bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Turner,Susan
Authors: Fain Terry
Published: July 2017

Susan Turner is an American criminologist who studies community and institutional corrections, risk and needs evaluation instruments, and other topics in criminal justice for both juveniles and adults. As Director of the Center for Evidence‐Based Corrections at the University of California, Irvine, and an adjunct staff member of the RAND Corporation, she has published widely in several topics in the field of criminal justice, and is considered one of the top researchers in the field. Her research is consistently oriented toward providing research results that can help decision‐makers and practitioners improve their methods and results.
Three Strikes Laws
Authors: Sloan John J.
Published: July 2017

“Three strikes laws,” which are based on habitual offender laws passed in the 1920s and 1930s, were adopted by many states and the federal government in the 1990s and mandate significant enhancements to the sentences of offenders with prior convictions who are then convicted of a new crime. Despite promises by proponents that the laws would reduce levels of serious crime, little empirical evidence exists that three strikes laws have had any measurable impact. In fact, some evidence indicates the laws actually worked in the
opposite
direction and increased some crimes, including murder.
Same‐Sex Relationships in Prison
Authors: Noll Thomas , Endrass Jérôme
Published: July 2017

Many types of sexual acts between male prisoners are hidden from prison staff. Studies indicate that violence, involuntariness, and prostitution are significantly overrepresented compared to sexual acts between free people of the same sex. The primary victims in this process are the most vulnerable prisoners.
P
akistan, Corrections in
Authors: Zhang Yan
Published: July 2017

The criminal justice system in Pakistan is mainly an institutional combination of precolonial and colonial elements. Prisons in each province are categorized into four types, namely central prisons, special prisons, district prisons, and sub‐jails. At present there are 99 prisons in total in Pakistan. In 2012 the total number of prisoners was 74,944 and the incarceration rate was 39 per 10,000. The situation in Pakistan's prisons is very unhealthy; one of the biggest problems is overcrowding. Probation and parole in Pakistan are governed by the Provincial Directorates of Reclamation and Probation, but these two alternative approaches have been neglected in the criminal justice system of Pakistan. Relevant officers are insufficient not only in quantity but also in quality. Professional orientation, conceptual clarity, motivational work environment, innovative correctional skills, and training are all important concerns and need further investment.
War on Drugs
Authors: Griffin O. Hayden
Published: July 2017

While the phrase “war on drugs” seems ubiquitous in the United States, many people do not appreciate the historical scope of the conflict. While a war is most often regarded as a battle between two countries, the war on drug targets individuals, predominantly American citizens. Although most people associate the war on drugs with President Richard Nixon and President Ronald Reagan, combating and regulating drug use has been a pertinent issue in American government since the early 1900s. One of the continual concerns since the implementation of the war on drugs is that the United States remains the majority consumer of the world's drugs, both legal and illegal. Thus, there has been a call to re‐examine the war on drugs by taking a more rehabilitative, rather than enforcement, perspective. This is especially important considering the incredible burden the war on drugs has placed on the American correctional system.
Vocational Programs for Juveniles
Authors: Williams Yaschica
Published: July 2017

School and work are a significant part of the human experience. There is a trajectory: education is expected to provide a path to the labor market. Some at‐risk youth, however, are excluded from this prescribed trajectory, particularly if they are in contact with the juvenile justice system. Lack of education and marketable job skills are associated with unemployment, crime, and recidivism. It is because of these consequences that vocational programs have become a quintessential part of most juvenile correctional programs. Career education and technical job training received through vocational programs serve as a catalyst for the prevention of delinquency among at‐risk youth populations and rehabilitation among court‐involved or juvenile justice involved youth.
Rehabilitation
Authors: Stevens Alisa
Published: July 2017

Rehabilitation simultaneously refers to a process of personal positive change and transformation, a consequentialist purpose of, and humane justification for, punishment, and a penal welfare model of crime control.
Prison Food
Authors: Ugelvik Thomas
Published: July 2017

The procuring, making, serving, and eating of food are fundamental human practices. Yet, researchers have until recently, with a few notable exceptions, largely neglected the importance of food in prison. This entry introduces the recent research on food and foodways in prison and summarizes the main findings.
Prison Rape
Authors: Tewksbury Richard , Navarro John C.
Published: July 2017

Scholarly research over the past several decades has produced mixed results concerning rates of rape and/or sexual assaults occurring in prison. Over time, data collection methods became more refined, leading to more valid and reliable estimates of sexual victimization. Further, victim demographic characteristics have varied, specifically on how gender, mental illness, and sexual orientation have influenced a prisoners' risk for sexual victimization. In contrast, this theme of varying characteristics cannot be said to apply to perpetrators, who encompass both other inmates and staff persons and have remained constant throughout the prison rape literature. Contextually, correctional institutions have cultivated the prevalence of sexual assaults inasmuch as their social environment via levels of security and other socio‐ecological factors has influenced sexual victimization. To prevent sexual assaults in correctional facilities, the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) was enacted in the United States in 2003. As a result, methodologies for data collection were enhanced, funding opportunities were also created to support scientific research, and correctional facilities and communities were supplied with the appropriate means to assist in the prevention of sexual assaults.
Private Prisons
Authors: Simonds Raven , Wright Kevin A.
Published: July 2017

