bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cohabitation
Authors: Mendes Christine DeVault
Published: April 2015

Cohabitation, or “living together,” has become a common and increasingly accepted living arrangement for heterosexual, lesbian, and gay couples. The most common types of cohabitation are: as a precursor to marriage, as trial marriage, for economic advantage, out of casual convenience, and as a permanent alternative to marriage. In some states, unmarried unions may be recognized as common law marriages. Domestic partnerships, granting certain economic and other benefits, are recognized by some state and local governments as well as private employers. Almost a third of cohabiting women become pregnant within the first two years. Age, education, and ethnicity influence pregnancy among cohabiting couples. Cohabitation is often the default living arrangement for same‐sex couples as they are not able to marry in most U.S. states. Same‐sex relationships have historically been viewed with suspicion, but as U.S. society becomes more liberal, attitudes are changing. Heterosexual cohabitation is generally a temporary arrangement, leading to marriage or dissolution within a few years.
Coming out stories
Authors: Sauntson Helen
Published: April 2015

Coming out stories are the narratives that LGBT people produce around their experiences of coming out. Work in the field considers the structural features and rhetorical functions of coming out stories, as well as conceptualizing them as political acts for increasing LGBT visibility and destigmatizing identities. Although there are similarities, LGB and transgender coming out stories differ in key ways. Recent work considers this, as well as examining an increasing range of divergent practices in producing coming out stories.
Companionate marriage
Authors: Simmons Christina
Published: April 2015

Companionate marriage appeared in early modern to modern Europe and North America. It emphasizes the spousal relationship over economic and familial bonds between families and often implies greater equality for women than patriarchal forms of marriage. Some scholars stress general spousal companionship and love as its defining characteristics and find companionate marriage even in seventeenth‐century Europe. Others apply the term to a specific early twentieth‐century version proposed by U.S. judge Ben B. Lindsey in 1927, which encouraged sexual and emotional intimacy in particular, younger marriage, and the delay of childbearing, and also incorporated contraception and easier divorce for the childless.
Compulsory heterosexuality
Authors: Cohn Tracy J. , Nolan Lindsay M.
Published: April 2015

The assumption that all individuals are heterosexual is the key feature of compulsory heterosexuality. Although heterosexuality is assumed to be ingrained it is, in fact, a social construct, favoring heterosexuals over homosexuals. Compulsory heterosexuality gives males dominance in society and percolates into other institutions, ideas, family dynamics, and individuals’ sense of self. It mplies that anyone not fulfilling his or her role as a heterosexual is behaving in opposition to what is considered “natural.” Instances of sexual experimentation and homosexuality, as well as fluid gender roles, can be found throughout history and around the world and stand in stark contrast to compulsory heterosexuality. For this reason, many theorists and academics believe that forcing people into prescribed gender roles is a crime against humanity, one that can result in self‐loathing, depression, and anxiety for those who do not conform to a prescribed sexual role.
Consensual sex
Authors: Peterson Zoё D. , Silverman Emily A. , Strang Emily
Published: April 2015

Consensual sex is sex to which both parties consent or agree. However, definitions of sexual consent vary widely. Research suggests that sexual consent is frequently expressed nonverbally and indirectly. In fact, many people seem to indicate consent passively by doing nothing (i.e., not refusing or resisting). For these reasons, it can be difficult to interpret when consent has, or has not, occurred. Further, consensual sex is not always wanted sex; research has found that individuals often consent or agree to engage in sex that they do not want or desire. Traditional expectations for men's and women's roles in sexual encounters (e.g., the expectation that men will initiate sex and women will act as “gatekeepers”) may influence how consent is communicated by men and women in heterosexual interactions.
Cuckoldry (human and nonhuman)
Authors: Kokko Hanna
Published: April 2015

Cuckoldry is a form of sexual infidelity where a female is unfaithful to her social mate. It occurs in a wide range of species that have pair bonds. Humans appear to have a relatively low proportion of offspring sired by other than the social father. Whether cuckoldry serves male or female interests is unresolved, but its presence suggests ample scope for the evolution of paternity protection strategies.
Culture and reproduction
Authors: McElroy Ann
Published: April 2015

Culture and reproduction are an interdisciplinary field that studies human fertility, pregnancy, labor and birth, and postpartum care. Uniquely, biocultural human reproduction involves species‐specific physiological traits as well as cultural diversity in ways of conceptualizing, experiencing, and managing pregnancy and birth. The field has grown from comparative studies of indigenous practices and beliefs to richly detailed, observational ethnographies of birth systems, which in turn have led to analysis of medicalization and the power of authoritative knowledge systems to reduce women's autonomy in choosing birth attendants and settings. Recent research focuses on class and ethnic disparities in reproductive healthcare nationally and globally, and on efforts to reduce the high rates of maternal and infant mortality in low‐income countries as well as among minorities in high‐income nations. Future trends include study of the commodification of human biological materials and critical analysis of the potential of assisted reproductive technology to control and transform reproduction.
Desire, sexual
Authors: Regan Pamela C.
Published: April 2015

