Mittelman, Cunningham-Rathner, Rouleau, & Murphy, 1987; Weinrott and Saylor, 1991), indicating high rates of both repeat rape and multiple types of offending. Implications for the investigation and prosecution of this so-called “hidden” rape are discussed.
The Effects of Domestic Violence During Pregnancy on Maternal and Infant Health
Authors: Huth-Bocks Alissa C. , Levendosky Alytia A. , Bogat G. Anne
Published: October 2005

The present study examined the impact of domestic violence on maternal and infant health by assessing maternal health during pregnancy and infant health at two months postpartum. Two hundred and two women (68 battered and 134 non-battered) were recruited from the community and completed both pregnancy and 2-month postpartum interviews. Results revealed that domestic violence during pregnancy was associated with numerous health problems for mothers and infants including more health problems during pregnancy, more likelihood of premature labor, later entrance into prenatal care, lower infant birth weight, greater utilization of health care resources, and more prenatal substance use. After income was controlled, the relationship between violence and timing of prenatal care and infant birth weight became nonsignificant. Maternal social support was found to protect against the effects of violence for several health outcomes. The current findings suggest the need for domestic violence screening during pregnancy, as well as clinical interventions for battered, pregnant women in order to prevent serious physical and emotional problems for both mothers and their infants.
Sexual Assault and Alcohol Use: Exploring the Self-Medication Hypothesis
Authors: Miranda Robert , Meyerson Lori A. , Long Patricia J. , Marx Brian P. , Simpson Sharon M.
Published: October 2005

Though a link between sexual victimization and alcohol use has been well documented, the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear. The current study used path analysis to examine the role of self-reported levels of psychological distress and the function of alcohol use as indirect pathways between adult sexual assault and alcohol use. Participants were 318 undergraduate female victims and nonvictims of adult sexual assault. Results showed that a history of sexual assault was associated with increased psychological distress, which in turn contributed to alcohol use via negative reinforcement. Taken together, these findings provided support for the hypothesis that women who have been sexually assaulted consume alcohol, in part, to self-medicate. The implications for future research are discussed.
Opportunity Theory and Adolescent School-Based Victimization
Authors: Augustine Michelle Campbell , Wilcox Pamela , Ousey Graham C. , Clayton Richard R.
Published: October 2005

While school-based adolescent victimization has received a great deal of public attention, there exist relatively few theoretically driven studies aimed at explaining this phenomenon. We address this paucity by providing a test of a criminal-opportunity model of school-based victimization using data on over 3,000 students from 40 different Kentucky middle and high schools. The effects of opportunity-related concepts are estimated for both violent and property victimization, and comparisons are made for each victimization type across middle- and high-school student subsamples. Findings suggest that criminal opportunity theory is relevant to the understanding of school-based victimization. In particular, indicators of exposure to crime and target antagonism appear to be robust predictors. Further, there appears to be substantial generalizability in the effects of opportunity-related variables across violent versus property victimization as well as across middle-school versus high-school contexts.
Violent Comic Books and Judgments of Relational Aggression
Authors: Kirsh Steven J. , Olczak Paul V.
Published: October 2005

This study investigated the effects of reading extremely violent versus mildly violent comic books on the interpretation of relational provocation situations. One hundred and seventeen introductory psychology students read either an extremely violent comic book or a mildly violent comic book. After reading the comic books, participants read five hypothetical stories in which a child, caused a relationally aggressive event to occur to another child, but the intent of the provocateur was ambiguous. After each story, participants were asked a series of questions about the provocateur’s intent; potential retaliation toward the provocateur; and the provocateur’s emotional state. Responses were coded in terms of amount of negative and violent content. Results indicated that participants reading the extremely violent comic books ascribed more hostile intent to the provocateur, suggested more retaliation toward the provocateur, and attributed a more negative emotional state to the provocateur than participants reading the mildly violent comic book. These data suggest that social information processing of relationally aggressive situations is influenced by violent comic books, even if the comic books do not contain themes of relational aggression.
Sexual and Nonsexual Dating Violence Perpetration: Testing an Integrated Perpetrator Typology
Authors: Monson Candice M. , Langhinrichsen-Rohling Jennifer
Published: October 2005