The privatization of prisons is often met with skepticism by scholars, policymakers, and the general public. A number of ethical and practical concerns have been raised over having private enterprise take over punishment responsibilities that are traditionally handled by the state. But private involvement in corrections is nothing new, and the history of corrections in the United States presents many examples of involvement by private entities. It is only relatively recently that entire prisons have been privately run, with states finding this an appealing option to address budget issues and prison crowding. And given that private prisons will likely continue to be a part of the correctional landscape, some scholars have begun to examine how private prisons may play a unique role in improving the correctional system.
Probation
Authors: Matz Adam K.
Published: July 2017

Around 6.9 million adults are under some form of correctional supervision in the United States, about 4 million (nearly 60%) are under probation supervision. Probation, hailed from the Latin term
probare
meaning “to prove,” is best characterized as a sentence of conditional release whereby a convicted individual is released to the community under the conditions and supervision of the court for a specified period of time. The individual, henceforth referred to as a
probationer
, is assigned to a supervision officer responsible for assessing the probationer's risk to the community and criminogenic needs, as well as providing supervision and ensuring compliance with court‐imposed conditions of release.
Prison Act (1865)
Authors: Pealer Jennifer A.
Published: July 2017

The Prison Act of 1865 sought to bring uniformity to a system divided among different types of institutions. The Act was in response to concerns of prison management, conditions, and abuses of prisoners. The provisions within the Prison Act of 1865 defined hard labor, established penalties for the violation of prison rules, formalized the separate system, and developed general conditions for the maintenance and operation of the prison. It became effective on February 1, 1866, for England and Wales.
Protective Custody
Authors: Bricker Todd
Published: July 2017

In a correctional setting, protective custody is used to separate inmates from the general population for reasons of health and safety. It can also be used to protect inmates from outside threats. There are many reasons that prisoners are placed into protective custody. Former law enforcement and corrections officers, sex offenders, child molesters, and celebrities are typically secluded from the general prison population. Some prisons have created entire wings or “sensitive needs” areas to house certain inmates. Although these facilities are designed to increase inmate safety and to accommodate the increasing number of inmates in protective custody, recent findings suggest that inmate homicides may still occur despite the prevention efforts.
T
aiwan, Corrections in
Authors: Yang Shu‐Lung , Lai Yung‐Lien , Tzeng Shuping
Published: July 2017

The Law of Execution in Prison in Taiwan holds that the purpose of correctional facilities is to encourage and assist inmates to reform themselves and successfully reintegrate into society upon their release from confinement. Consequently, each correctional facility arranges all levels of education, counseling services, assigned labor activities, and vocational training courses for their clients to achieve this hoped‐for self‐reform and planned preparation for successful reintegration into society. The goal of rehabilitation is the core correctional philosophy that has characterized Taiwanese correctional system operations for more than ten decades. As of the end of 2014, a total of 63,452 inmates are being housed in various types of correctional facilities; the national incarceration rate was 270.8 per 100,000 persons. The Agency of Corrections is part of the Ministry of Justice and governs all of Taiwan's correctional facilities and associated programs. The Agency currently operates 51correctional institutions, including 26 prisons (three of which are “open” prisons), four drug abuser treatment centers, three vocational training institutes, and twelve detention centers for adult offenders. In addition, it operates two juvenile reform schools, two juvenile correctional schools and two juvenile detention houses, which house at‐risk juvenile delinquents.
“Trusty”
Authors: Wright Brianna , May David C.
Published: July 2017

The term “trusty” refers to a prisoner who works at a variety of jobs inside and outside jails and prisons. Trusties clean prison and community grounds, wash inmate clothing, and build cabinets and other wood products for government offices and nonprofit agencies, among many other tasks. The most well‐known use of the trusty system in the United States was in Mississippi, and was dismantled by a federal judge in the case of
Gates v. Collier
(1972). Although little scientific research exists on this topic, the use of trusties appears to be widespread in jails and prisons in the United States and in other nations.
Prison Culture
Authors: Theerathitiwong Sitthana
Published: July 2017

Prison culture is a concept used to encapsulate the values, norms, and beliefs of prisoners. In their segregation from mainstream society, prisoners go through the process of prisonization in order to transition themselves into the environment, and prison culture becomes the prominent influence on prisoners' lives. Furthermore, prisoners commonly have to demonstrate that they belong to this culture by complying with the “inmate code” to ensure that their time in prison is peaceful and non‐violent. This includes standing up for themselves to protect their honor, not betraying their fellow inmates by colluding with prison officers, or being compliant to the general rules and structures of the prison. While scholars argue on the origins of prison culture, it is likely that prison culture will continue to proliferate in the current incarceration climate in the United States.
Ternary Organic Solar Cells with Minimum Voltage Losses
Authors: Wang Chuanfei , Zhang Wei , Meng Xiangyi , Bergqvist Jonas , Liu Xianjie , Genene Zewdneh , Xu Xiaofeng , Yartsev Arkady , Inganäs Olle , Ma Wei , Wang Ergang , Fahlman Mats
Published: July 2017