Sexual desire—the motivational component of human sexuality—is one of the most pervasive sexual responses that people experience during adolescence and adulthood. Many individual or personal factors are associated with desire, including demographic attributes (e.g., chronological age, gender), mental and physical health variables (e.g., chronic illness, mood disorders), and hormonal processes (e.g., testosterone levels). Interpersonal factors are also associated with sexual desire; both passionate love and overall relationship health (e.g., satisfaction, commitment, adjustment) are strongly linked with the amount of sexual desire that individuals feel for their partners. Reductions in sexual desire are common in most romantic relationships; however, sudden or sharp decreases may signal the development of an underlying interpersonal issue. Although less examined than other variables, sociocultural factors, including norms, stereotypes, laws, and religious doctrine, may also inhibit or facilitate the experience and expression of sexual desire.
Disease and bodily change
Authors: Rainey Sarah Smith
Published: April 2015

The impact of a disease on the body and sexuality is influenced by a number of factors, including: when the disease is contracted and how it progresses; what part(s) of the body it affects; how the disease was contracted; iatrogenic concerns; and the social stigma associated with the disease. Bodily change can make a positive sexual self‐image difficult to attain; however, many people are able to adapt and have fulfilling sexual experiences and relationships.
Dominance rank (primates)
Authors: Fedigan Linda Marie
Published: April 2015

Dominance rank in primates refers to an individual's relative position in a competitive hierarchy within a social group. Dominant individuals have priority of access to resources such as food, safe locations, and mating partners. Primates live in complex social systems and alliances may confound linear hierarchies. Nonetheless, dominance hierarchies are believed to reduce repeated overt conflict among group members and lead to enhanced reproductive success for high‐ranking individuals.
Ejaculation, premature
Authors: Jern Patrick
Published: April 2015

This entry provides a brief introduction to premature ejaculation, with a special focus on etiology, definitions, and diagnostics using a biopsychosocial approach. The evolution of premature ejaculation diagnostics is discussed, as well as its implications for different definitions and diagnostic criteria. Cultural variations are briefly discussed and treatment interventions from different traditions are presented, together with a critical review of efficacy and side‐effects.
Ellis, Albert (1913–2007)
Authors: Blau Shawn
Published: April 2015

Albert Ellis (1913‒2007) was a U.S. clinical psychologist who served as the first President of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality. He introduced his form of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) at the American Psychological Association convention in 1955, and placed the study of sexology and sex therapy within the context of CBT.
Erotic art
Authors: Borg Sonia
Published: April 2015

Erotic art includes any artistic work that is intended by the artist and perceived by the observer to elicit arousal. Defining erotic art is difficult because of its subjective nature. Controversy over the difference between definitions of erotic art and of pornography persists Regardless of definition, erotic art is a representation of humanity and lifestyle. It has been a part of every civilization dating back to the Paleolithic era. While the concept and presence of erotic art has not changed, societies’ reactions to it over time has. Erotic artists have been imprisoned, works have been lost, destroyed, or locked away from public view. Today, there are many different genres of erotic art and the issue of what is considered pornography and what is considered erotic art, is still not clear.
Erotica: romance novels
Authors: Selinger Eric Murphy
Published: April 2015

A love story with a happy ending, the romance novel is as old as the form of the novel itself. The modern romance novel emerged with Samuel Richardson'sPamela(1740), and scholars have studied the relationships of eighteenth‐ and nineteenth‐century romance novels with imperialism, Orientalism, and anti‐sentimental modernism. The popular romance novel, a mass‐market form predominantly written by and for women, is a twentieth‐century phenomenon. Critiqued by feminist thinkers, it has responded to changing social and sexual mores, and with the advent of digital publishing, it has proliferated and diversified, with an equal diversity of scholarship beginning to emerge.
Eugenics and sexology
Authors: Brennan Toni
Published: April 2015