The present study tested the validity of an integrated sexual and nonsexual violence perpetrator typology outlined by Monson and Langhinrichsen-Rohling (1998) in a sample of 670 dating individuals. Two-hundred-and-sixty-five of the participants (87 men, 178 women) reported some act of sexual and/or physical dating violence perpetration in their lifetime. The data supported at least three perpetrator types, namely, the Relationship-only, Generally Violent/Antisocial, and Histrionic/Preoccupied types. Overall, these findings indicate that different factors may cause or maintain the intimate violence perpetrated within this heterogeneous population. There were important gender differences in perpetrator type membership, highlighting the differences in men’s and women’s use of violence. The implications of these findings are discussed with regard to the development of typologies, their application to men and women perpetrators, as well as their utility for the assessment and treatment of perpetrators.
Childhood Victimization and Subsequent Adult Revictimization Assessed in a Nationally Representative Sample of Women and Men
Authors: Desai Sujata , Arias Ileana , Thompson Martie P. , Basile Kathleen C.
Published: October 2005

The purpose of this study was to identify whether experiences of childhood physical and/or sexual victimization would increase women’s and men’s risk for victimization in adulthood by different perpetrators (any perpetrator regardless of the relationship to the victim; intimate partner perpetrator; non-intimate perpetrator) using a nationally representative sample. Results of hierarchical logistic regression analyses indicated that childhood victimization increased the risk for adulthood victimization by any perpetrator for men and women, and by an intimate partner for women but not men. Female and male victims of physical and/or sexual child abuse are at higher risk for adult victimization by non-intimate perpetrators. These results suggest the appropriateness of interventions among adults or young adults who have been victims of child abuse, to prevent any future victimization in adulthood. To guide the development of such prevention programs, research is needed to identify factors that affect the probability of adulthood victimization among child abuse victims.
The Effects of Child Maltreatment on Violent Offending Among Institutionalized Youth
Authors: Gover Angela R.
Published: October 2005

While prior literature generally supports the connection between child maltreatment and violent offending in adolescence and early adulthood for general population samples, less is known about the relationship between child maltreatment and the frequency of violent offending among serious juvenile offenders. As a result, few studies have examined whether the effects of child maltreatment on the frequency of violent offending are mediated by other social processes, as developmental models of aggression and violence would suggest. To examine this issue, self-report data on child maltreatment, general delinquency risk factors, and violent offending were collected from 3,694 juveniles confined to 48 correctional institutions. Results from a series of negative binomial regression models indicated that the relationship between child maltreatment and the frequency of violent offending was mediated by social risk factors. The implications of these findings for theory and practice are discussed.
The Relationship Between Driver Aggression, Violence, and Vengeance
Authors: Hennessy Dwight A. , Wiesenthal David L.
Published: October 2005

A distinction is made between mild driver aggression and driver violence as unique constructs that differ mainly in frequency of occurrence and severity of outcome. Drivers completed questionnaires assessing the likelihood of engaging in mild driver aggression, the frequency of past driver violence, driving vengeance, and willful violations. Violence was predicted by the interaction of mild aggression and vengeance, such that violence was greater among aggressive drivers, but only for those with elevated levels of vengeance. Driver violence was also predicted by the interaction of mild aggression and violations. Specifically, violence was greater among aggressive drivers reporting traffic violations. The present findings suggest that mild driver aggression and driver violence are linked within a small group of drivers that hold other dangerous driving attitudes and behaviors as part of their typical driving repertoire.
Different Paths to Death Row: A Comparison of Men Who Committed Heinous and Less Heinous Crimes
Authors: Van Soest Dorothy , Park Hyun-Sun , Johnson Toni K. , McPhail Beverly
Published: October 2005

Part of the answer to violent crime prevention is to understand the route that those who have committed violent crimes have traveled in order to find ways to guide others from the road leading to such violence. An investigation of the lifelong personal and environmental factors affecting 37 men who were executed in 1997 focuses on distinctions between men in two categories based on heinousness of violent crime. The study aimed to identify risk factors and events that preceded the violent event and to compare the constellation of variables of the men who committed particularly heinous murders characterized by extreme rage and brutality with those whose crimes and criminal histories were characterized mostly by property crimes without intentional harm to people. Descriptive results suggest differences between the two groups of men related to 19 variables and the emergence of two diverse profiles of risk factors and life experiences.
The Political Economy of Urban Homicide: Assessing the Relative Impact of Gender Inequality on Sex-Specific Victimization
Authors: DeWees Mari A. , Parker Karen F.
Published: October 2005