A new strategy for designing ternary solar cells is reported in this paper. A low‐bandgap polymer named PTB7‐Th and a high‐bandgap polymer named PBDTTS‐FTAZ sharing the same bulk ionization potential and interface positive integer charge transfer energy while featuring complementary absorption spectra are selected. They are used to fabricate efficient ternary solar cells, where the hole can be transported freely between the two donor polymers and collected by the electrode as in one broadband low bandgap polymer. Furthermore, the fullerene acceptor is chosen so that the energy of the positive integer charge transfer state of the two donor polymers is equal to the energy of negative integer charge transfer state of the fullerene, enabling enhanced dissociation of all polymer donor and fullerene acceptor excitons and suppressed bimolecular and trap assistant recombination. The two donor polymers feature good miscibility and energy transfer from high‐bandgap polymer of PBDTTS‐FTAZ to low‐bandgap polymer of PTB7‐Th, which contribute to enhanced performance of the ternary solar cell.
Polygenic risk score analysis of pathologically confirmed Alzheimer disease
Authors: Escott‐Price Valentina , Myers Amanda J. , Huentelman Matt , Hardy John
Published: July 2017

Previous estimates of the utility of polygenic risk score analysis for the prediction of Alzheimer disease have given area under the curve (AUC) estimates of <80%. However, these have been based on the genetic analysis of clinical case–control series. Here, we apply the same analytic approaches to a pathological case–control series and show a predictive AUC of 84%. We suggest that this analysis has clinical utility and that there is limited room for further improvement using genetic data. Ann Neurol 2017;82:311–314.
Protection of high‐density polyethylene–silicon composites from ultraviolet–visible photodegradation
Authors: Santonja‐Blasco L. , Rodriguez I. , Sanchez‐Ballester S. , Badia J. D. , Meseguer F. , Ribes‐Greus A.
Published: July 2017

The extent of the ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) photoirradiation effect on high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) and HDPE–silicon (Si) composites is reported in terms of the addition of Si microparticles at contents of 0.1, 1, and 5 wt %. A standard accelerated UV–vis exposure was applied over 2750 h, corresponding to 22 months in Florida. Thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used as reliable techniques for monitoring the quality of the HDPE–Si composites. The increasing addition of Si microparticles delayed the photodegradation of the HDPE–Si composites. Because of their strong light‐scattering effects, Si microparticles blocked the degradation of tertiary carbons of the HDPE backbone and reduced the apparition of vinyl groups; this prevented the structural impoverishment of HDPE–Si composites. Consequently, variations in the crystallization temperature (Tc) and melting temperature (Tm), which were indicators of photodegradation, were not modified. In general, the HDPE–Si composite formulation with 5 wt % Si microparticles was useful for protecting the material from photodegradation and, thus, should be an environmentally friendly, reliable alternative UV–vis blocker. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45439.
Biomineralization of gold by Mucor plumbeus: The progress in understanding the mechanism of nanoparticles’ formation
Authors: Maliszewska Irena , Tylus Włodzimierz , Chęcmanowski Jacek , Szczygieł Bogdan , Pawlaczyk‐Graja Izabela , Pusz Wojciech , Baturo‐Cieśniewska Anna
Published: July 2017

This contribution describes the deposition of gold nanoparticles by microbial reduction of Au(III) ions using the mycelium of Mucor plumbeus. Biosorption as the major mechanism of Au(III) ions binding by the fungal cells and the reduction of them to the form of Au(0) on/in the cell wall, followed by the transportation of the synthesized gold nanoparticles to the cytoplasm, is postulated. The probable mechanism behind the reduction of Au(III) ions is discussed, leading to the conclusion that this process is nonenzymatic one. Chitosan of the fungal cell wall is most likely to be the major molecule involved in biomineralization of gold by the mycelium of M. plumbeus. Separation of gold nanoparticles from the cells has been carried out by the ultrasonic disintegration and the obtained nanostructures were characterized by UV‐vis spectroscopy and transmission electron micrograph analysis. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 33:1381–1392, 2017
The effect of near‐peer tutoring on medical students' performance in anatomical and physiological sciences
Authors: Morgan Katrina M. , Northey Emily E. , Khalil Mohammed K.
Published: July 2017

Healthcare professional schools across the world are implementing near‐peer tutoring (NPT) programs owing to numerous benefits to both tutors and tutees. This study determined whether higher attendance at NPT sessions led to improvements in course grades for high and low performing students. Fourth‐year medical students used the USMLE Step 1 question format to tutor first‐year medical students during the second half of the Structure and Function (SF) module, i.e., SF2. Attendance was recorded and students were accordingly divided into three groups: high, moderate, and low‐no attendance. Students’ performances in SF1 and SF2 were compared using Student's t‐test. Differences among the three groups were analyzed using ANOVA and Scheffé post hoc test (P< 0.05). Students who earned 70–79% (C) in SF1 were further examined on the basis of their attendance rate and performance in SF2. Those who attended three or more sessions completed a survey evaluating the NPT program. Course grades were significantly higher in SF2 than SF1 for all students, regardless of attendance rate. However, students who received a C grade in SF1 and had high or moderate attendance improved significantly in their SF2 course grade. Most students agreed that the NPT program was valuable and they evaluated the tutors highly. They also agreed that NPT prepared them for course exams and Step 1, but did not reduce anxiety and stress about Step 1. The positive effect of the NPT program resulted in its expansion to include all first‐year modules. Clin. Anat. 30:922–928, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
What is Really Wrong with Serious Case Reviews?
Authors: Preston‐Shoot Michael
Published: July 2017