As a theory and practice concerning human reproduction, eugenics, from the Greek for “good/well” and “born,” is linked to sexology. This entry outlines and contextualizes the complex intertwining between sexology and eugenics in the first decades of the twentieth century, before eugenics became inextricably associated with Nazism. The contexts considered are Great Britain, where the word “eugenics” was coined, and Germany, where sexology was first named as a discipline and where Magnus Hirschfeld founded the first Institute for Sexology. The interplay of sexology and eugenics, including in the work of pioneers of sexual emancipation, such as Havelock Ellis, Auguste Forel, and Magnus Hirschfeld, reveals many contradictions—a “patchwork” of “progressive” and,
with retrospective bias
, now unacceptable ideas. It is recommended that close attention is paid to the historical context and to the hegemony of Social Darwinism in conservative and reformist discourses of the time in both Britain and Germany.
Frotteurism
Authors: Ranger Rebekah , Fedoroff Paul
Published: April 2015

Frotteurism is a paraphilia in which sexual arousal is derived from touching or rubbing against a nonconsenting person, usually a stranger. Those with frotteurism engage in the behavior in public places, close to the victim. Little is known about the etiology of the disorder; however, frotteurism is often associated with other paraphilias.
G spot
Authors: Whipple Beverly
Published: April 2015

The Gräfenberg spot, or G spot, is a sensitive area felt through the anterior wall of the vagina, halfway between the back of the pubic bone and the cervix. It swells when it is stimulated and some women experience an orgasm from stimulation of the area of the G spot that feels different from the orgasm experienced from clitoral stimulation. With stimulation of the G spot a woman may also experience female ejaculation. The area of the G spot is probably composed of a complex network of many tissues and nerve endings.
Geisha
Authors: Seigle Cecilia Segawa
Published: April 2015

Geisha are entertainers with skills in dance, music, and conversation, who made their first appearance in Japan in the late‐seventeenth century. Until recently due to the large costs and long years of training, geisha had to rely on patrons. They are not however, to be confused with prostitutes. Today the patron system no longer exists; only a limited number of professional geisha are seen in the entertainment districts of Tokyo, Kyoto, and few hot spring resort towns.
Gender identity and role: clinical‐psychological aspects
Authors: Meyer‐Bahlburg Heino F. L.
Published: April 2015

“Gender identity” denotes the self‐identification as female or male or, rarely, as a gender other than the traditional binary categories. “Gender role” refers either to the roles a given culture provides for females or males or to the respective observable behavior of individuals. These concepts were developed in the mid‐twentieth century in the context of psychological work on individuals with somatic disorders of sex development and soon assimilated broadly into the social sciences and humanities in general. Development of gender identity and role is understood as a complex process involving many biological, social, and psychological components.
Genital cutting, female
Authors: Johnsdotter Sara
Published: April 2015

Female genital cutting, or female circumcision, is primarily practiced in about 30 African countries. It is labeled “female genital mutilation” by the WHO. Motives vary considerably between groups. Various theoretical explanations behind the origin and continued practice of female circumcision have been offered. The radical feminist view has gained much public attention. The practice is criminalized in many parts of the world and there are campaigns against it on a global level. Female circumcision results in immediate medical consequences, although whether there are considerable long‐term adverse effects for health and sexuality has been contested. In recent years female circumcision has been compared to practices of genital alterations that are accepted in the United States and European countries.
Goddesses
Authors: Morris Christine
Published: April 2015

Goddesses are a prominent element of religions throughout the world, past and present. Their roles and characters are as varied as the cultures to which they belong. Their sexuality is expressed through mythic narratives and ritual or cult practices, and relates to many key domains such as erotic love, creation myths, the fertility of people, animals and plants, pregnancy and childbirth. Within the study of early prehistoric religion there continues to be extensive debate about the existence of a primal mother or great goddess.
Hijras
Authors: Nanda Serena
Published: April 2015

Abstract
The hijras of India, considered neither man nor woman, are one of many cross‐cultural examples of gender diversity. Hijra identities, behavior, rituals, occupational affinities, and sexuality are contextualized within the framework of both Hindu and Muslim culture. Because of their identification with ascetics, especially Shiva and the Mother Goddess, hijras have an auspicious presence and perform at childbirth and marriages. Despite legal restraints on their activities, hijras have continued to maintain their role in Indian society.
Hirschfeld, Magnus (1868–1935)
Authors: Sigusch Volkmar
Published: April 2015

Magnus Hirschfeld was one of the worldwide most influential sex researchers in the first third of the twentieth century. His work and the unique work of his institute cannot be replaced. Although his work was destroyed by the Nazis, young researchers today continue to be interested in his work and the questions he raised. Since 1982 Hirschfeld's reception is documented in the “Mitteilungen der Magnus‐Hirschfeld‐Gesellschaft” [Proceedings of the Magnus‐Hirschfeld‐Society].
Hite, Shere (1942–)
Authors: Pearson Judith
Published: April 2015