This research examines the ways in which the changing political economy of urban areas has contributed differently to the homicide victimization rates of females and males across US cities. Recent research, while relatively limited, has presented disparate results regarding the effect of gender inequality on urban sex-specific victimization. Our work further explores this relationship by taking into account relative gender disparities in income, education, labor market opportunities, and politics in an examination of sex-specific homicide victimization in 1990. Key to this current investigation is the evaluation of feminist and lifestyle arguments that suggest that structural gender inequality has a unique effect on female victimization. Overall, our findings reveal gender inequality to be a significant predictor of both male and female urban homicide. While these findings suggest mixed support for theoretical arguments regarding gender inequality, further analyses reveal significant differences in specific types of gender inequality on victimization patterns across genders. These additional results highlight the need for greater attention toward both methodological and theoretical issues when examining the interconnections between gender, political economy, and violence in research.
Examining Intergenerational Violence: Violent Role Modeling or Weak Parental Controls?
Authors: Chapple Constance L.
Published: October 2005

Family violence research has uncovered a positive relationship between parental violence and children’s later involvement in intimate violence. In a similar vein, criminology’s social control theory suggests that weak or absent parental controls are associated with a variety of delinquent acts. Little research, however, investigates the link between parental violence, parental controls, and dating violence. This article asks two research questions: How is interparental violence associated with parent-child attachments, monitoring, adolescent dating, attitudes toward violence, and dating violence? And second, are there independent and interactive effects of inter-parental violence, and parental controls on dating violence offending and attitudes towards violence? Dating violence offending is significantly associated with witnessed inter-parental violence, high dating frequency, and low parental monitoring. Attitudes towards violence are associated with witnessed inter-parental violence, lower parental attachment, and the interaction of witnessed inter-parental violence and parental attachment. The implications for role modeling and social control theory are discussed.
Sexual Assault While in the Military: Violence as a Predictor of Cardiac Risk?
Authors: Frayne Susan M. , Skinner Katherine M. , Sullivan Lisa M. , Freund Karen M.
Published: October 2005

The purpose of this article is to determine whether known cardiac risk factors are more prevalent among women veterans who report having sustained sexual assault while in the military. We surveyed a random sample of 3,632 women veterans using Veterans Administration (VA) ambulatory care nationally. Obesity, smoking, problem alcohol use, sedentary lifestyle, and hysterectomy before age 40 were found to be more common in women reporting a history of sexual assault while in the military than in women without such history. An association between myocardial infarction and prior sexual assault history may be mediated in part by known cardiac risk factors.
Social Support as a Mediator of Revictimization of Low-Income African American Women
Authors: Bender Marnette , Cook Sarah , Kaslow Nadine
Published: October 2005

Mediating effects of social support on the link between childhood maltreatment and adult intimate partner violence (IPV) were explored in a sample of 362 low-income, African American women. We examined relations between childhood maltreatment experiences (total maltreatment, sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect) and adult maltreatment (physical IPV and nonphysical IPV). Results of hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed small, but significant, effects. Further, social support mediated revictimization. Social support fully mediated relations in which the form of childhood maltreatment was different than the form of adult IPV (e.g., the relation between childhood sexual abuse and adult nonphysical IPV), but only partially mediated the relations in which the form of childhood maltreatment was similar to adult IPV (e.g., the relation between childhood emotional abuse and adult nonphysical IPV). Implications for clinical interventions for women with intimate partner violence experiences are discussed.
Sex Differences in Empathy and Its Relation to Juvenile Offending
Authors: Broidy Lisa , Cauffman Elizabeth , Espelage Dorothy L. , Mazerolle Paul , Piquero Alex
Published: October 2005