Concern about the effectiveness of Serious Case Reviews for generating improvements in child protection in England led to proposals in the Wood review to replace the current system with rapid local learning inquiries and a national system of learning from significant incidents. This article challenges both the analysis in the Wood review and the proposals themselves. Whilst not uncritical of Serious Case Reviews, this article addresses five criticisms of the current review system. It explores how systemic the focus of reviews has been, and argues that findings and recommendations have become repetitive and lessons not fully appreciated because of an overly simplistic approach to change management. It suggests that there are methodologies that can effectively engage practitioners and managers in case reviews and that criticism of the review process itself can be addressed with refinements rather than wholesale change. The article concludes by questioning the assumptions upon which proposals for changing the current Serious Case Review are based. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

‘Challenges both the analysis in the Wood review and the proposals themselves’

Key Practitioner Messages

A systemic approach to Serious Case Reviews must engage legislative, social policy and societal systems as well as local policy and practice.

A linear approach to learning and service development, often reflected in recommendations for training and policy refinements, is a less effective change management approach than engaging with single and multiagency contexts.

Safeguarding children involves practice which is inherently social and relational, full of complexity and complicated truths; so too is the practice of reviewing cases.

‘Safeguarding children involves practice which is inherently social and relational, full of complexity and complicated truths’
Visualization of poikilothermia using handheld thermography
Authors: Okada Yohei , Narumiya Hiromichi
Published: July 2017

Key Clinical Message

Poikilothermia is a fundamental symptom of acute limb ischemia (ALI) and is known as “6Ps”. Herein, we present the visualization of poikilothermia caused by ALI using handheld thermography. We believe that handheld thermography could be useful to assess poikilothermia objectively as a supplementary method to physical examination.
A case of choledochoduodenal fistula – an unusual case report
Authors: B S Bhaviya , Kar Abhimanyu , Dutta Monalisa , Mandal Ajay , De Bakshi Sanjay
Published: July 2017

Key Clinical Message

Choledochoduodenal fistula (CDF) is an abnormal communication between the choledochus and the duodenum, accounts for 5–25% of all internal biliary fistulas. Here, we report a case of CDF secondary to chronic duodenal ulcer who presented with cholangitis. CDF is suspected in case of pneumobilia, and surgery is recommended for refractory cases.
Tailored Band Gaps in Sulfur‐ and Nitrogen‐Containing Porous Donor–Acceptor Polymers
Authors: Schwarz Dana , Kochergin Yaroslav S. , Acharjya Amitava , Ichangi Arun , Opanasenko Maksym V. , Čejka Jiří , Lappan Uwe , Arki Pal , He Junjie , Schmidt Johannes , Nachtigall Petr , Thomas Arne , Tarábek Ján , Bojdys Michael J.
Published: July 2017

Donor–acceptor dyads hold the key to tuning of electrochemical properties and enhanced mobility of charge carriers, yet their incorporation into a heterogeneous polymer network proves difficulty owing to the fundamentally different chemistry of the donor and acceptor subunits. A family of sulfur‐ and nitrogen‐containing porous polymers (SNPs) are obtained via Sonogashira–Hagihara cross‐coupling and combine electron‐withdrawing triazine (C3N3) and electron‐donating, sulfur‐containing linkers. Choice of building blocks and synthetic conditions determines the optical band gap (from 1.67 to 2.58 eV) and nanoscale ordering of these microporous materials with BET surface areas of up to 545 m2 g−1 and CO2 capacities up to 1.56 mmol g−1. Our results highlight the advantages of the modular design of SNPs, and one of the highest photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rates for a cross‐linked polymer without Pt co‐catalyst is attained (194 μmol h−1 g−1).
Spin‐singlet Quantum Ground State in Zigzag Spin Ladder Cu(CF3COO)2
Authors: Danilovich Igor L. , Karpova Elena V. , Morozov Igor V. , Ushakov Alexey V. , Streltsov Sergey V. , Shakin Alexander A. , Volkova Olga S. , Zvereva Elena A. , Vasiliev Alexander N.
Published: July 2017

The copper salt of trifluoroacetic acid, Cu(CF3COO)2, offers a new platform to investigate the quantum ground states of low‐dimensional magnets. In practice, it realizes the ideal case of a solid hosting essentially isolated magnetic monolayers. These entities are constituted by well‐separated two‐leg half‐integer spin ladders organized in a zigzag fashion. The ladders are comprised of dimeric units of edge‐sharing tetragonal pyramids coupled through carbon ions. The spin‐gap state in this compound was revealed by static and dynamic magnetic measurements. No indications of long range magnetic ordering down to liquid helium temperature were obtained in specific heat measurements. First principles calculations allow estimation of the main exchange interaction parameters, J⊥=176 K and J∥=12 K, consistent with the weakly interacting dimers model.
A Convenient, Mild, and Green Synthesis of NH‐Sulfoximines in Flow Reactors
Authors: Degennaro Leonardo , Tota Arianna , De Angelis Sonia , Andresini Michael , Cardellicchio Cosimo , Capozzi Maria Annunziata , Romanazzi Giuseppe , Luisi Renzo
Published: July 2017