This entry describes the work of the feminist and social activist Shere Hite, who revolutionized notions surrounding male and female sexual mores and sexual politics through the publication of her series of studies which became generally known under the rubric of “The Hite Report.”
Hooker, Evelyn (1907–1996)
Authors: Herek Gregory M. , Garnets Linda
Published: April 2015

Evelyn Gentry Hooker (1907–1996) was a U.S. psychologist who published the first empirical research challenging psychiatric assumptions that homosexuality is inherently linked to psychopathology. Her work was the cornerstone for a body of research that ultimately led to the demise of the illness model of minority sexual orientations and the removal of “homosexuality” from the American Psychiatric Association's
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
in 1973.
Infidelity
Authors: Regan Pamela C.
Published: April 2015

Most people in Euro‐American and industrialized societies strongly believe in fidelity and most are, in fact, sexually faithful to their romantic partners. However, infidelity (also called extramarital or extrarelational sex) does occur. Several factors increase the likelihood of infidelity (e.g., gender, frequent travel); of these, relational factors (e.g., conflict, dysfunctional communication) are the most powerful. Infidelity has many negative consequences. The cheating partner often experiences guilt, anxiety, and fear; the cheated‐on partner typically experiences feelings of jealousy, anger, self‐doubt, and betrayal; and the relationship itself often does not survive. Researchers who study responses to (imagined) infidelity generally find that both men and women consider emotional infidelity (their partner falling in love with someone else) to be more upsetting than sexual infidelity (their partner engaging in sexual activity with someone else). However, two sex differences are commonly found: when asked to select the most distressing event, more men than women select sexual infidelity, and more women than men choose emotional infidelity. Although scholars continue to debate the origin of these sex differences, all agree that infidelity is an upsetting and destructive event in the life of most monogamous relationships.
Jealousy (evolution)
Authors: Schützwohl Achim
Published: April 2015

This article outlines the evolutionary psychological assumptions underlying the hypothesis of sex differences in romantic jealousy before reporting empirical research testing this hypothesis for a broad range of psychological processes. An alternative explanation for the predicted sex differences in romantic jealousy is briefly discussed. Some suggestions for future directions in the research on romantic jealousy conclude the article.
Kin selection
Authors: Hames Raymond
Published: April 2015

With few exceptions (royal incest) the incest taboo is found in all cultures. At its most fundamental level the taboo forbids sexual intercourse between immediate family members, normally extends to grandparents, and may variably include cousins. The proximate cause of the taboo revolves around what is known as the Westermarck effect while the ultimate cause is the prevention of inbreeding depression.
Kinsey Reports, The
Authors: Drucker Donna J.
Published: April 2015

Sexual Behavior in the Human Male
(1948) and
Sexual Behavior in the Human Female
(1953), together known as the Kinsey Reports, have significantly impacted the history of sexuality and sexology in the twentieth century through the present. The Reports’ attention to the diversity of human sexuality through models like the 0–6 scale and to the anatomical and physiological similarity of men's and women's orgasmic capacities changed how academics, clinical and other professionals dealing with sexual matters, and how the general public thought about their sexual identities, behaviors, and desires. The Reports have affected legal, medical, psychological, political, and educational approaches to human sexuality and have provided insight for countless individuals into their own sexual selves.
Labial elongation
Authors: Mariano Esmeralda
Published: April 2015

Labial elongation, resulting from self‐manipulation, is practiced in many cultures in east and southern Africa. It is usually carried out under the supervision of adult women and is part of the process of sexual education that begins in pre‐adolescence. The World Health Organization classifies labial elongation as genital mutilation and detrimental to women's health. If mutilation involves the excision of parts of the female genitalia for nontherapeutic reasons, it seems that the term is not applicable in this case. In contrast, labial elongation is culturally understood as an important feature of the preparation of the body, associated with ideas of health, eroticism, aesthetics, femininity, and womanhood. Labial elongation calls into question both the desire to preserve traditional practices and the need to accommodate the contemporary body through labiapastry.
Lesbian communities
Authors: Weber Shannon
Published: April 2015

Lesbian communities have emerged in the public sphere in Euro‐America since at least the early 1900s. This entry charts the history of Euro‐American lesbian communities, with additional discussions of contemporary lesbian and queer spaces. The politics of lesbian communities span issues related to: lesbian feminism; the inclusion‐exclusion of transgender men and women; questions about bisexual women and sexual fluidity; the treatment of women of color; femme invisibility; and generational differences in the use of “lesbian” versus “queer” within lesbian, queer, and LGBTQ communities.
Love
Authors: Jankowiak William
Published: April 2015

No culture is ever completely successful, or satisfied, with its synthesis or reconciliation of love and sex, though every culture is compelled to attempt one. No matter how socially humane, politically enlightened, spiritually attuned or technologically adapted, failure is the name of the game. Dissatisfaction to some degree is everywhere, since societies rarely, if ever, can have both. Its dissonance sounds in all spheres of culture. To date, either cultural anthropologists or evolutionary oriented researchers have confronted this eternal human conundrum.