Implicit in most theoretical accounts of sex differences in offending is the assumption that females are less likely than males to engage in crime—especially serious, violent crime—in part because of their comparatively higher levels of concern for others and stronger affiliative ties. Much research suggests that significant sex differences in both empathy and serious offending emerge in adolescence, with females displaying notably higher levels of empathy and males engaging in notably higher levels of serious offending. However, there has been little empirical work assessing the degree to which sex differences in empathy among adolescents can account for sex differences in offending. This research uses data from a sample of adolescents attending public high schools in Philadelphia (n= 425) and a sample of adolescents incarcerated in the California Youth Authority (CYA) (n= 232) to examine the relation between empathy and serious offending. Results suggest that empathy acts as a protective factor for both males and females but that there are subtle differences among males and females in the relation between empathy and offending.
Masculine Gender Role Stress and Men’s Fear of Emotions as Predictors of Self-Reported Aggression and Violence
Authors: Jakupcak Matthew
Published: October 2005

To test the hypothesis that relationship violence may be related to men’s fear of emotions, a secondary data analysis examined a sample of 155 male students attending an Eastern urban university. The men had been assessed using measures of masculine gender role stress, fear of emotions, and self-reported perpetration of relationship violence. Men’s fear of emotion predicted relationship violence beyond what was accounted for masculine gender role stress. In addition, men’s fear of emotions was found to partially mediate the relationship between masculine gender role stress and relationship violence. Results are discussed in terms of implications for future research and clinical interventions.
Demographic, Psychosocial, and Personality Characteristics of Lesbian Batterers
Authors: Fortunata Blaise , Kohn Carolynn S.
Published: October 2005

Prevalence of domestic violence (DV) in lesbian and heterosexual relationships appears to be similar. Despite this, few studies have examined factors associated with DV in lesbian relationships, and even fewer have examined characteristics of lesbian batterers. Demographic and psychosocial characteristics and personality traits were examined in 100 lesbians in current relationships (33 Batterers and 67 Nonbatterers). Results indicated that Batterers were more likely to report childhood physical and sexual abuse and higher rates of alcohol problems. Results from the MCMI-III indicated that, after controlling for Debasement and Desirability indices, Batterers were more likely to report aggressive, antisocial, borderline, and paranoid personality traits, and higher alcohol-dependent, drug-dependent, and delusional clinical symptoms compared to Nonbatterers. These results provide support for social learning and psychopathology theoretical models of DV and clinical observations of lesbian batterers, and expand our current DV paradigms to include information about same-sex DV.
The Joint Contribution of Experiencing and Witnessing Violence During Childhood on Child Abuse in the Parent Role
Authors: Cunningham Susan M.
Published: October 2005

This article examines adult respondents’ abuse of children as a consequence of their own childhood experiences of abuse, both direct experiences of childhood violence (hitting) and exposure to interparental violence (witnessing). In particular, the study examines the extent to which these factors function interactively: Are both experience and exposure necessary or is either sufficient to increase disproportionately the probability of child abuse? Using data from the Second National Family Violence Survey, results of a logistic regression analysis show that either or both factors produced higher than average and relatively similar rates of child abuse. Only respondents with neither form of family violence reported lower than average rates of abuse of their own children. The analysis controlled for gender, race, family income, and family structure; race was the only control variable to be significantly associated with child abuse. Finally, no control variable modified the interaction between the family violence variables.
Perceptions of Domestic Abuse in Same-Sex Relationships and Implications for Criminal Justice and Mental Health Responses
Authors: Poorman Paula B. , Seelau Eric P. , Seelau Sheila M.
Published: October 2005

Male and female university students (N = 171) read scenarios describing a domestic abuse incident that systematically varied the sex of victim and perpetrator to produce four between-participants conditions. Results were consistent with and extended previous findings about perceptions of heterosexual domestic abuse to include gay and lesbian domestic abuse. Findings suggest that participant perceptions of abuse in same-sex and heterosexual relationships are similar. Where they differ, the differences have significant implications: (a) participants considered male against female abuse to be more serious than same-sex domestic abuse, (b) participants were more likely to recommend that the victim press charges in male against female abuse than in same-sex domestic abuse, (c) participants perceived same-sex victims to be less believable than heterosexual victims, and (d) victim believability was correlated with sentencing recommendations. Implications for criminal justice and mental health intervention are considered. Directions for future research are outlined.