NH‐sulfoximines are emerging as useful and important targets in drug discovery and synthetic organic chemistry. We report herein the development of an efficient, convenient, and sustainable continuous‐flow strategy, for the direct, straightforward preparation of NH‐sulfoximines by using sulfides or sulfoxides as suitable starting material. The flow process uses PhI(OAc)2 as the oxidant and aqueous solutions of ammonia as the N source. The scope of the reaction has been demonstrated by using several substituted sulfides and sulfoxides including enantioenriched and biologically relevant starting materials. The flow strategy was found to be more convenient with respect to conventional batch processing.
Cleaning of pH Selective Electrodes with Ionophore‐doped Fluorous Membranes in NaOH Solution at 90 °C
Authors: Lugert‐Thom Elizabeth C. , Gladysz John A. , Rábai József , Bühlmann Philippe
Published: July 2017

This work demonstrates the remarkable stability of fluorous ion‐selective electrode (ISE) membranes by exposing them to cleaning‐in‐place treatments (CIP) as they are used in many industrial processes. The sensing membranes consisted of Teflon AF2400 plasticized with a linear perfluoropolyether and doped with ionic sites and a H+ ionophore (i. e., tris[3‐(perfluorooctyl)propyl]amine, 1, or tris[3‐(perfluorooctyl)pentyl]amine, 2). To mimic a typical CIP treatment, the electrodes were repeatedly exposed for 30 min to a 3.0 % NaOH solution at 90 °C (pH 12.7). ISE membranes doped with the less strongly H+ binding ionophore 1 started to show reduced potentiometric response slopes and increased resistances after one exposure for 30 min to hot 3.0 % NaOH solution. No decomposition of the ionic sites and ionophore 1 at 90 °C was evident by 1H NMR spectroscopy, suggesting that the performance of membranes doped with 1 was compromised primarily by leaching of the negatively charged ionic sites along with H+ into the hot caustic solution. In contrast, even after ten exposures to hot 3.0 % NaOH for a cumulative 5 h at 90 °C, the fluorous sensing membranes doped with the more strongly H+ binding ionophore 2 still showed the ability to respond with a theoretical (Nernstian) slope up to pH 12. Addition of the fluorophilic electrolyte salt methyltris[3‐(perfluorooctyl)propyl]ammonium tetrakis[3, 5‐bis(perfluorohexyl)phenyl]borate reduced the membrane resistance by an order of magnitude.
Efficient Polymer Solar Cells Spray‐Coated from Non‐Halogenated Solvents towards Practical Fabrication
Authors: Zhang Tong , Zhao Xiaoli , Yang Dalei , Yang Xiaoniu
Published: July 2017

In the past decade, the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of polymer solar cells (PSCs) have been improved significantly. However, most efficient PSCs are based on halogenated solvents and the spin‐coating technique. To meet the requirements of practical fabrication, PSCs processed from non‐halogenated solvents using scalable deposition techniques are required. In this work, a non‐halogenated solvent system, o‐xylene/benzyl phenyl ether (BPE), was utilized to fabricate PSCs. The PSC obtained through spin coating from o‐xylene/BPE exhibited a high PCE comparable to a PCE spin‐coated from halogenated solvent. The nanostructures of the films processed from different solvents were investigated systematically to understand their performance evolution. Importantly, a spray‐coating technique compatible with the roll‐to‐roll process was employed to fabricate PSCs using an eco‐compatible ink formulation. The PSC spray coated from o‐xylene/BPE in ambient atmosphere gave rise to a PCE of 7.74 % comparable to that of devices spin‐coated from halogenated solvents, which demonstrated a significant potential for further practical fabrication.
The “Lagoa do Camargo 1” Paleoindian site: some implications for tropical geomorphology, pedology, and paleoenvironments in southeastern Brazil
Authors: Araujo Astolfo G. M. , Paisani Julio César , Schrage Thomas J. , Feathers James K. , Hartmann Gelvam A. , Ricci Olivia
Published: July 2017

Lagoa do Camargo 1, a Paleoindian archaeological site located in southeast Brazil dated between 10.5 and 8.3 ka, was studied using a variety of analyses: artifact and charcoal frequencies, soil morphology and micromorphology, magnetic analysis, optically stimulated luminescence, and radiocarbon dating. Our results show that the sandy tropical Oxisol present at the site was accumulated by episodic erosion and accumulation of materials along the slope, by means of diffuse runoff (sheet wash), and that bioturbation, albeit present, played a minor role in the soil formation. From a geoarchaeological point of view, the site poses an important problem, which is the presence of a deeply buried archaeological site almost at the top of a plateau. Our conclusions are relevant for understanding the genesis of sandy Oxisols that cover a large portion of southeast Brazil, where charcoal fragments are abundant, and whose genesis is considered by some authors to be strongly related to pedoturbation.
Effect of abacus training on executive function development and underlying neural correlates in Chinese children
Authors: Wang Chunjie , Weng Jian , Yao Yuan , Dong Shanshan , Liu Yuqiu , Chen Feiyan
Published: July 2017