Evolutionary theory is relentless in documenting the sex link differences in erotic perception and behavior, while virtually silent in its examination of emotional intimacy. In this entry I have explored the human pair bond from the other side of the equation ‐ emotional intimacy. Specifically I have argued that love in all its variations has a consistent theme: it is dyadic or it is 186‐nothing. Moreover, the universality of the human pair bond is evident in the rise of favorite wife or husband in polygynous family systems. This strongly suggests that human as are more emotionally monogamous than they are sexually monogamous.
Male genital cosmetic surgery
Authors: Lee Romeo B.
Published: April 2015

Male genital cosmetic surgery is a broad term used to refer to an array of medical procedures that are performed to correct physical anomalies and/or to enhance physical characteristics of the external parts of a man's genitalia. Corrective cosmetic surgery helps resolve the various physical variations of the glans, penis, and scrotum affecting young and adult men alike. Outcomes of corrective treatments are varied. As an enhancement procedure, cosmetic surgery helps improve the circumference and length of one's penis, as one's perceptions of penile size affect one's self‐esteem and sexual identity. Major complications and patient dissatisfaction stemming from penile enhancement surgeries appear exceptional. Cosmetic surgery is more socially acceptable as a corrective than as an enhancement treatment. To safeguard against future abuses and fatal consequences, regulatory mechanisms, for example, making sure that only competent specialists perform cosmetic surgery, are needed. Such mechanisms are especially crucial in industrializing countries where cosmetic surgery is becoming increasingly common.
Marquis de Sade, Donatien Alphonse François (1740–1814)
Authors: Brame Gloria G.
Published: April 2015

The life and personal history of Marquis de Sade and his place in the annals of sex history is addressed. His family background and childhood are presented along with his philosophical and political stances regarding sado‐masochism.
Masters and Johnson (the work)
Authors: Both Stephanie
Published: April 2015

Masters and Johnson made important contributions to the field of sex research and the clinical practice of treatment of sexual dysfunctions. They were to first to ask male and female volunteers in the laboratory to engage in masturbation and intercourse while wearing physiological recording devices to systematically measure and describe physiological changes during sexual arousal. Based on their laboratory research they developed a completely new approach to the treatment of sexual dysfunctions, which consisted of a brief behavioral treatment called sensate focus therapy that included hierarchically constructed touching exercises.
Masters, William H. (1915–2001), and Virginia E. Johnson (1925–2013)
Authors: Maier Thomas
Published: April 2015

William Masters and Virginia Johnson challenged Freudian concepts of female sexuality, and, through their radical methodology of observing sexual response cycles, proposed a qualitatively different model of human sexual response for females. While their methodology and success rates as sex therapists were challenged in the 1980s and 1990s, their work was instrumental in changing people's attitudes and beliefs about sexuality and they became household names in the late twentieth century.
Media and sex
Authors: Ward Amanda , DeLamater John
Published: April 2015

This article offers an overview of the current research exploring the relationship between sexual content in the media with an emphasis on adolescent socialization. Media is often cited as a primary source of sex education for adolescents as it is an easily accessible and plentiful source of information about sex and sexuality. Socialization theories such as Bandura's Social Learning theory (1977), and Gagnon's Sexual Scripts (1977) predict that the sexual messages found in media such as television and magazines will shape adolescent and adult attitudes regarding sex and sexual behavior. Content analyses of mainstream media including television and magazines find that media portrayals of sex are largely heteronormative and do not acknowledge the psychological and health risks associated with sexual activity. Other research demonstrates a causal connection between exposure to sexual content on television and sexual behaviors and beliefs about sex.
Medicalization of homosexuality
Authors: Gooren Louis , Gijs Luk
Published: April 2015

Medicalization is a sociological concept explaining how medicine can be applied to behaviors that are not self‐evidently medical or biological. Early emancipators of homosexuality reasoned that if homosexuality was biologically determined, homosexuality would no longer be regarded as immoral and would be exempted from legal prosecution. The medicalization of homosexuality has not delivered this liberation. Research in the 1950s established that homosexuality was not per se associated with psychopathology and that a medical label for homosexuals was scientifically unfounded. This was reflected in the removal of homosexuality from classification systems of psychiatric diseases. The transition from sin‐to‐sickness‐to‐status has had a positive impact on the well‐being of homosexual people.
Phase Inversion Membranes from Amphiphilic Diblock Terpolymers
Authors: Hörenz Christoph , Pietsch Christian , Goldmann Anja S. , Barner‐Kowollik Christopher , Schacher Felix H.
Published: April 2015

Polymeric materials as building blocks represent the most important membrane materials as they are relatively simple to synthesize and flexible regarding manufacturing conditions. In this contribution, the synthesis of amphiphilic diblock terpolymers and their use for the preparation of integral asymmetric membranes via nonsolvent induced phase separation (NIPS) processes is presented. The diblock terpolymers consist of a hydrophobic poly(styrene‐co‐isoprene) block and a hydrophilic segment of poly(N,N‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate). The materials are synthesized either via nitroxide mediated polymerization or living anionic polymerization. The NIPS process is used for the fabrication of porous diblock terpolymer membranes where the membrane morphology can be influenced by several parameters such as the applied solvent mixture, open time, or relative humidity. The resulting anisotropic membranes are characterized by scanning electron microscopy and water flux measurements. Furthermore, the UV‐induced crosslinking of the isoprene part of the membrane matrix is demonstrated.
Thermal transport model of a sorbent particle undergoing calcination–carbonation cycling
Authors: Yue Lindsey , Lipiński Wojciech
Published: April 2015

A numerical model coupling transient radiative, convective, and conductive heat transfer, mass transfer, and chemical kinetics of heterogeneous solid–gas reactions has been developed for a semitransparent, nonuniform, and nonisothermal particle undergoing cyclic thermochemical transformations. The calcination–carbonation reaction pair for calcium oxide looping is selected as the model cycle because of its suitability for solar‐driven carbon dioxide capture. The analyzed system is a single, porous particle undergoing thermochemical cycling in an idealized, reactor‐like environment. The model is used to investigate two cases distinguished by the length of the calcination and carbonation periods. The calcination–carbonation process for a single particle is shown to become periodic after three cycles. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 2647–2656, 2015
A simple, single stage technique to harvest optimal ethmoid bone grafts for caudal septal deflections
Authors: Yao William C. , Bleier Benjamin S.
Published: April 2015

Background

Curvature of the caudal septum is a challenging area to surgically address because it is a tip supporting structure. Several methods to straighten the caudal septal deviation have been described to date. One commonly described technique is the placement of a bony septal batten graft. However, the harvest and subsequent ex vivo shaping of the bone graft can be difficult and lead to fracture of the graft superstructure. Here we discuss a novel single stage endoscopic approach to harvest a preformed batten graft and apply it to correct a caudal septal curvature deformity.

Methods

Description of a novel endoscopic technique for the single stage harvest of a bone graft for the correction of a caudal septal deflection utilizing an open Jansen‐Middleton septum forceps.

Results

We have successfully utilized this technique in 10 patients with a caudal septal curvature deformity with no complications. All patients had symptomatic improvement of nasal obstruction symptoms.

Conclusion

The open Jansen‐Middleton septum forceps allow for a reproducible, single stage, harvest of a bone graft from the perpendicular plate or vomer when addressing a caudal septal deformity using an endoscopic septoplasty approach.
Dynamic flux balancing elucidates NAD(P)H production as limiting response to furfural inhibition in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Pornkamol Unrean , Franzen Carl J.
Published: April 2015

Achieving efficient and economical lignocellulose‐based bioprocess requires a robust organism tolerant to furfural, a major inhibitory compound present in lignocellulosic hydrolysate. The aim of this study was to develop a model that could generate quantitative descriptions of cell metabolism for elucidating the cell's adaptive response to furfural. Such a modelling tool could provide strategies for the design of more robust cells. A dynamic flux balance (dFBA) model of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was created by coupling a kinetic fermentation model with a previously published genome‐scale stoichiometric model. The dFBA model was used for studying intracellular and extracellular flux responses to furfural perturbations under steady state and dynamic conditions. The predicted effects of furfural on dynamic flux profiles agreed well with previously published experimental results. The model showed that the yeast cell adjusts its metabolism in response to furfural challenge by increasing fluxes through the pentose phosphate pathway, TCA cycle, and proline and serine biosynthesis in order to meet the high demand of NAD(P)H cofactors. The model described here can be used to aid in systematic optimization of the yeast, as well as of the fermentation process, for efficient lignocellulosic ethanol production.
Crystal structure of Alanine‐Copper(II) complex to understand the mechanism of salt induced prebiotic oligomerization of amino acids
Authors: Awasthi Saurabh , N.T. Saraswathi
Published: April 2015