Executive function (EF) refers to a set of cognitive abilities involved in self‐regulated behavior. Given the critical role of EF in cognition, strategies for improving EF have attracted intensive attention in recent years. Previous studies have explored the effects of abacus‐based mental calculation (AMC) training on several cognitive abilities. However, it remains unclear whether AMC training affects EF and its neural correlates. In this study, participants were randomly assigned to AMC or control groups upon starting primary school. The AMC group received 2 h AMC training every week, while the control group did not have any abacus experience. Neural activity during an EF task was examined using functional MRI for both groups in their 4th and 6th grades. Our results showed that the AMC group performed better and faster than the control group in both grades. They also had lower activation in the frontoparietal reigons than the control group in the 6th grade. From the 4th to the 6th grade, the AMC group showed activation decreases in the frontoparietal regions, while the control group exhibited an opposite pattern. Furthermore, voxel‐wise regression analyses revealed that better performance was associated with lower task‐relevant brain activity in the AMC group but associated with greater task‐relevant brain activity in the control group. These results suggest that long‐term AMC training, with calculation ability as its original target, may improve EF and enhance neural efficiency of the frontoparietal regions during development. Hum Brain Mapp 38:5234–5249, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
MiR‐21: A key player in glioblastoma pathogenesis
Authors: Masoudi Mohammad Sadegh , Mehrabian Emadodin , Mirzaei Hamed
Published: July 2017

Glioblastoma multiform (GBM) is one of common cancers worldwide which has high rate among various populations. Despite serious efforts worldwide, GBM remains a deadly disease which is associated with poor prognosis. Multiple lines evidence indicated that deregulation of a variety of cellular and molecular pathways are related with GBM pathogenesis. Among of various targets involved in GBM pathogenesis, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been emerged as targets which deregulation of them are related with various stages of GBM. These molecules are small non‐coding RNAs which could affect on a variety of cellular and molecular pathways involved in GBM. It has been showed that deregulation of them are associated with initiation and progression of GBM. MiR‐21 is one of important miRNAs involved in GBM pathogenesis. A large number studies indicated that this miRNA could affect on a variety of cellular and molecular pathways such as insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)‐binding protein‐3 (IGFBP3), RECK, and TIMP3. Exosomes are one of important players in GBM pathogenesis. Among of various exosomes, exosomal miR‐21 may has key roles in GBM pathogenesis. These findings indicated that miR‐21 has critical roles in GBM pathogenesis and could be used as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers for GBM patients. Here, we summarized the roles of miR‐21 and exosomal miR‐21 in GBM pathogenesis. Moreover, we highlighted utilization of miR‐21 as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker for GBM patients.
Actin Gamma 1, a new skin cancer pathogenic gene, identified by the biological feature‐based classification
Authors: Dong Xinqian , Han Yingsheng , Sun Zhen , Xu Junlong
Published: July 2017

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer that accounting for at least 40% of cancer cases around the world. This study aimed to identify skin cancer‐related biological features and predict skin cancer candidate genes by employing machine learning based on biological features of known skin cancer genes. The known skin cancer‐related genes were fetched from database and encoded by the enrichment scores of gene ontology and pathways. The optimal features of the skin cancer related genes were selected with a series of feature selection methods, such as mRMR, IFS, and Random Forest algorithm. Quantitative PCR (Q‐PCR) was performed for the predicted genes. Effects on proliferation and metastasis of skin cancer cell line A431 were detected through MTT and transwell assay. The effects on myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation of Actin Gamma 1 (ACTG1) were detected by Western blot. A total of 1233 GO terms and 55 KEGG pathway terms were identified as the optimal features for the depiction of skin cancer. According to those terms, 1134 possible skin cancer‐related genes were predicted. We further identified 16 new biomarkers in expression and the classification model can predict skin cancer cases with 100% accuracy. Among the 16 genes, ACTG1 had significantly high expression in skin cancer tissue. Our investigation suggested that ACTG1 can regulate the cell proliferation and migration through ROCK signaling pathway.
Efficient solvent extraction of phosphoric acid with dibutyl sulfoxide
Authors: Chen Ming , Li Jun , Jin Yang , Luo Jianhong , Zhu Xinhua , Yu Defang
Published: July 2017

BACKGROUND

In china, the grade of phosphate ores has decreased sharply in recent years. Existing solvents are inefficient for the extraction of wet‐process phosphoric acid produced by low‐grade phosphate ores. Organic solvent dibutyl sulfoxide was developed to improve the extraction capacity of wet‐process phosphoric acid, especially at low‐acid concentration.