Oligomerization of amino acid monomers is the vital step in the formation of longer peptides and functional proteins. In spite of continuing efforts towards solving the puzzle of origin of life, the mystery of chemical evolution remains unsolved. Out of various pathways proposed for the formation of peptides under prebiotic conditions, salt induced peptides synthesis presents the most plausible scenario. In attempts to study mechanism of prebiotic oligomerization of amino acid on primitive earth the current study was aimed to determine the crystal structure of intermediate copper amino acid complex and its supra‐molecular assembly. The Structure of the copper alanine complex obtained from SIPF was studied by x‐ray crystallography. The self‐assembling properties of complex into supra‐molecular nanostructures were studied using Field‐emission electron microscopy (FE‐SEM). Results showed the occurrence of racemization of amino acids. This is the first structural study for copper alanine complex formed from prebiotic peptide synthesis pathway. The aggregational properties of intermediate complex showed the formation of rod like crystals and nanospheres. The findings from our study showed the possible mechanism of prebiotic oligomerization of amino acids on the primitive earth towards formation of longer peptides and functional proteins.
On the Role of Interfaces in Planar‐Structured HC(NH2)2PbI3 Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Seol Dong‐Jin , Lee Jin‐Wook , Park Nam‐Gyu
Published: April 2015

Planar‐structured HC(NH2)2PbI3 (FAPbI3) perovskite solar cells were prepared via a two‐step deposition process. To investigate the role of interface, the perovskite morphology was intentionally modified by varying HC(NH2)2I concentration. Surface and grain sizes of the deposited FAPbI3 became rougher and larger as the HC(NH2)2I concentration decreased from 58.2 to 40.7 mM. Average photocurrent was improved but photovoltage deteriorated slightly with decreasing concentration. Consequently, the average efficiency was improved from 7.82 % to 10.70 % and the best efficiency of 12.17 % was obtained at 40.7 mM. Photoluminescence (PL) at TiO2/FAPbI3 interface was reduced with decreasing concentration, which was, however, reversed at FAPbI3/spiro‐MeOTAD one. By correlating PL data and the photovoltaic performance, we concluded that the TiO2/perovskite interface plays a crucial role in determining photocurrent while the perovskite/spiro‐MeOTAD interface is important in governing photovoltage.
State of the Art: Newer biomarkers in heart failure
Authors: de Boer Rudolf A. , Daniels Lori B. , Maisel Alan S. , Januzzi James L.
Published: April 2015

Since natriuretic peptides were successfully integrated into the clinical practice of heart failure (HF), the possibility of using new biomarkers to advance the management of affected patients has been explored. While a huge number of candidate HF biomarkers have been described recently, very few have made the difficult translation from initial promise to clinical application. These markers mirror the complex pathophysiology of heart failure at various levels: cell loss (troponin), fibrosis (ST2 and galectin‐3), infection (procalcitonin), and renal disease (several renal markers). In this review, we examine the best emerging candidates for clinical assessment and management of patients with HF.
Comparative study of the kinetics and equilibrium of nickel(II) biosorption from aqueous solutions by free and immobilized biomass of Aspergillus awamori
Authors: Shahverdi Fatemeh , Ahmadi Mitra , Avazmoghadam Sima , Faramarzi Mohammad Ali
Published: April 2015

In this research, the kinetics and equilibrium of nickel(II) biosorption were studied in aqueous solutions using batch technique. The biosorption was carried on Ca‐alginate beads, on nonliving mycelium of Aspergillus awamori immobilized on Ca‐alginate, and on free fungal biomass. The biosorbents were characterized by FTIR and SEM analyses. The experimental data were analyzed in terms of pseudo‐first‐order, pseudo‐second‐order, and intraparticle diffusion kinetic models. It was observed that the biosorption process of Ni(II) ions followed well pseudo‐second‐order model on all biosorbents. The experimental results showed that biosorption equilibrium on blank Ca‐alginate, free biomass, and immobilized fungal biomass fit better to the Langmuir model when compared with the Freundlich model in concentration range studied (25–75 mg L−1). The results showed that the maximum monolayer biosorption capacity of the immobilized fungal biosorbent was 8.34 mg g−1 when compared with the blank Ca‐alginate and free biomass with 4.63 and 7.13 mg g−1, respectively. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 34: 1356–1364, 2015
New Triterpenoid Glycosides from the Roots of Camellia oleiferaAbel
Authors: Li Xia , Zhao Jianping , Li Xiaoran , Liu Yanli , Xu Qiongming , Khan Ikhlas A. , Yang Shilin
Published: April 2015