RESULTS

The effects of extraction time, temperature, phosphoric acid concentration and impurities concentration on the extraction were investigated. The extraction process is exothermic and the enthalpy change is –5.86 kJ mol‐1. Dibutyl sulfoxide is relatively selective for Mg2+ and Al3+ while the selectivities of Fe3+, F‐ and SO42‐ are moderate. The liquid–liquid equilibrium of water–dibutyl sulfoxide–phosphoric acid system was determined at 298.15 K. The stability of dibutyl sulfoxide and the process flows of extraction, scrubbing and stripping were investigated. The extraction mechanism of dibutyl sulfoxide for phosphoric acid was proposed and the extracted complex H3PO4·0.3DBSO was obtained.

CONCLUSION

Dibutyl sulfoxide is demonstrated to be a powerful solvent for the extraction of wet‐process phosphoric acid even at low concentrations. Dibutyl sulfoxide can be a potential supplemental organic solvent for the extraction of wet‐process phosphoric acid produced by low‐grade phosphate ores. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
A smart engineering material with UV‐induced switchable wettability for controllable oil/water separation
Authors: Chen Xi , He Yi , Fan Yi , Yang Qiangbin , Yang Xi , Zeng Guangyong , Zhang Liyun
Published: July 2017

BACKGROUND

Recently, some smart superwetting materials with switchable wettability have attracted great interest due to their ability to controllably separate oil/water mixtures. However, the fabrication of most smart materials requires complex procedures and precious chemical reagents for surface modification, limiting large‐scale engineering applications of the fabricated smart surface.

RESULTS

In this study, a silver surface was prepared by extremely simple displacement deposition on copper mesh. The silver‐coated mesh exhibits superhydrophobicity and superoleophilicity after heating treatment, which allows oil to permeate while blocking water. Interestingly, the heated silver‐coated mesh gains superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic properties after UV irradiation, which allows water to permeate but prevents oil. As a consequence, the as‐fabricated mesh is capable of achieving two completely different oil/water separation processes. In addition, the silver‐coated mesh shows excellent environmental stability under a series of harsh conditions.

CONCLUSION

A novel smart engineering material with UV‐induced switchable wettability was successfully fabricated. In view of the rapid and simple fabrication approach, it is envisaged that this work will provide a promising prospect of large‐scale production in smart oil/water separation materials. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
A robust and stable nano‐biocatalyst by co‐immobilization of chloroperoxidase and horseradish peroxidase for the decolorization of azo dyes
Authors: Jin Xinyu , Li Saisai , Long Nengbing , Zhang Ruifeng
Published: July 2017

BACKGROUND

Immobilization of more than one peroxidase on the same support is an ideal technology for application because such a multi‐enzyme catalytic system may show high activity over a very wide optimal range of pH, temperature and H2O2 concentration. In this work, chloroperoxidase (CPO) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were co‐immobilized on ZnO nanowires/macroporous SiO2 composite support through an in situ cross‐linking method. An anionic bi‐epoxy cross‐linker was used by adsorption on the surface of ZnO nanowires before cross‐linking.

RESULTS

The cross‐linking was carried out under suitable conditions: pH 6.5, reaction temperature 15°C and reaction time 15 h. Using a 1/1 mixture of CPO and HRP resulted in a co‐immobilized enzyme with loading 79.6 mgCPO g‐1support and 52.8 mgHRP g‐1support, and total specific activity up to 15.7 U per mgsupport. The co‐immobilized enzyme also showed good stability after 60 days of storage, and excellent reusability over 20 repeat uses.

CONCLUSIONS

For the decolorization of azo dyes the co‐immobilized CPO (60%)/HRP (40%) exhibited high catalytic activity over very wide ranges of pH, temperature and H2O2 concentration. Using this robust biocatalyst, complete decolorizations of azo dyes have been realized within 3 h of reaction. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Model validation for enzymatic reactive distillation to produce chiral compounds
Authors: Wierschem Matthias , Langen Anke Alexandra , Lins Janine , Spitzer Rüdiger , Skiborowski Mirko
Published: July 2017

BACKGROUND

Enzymatic reactive distillation (ERD) is a biocatalyzed process, in which enzymes are immobilized in catalytic packing. The combination of enzymatic reaction and thermal separation helps to overcome chemical reaction and phase equilibrium limitations. Processing of chiral molecules, in particular, can benefit from ERD application, which might lead to more eco‐efficient processing of these valuable chemicals. Therefore an integrated approach to evaluate this technology is followed.

RESULTS

To evaluate ERD the transesterification of racemic (R/S)‐1‐phenylethanol (RPE/SPE) to (R)‐phenylethyl acetate (PEA) catalyzed by Candida antarctica lipase B (EC: 3.1.1.3) is investigated with regard to kinetics and physical property data, which provide a basis for the modeling of an ERD process. Furthermore, ERD experiments show a selective conversion of RPE to PEA, which is predicted by the established ERD model with high accuracy.

CONCLUSION

The ERD experiments demonstrate the feasibility of chiral processing for the transesterification by means of ERD and a validated ERD model is developed, allowing for a conceptual evaluation of ERD. This provides the basis for a future comparison of ERD with benchmark processes that will reveal the economic potential of ERD processes. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Research on corrosion resistance of metal films sputtered by rotating target and planar target
Authors: Ma Weijie , Hu Haifeng , Ding Xianlin , Chen Qicheng , Zhang Ming , Guo Zongjie , Shao Xibin
Published: July 2017

The corrosion resistance of MoNb/AlNd/MoNb film during different sputter conditions was studied for G6 rotating target sputter equipment. The results show that with the increase of sputter power and the increase of the thickness, top MoNb tends to form coarse columnar crystals, and the corrosion resistance of the metal thin films, at first, increases and then decreases with the increase of sputter power and metal thickness. As the sputter temperature increases, top MoNb tends to form coarse grains while the corrosion resistance of the film is poor. The result also release that with the increase of the target speed, top MoNb film becomes loose so that it is difficult to play a protective role because of its poor corrosion resistance ability. Under the same conditions, the sputter of the planar target film is denser; as a result, the top MoNb layer can protect the inner AlNd layer from corrosion.
Condensed Mode Cooling for Ethylene Polymerization: Part IV. The Effect of Temperature in the Presence of Induced Condensing Agents
Authors: Andrade Fabiana N. , McKenna Timothy F. L.
Published: July 2017

An experimental investigation of the impact of changes in temperature on the observed rate of polymerization of ethylene in the gas phase using a commercial Ziegler–Natta catalyst in the presence of induced condensing agents (ICAs) reveals some unexpected behavior. In the absence of ICA, the effect of temperature is as expected: raising the temperature of the gas phase from 70 to 90 °C causes the observed rate of polymerization to increase monotonically. It is demonstrated in the past that ICA can increase rate of polymerization of the ethylene in the gas phase due to a cosolubility effect. However, in the current study, it is shown that when ICA is present in the reactor, the same increase in temperature can actually lead to an observable decrease in the reaction rate under certain conditions of temperature and pressure. This is attributed to a lower impact of the ICA on the solubility of ethylene in the amorphous phase of the high‐density polyethylene in the reactor at higher temperatures. An order of magnitude analysis also reveals that the presence of ICA can have an impact on the particle temperature as well.
Duality in convex minimum cost flow problems on infinite networks and hypernetworks
Authors: Nourollahi Sevnaz , Ghate Archis
Published: July 2017

Minimum cost flow problems on infinite networks arise, for example, in infinite‐horizon sequential decision problems such as production planning. Strong duality for these problems was recently established for linear costs using an infinite‐dimensional Simplex algorithm. Here, we use a different approach to derive duality results for convex costs. We formulate the primal and dual problems in appropriately paired sequence spaces such that weak duality and complementary slackness can be established using finite‐dimensional proof techniques. We then prove, using a planning horizon proof technique, that the absence of a duality gap between carefully constructed finite‐dimensional truncations of the primal problem and their duals is preserved in the limit. We then establish that strong duality holds when optimal solutions to the finite‐dimensional duals are bounded. These theoretical results are illustrated via an infinite‐horizon shortest path problem. We also extend our results to infinite hypernetworks and apply this generalization to an infinite‐horizon stochastic shortest path problem. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, Vol. 70(2), 98–115 2017
A damage to crack transition model accounting for stress triaxiality formulated in a hybrid nonlocal implicit discontinuous Galerkin‐cohesive band model framework
Authors: Leclerc Julien , Wu Ling , Nguyen Van Dung , Noels Ludovic
Published: July 2017

Modelling the entire ductile fracture process remains a challenge. On the one hand, continuous damage models succeed in capturing the initial diffuse damage stage but are not able to represent discontinuities or cracks. On the other hand, discontinuous methods, as the cohesive zones, which model the crack propagation behaviour, are suited to represent the localised damaging process. However, they are unable to represent diffuse damage. Moreover, most of the cohesive models do not capture triaxiality effect. In this paper, the advantages of the two approaches are combined in a single damage to crack transition framework. In a small deformation setting, a nonlocal elastic damage model is associated with a cohesive model in a discontinuous Galerkin finite element framework. A cohesive band model is used to naturally introduce a triaxiality‐dependent behaviour inside the cohesive law. Practically, a numerical thickness is introduced to recover a 3D state, mandatory to incorporate the in‐plane stretch effects. This thickness is evaluated to ensure the energy consistency of the method and is not a new numerical parameter. The traction‐separation law is then built from the underlying damage model. The method is numerically shown to capture the stress triaxiality effect on the crack initiation and propagation.
A generalized Nash equilibrium approach for optimal control problems of autonomous cars
Authors: Dreves Axel , Gerdts Matthias
Published: July 2017

We consider optimal control problems with ordinary differential equations that are coupled by shared, possibly nonconvex, constraints. For these problems, we use the generalized Nash equilibrium approach and provide a reformulation of normalized Nash equilibria as solutions to a single optimal control problem. By this reformulation, we are able to prove existence, and in some settings, exploiting convexity properties, we also get a limited number or even uniqueness of the normalized Nash equilibria. Then, we use our approach to discuss traffic scenarios with several autonomous vehicles, whose dynamics is described through differential equations, and the avoidance of collisions couples the optimal control problems of the vehicles. For the solution to the discretized problems, we prove strong convergence of the states and weak convergence of the controls. Finally, using existing optimal control software, we show that the generalized Nash equilibrium approach leads to reasonable results for a crossing scenario with different vehicle models.