Five new triterpenoid saponins, oleiferosides I–M (1–5, resp.) were isolated from the roots of Camellia oleifera Abel. Their structures were elucidated by a combination of 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and chemical methods. All the compounds were identified as oleanane‐type saponins with sugar moieties linked to C(3) of the aglycone. In addition, cytotoxic activities of these saponins were evaluated against four human tumor cell lines (A549, B16, BEL‐7402, and MCF‐7) by using the 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) in vitro assay. All of the compounds showed significant cytotoxic activities against the tested cell lines.
An Efficient Synthesis of Spiro‐oxindole Derivatives by Three‐Component Reactions in Water
Authors: Alizadeh Abdolali , Moafi Leila
Published: April 2015

An efficient synthesis of (3S)‐1,1′,2,2′,3′,4′,6′,7′‐octahydro‐9′‐nitro‐2,6′‐dioxospiro[3H‐indole‐3,8′‐[8H]pyrido[1,2‐a]pyrimidine]‐7′‐carbonitrile is achieved via a three‐component reaction of isatin, ethyl cyanoacetate, and 1,2,3,4,5,6‐hexahydro‐2‐(nitromethylidene)pyrimidine. The present method does not involve any hazardous organic solvents or catalysts. Also the synthesis of ethyl 6′‐amino‐1,1′,2,2′,3′,4′‐hexahydro‐9′‐nitro‐2‐oxospiro[3H‐indole‐3,8′‐[8H]pyrido[1,2‐a]pyrimidine]‐7′‐carboxylates in high yields, at reflux, using a catalytic amount of piperidine, is described. The structures were confirmed spectroscopically (IR, 1H‐ and 13C‐NMR, and EI‐MS data) and by elemental analyses. A plausible mechanism for this reaction is proposed (Scheme 2).
Copper‐Exchanged Tungstophosphoric Acid: An Efficient and Reusable Heteropoly Acid for the Synthesis of 2,3,4,5‐Tetrahydro‐4‐methylidenefuran Derivatives
Authors: Aravind Seema , Reddy Narayana
Published: April 2015

Copper‐exchanged tungstophosphoric acid (Cu‐TPA) is found to catalyze efficiently the coupling of propargyl alcohol (prop‐2‐yn‐1‐ol) with (arylmethylidene)malononitriles to afford the corresponding 2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐4‐methylidenefuran derivatives in good yields and with high selectivity. The catalyst is recycled and reused for three‐to‐four subsequent runs with a minimal decrease of activity.
Eco‐Efficient Synthesis of New Pyrido [2, 3‐c] Coumarin Scaffolds Under Sonochemical Method
Authors: Chidurala Praveen , Jetti Venkateshwarlu , Pagadala Ramakanth , Meshram Jyotsna S. , Jonnalagadda Sreekanth
Published: April 2015

We have explored a green and simple approach to assembling of pyrido[2,3‐c]coumarin derivatives via one‐pot multi‐component condensation of 4‐hydroxy‐2H‐chromen‐2‐one, benzaldehyde, acetoacetanilide, and ammonium acetate in the absence of catalyst in ethanol under ultrasound irradiation. Compared with thermal method, this methodology has significant advantages, for example, it can be easily operated, it has an easy work‐up and short reaction times, and it produces satisfactory yields.
Enhanced Combustion Characteristics of Bismuth Trioxide‐Aluminum Nanocomposites Prepared through Graphene Oxide Directed Self‐Assembly
Authors: Thiruvengadathan Rajagopalan , Staley Clay , Geeson Jordan M. , Chung Stephen , Raymond Kristofer E. , Gangopadhyay Keshab , Gangopadhyay Shubhra
Published: April 2015

We present a facile, spontaneous, and surfactant‐free method to controllably self‐assemble aluminum and bismuth trioxide nanoparticles through the introduction of graphene oxide as a self‐assembly directing agent. The self‐assembled nanocomposites demonstrate significant combustion performance improvements in comparison to randomly mixed aluminum and bismuth trioxide nanoparticles with enhanced pressure generation from 60 to 200 MPa, pressurization rate from 3 to 16 MPa μs−1, burning rate from 1.15 to 1.55 km s−1, and specific impulse from 41 to 71 s. The sensitivity of the self‐assembled aluminum and bismuth trioxide to electrostatic discharge was reduced by four orders of magnitude, without decreasing the combustion performance. Graphene oxide directed self‐assembly can be used to synthesize nanocomposites with diverse combustion properties and controlled ignition sensitivity, which lays the foundation for preparing multi‐functional, highly‐reactive, combustion systems in the future.
Thermobaric and Enhanced Blast Explosives – Properties and Testing Methods
Authors: Trzciński Waldemar A. , Maiz Lotfi
Published: April 2015

The review of the available literature on thermobaric explosives and enhanced blast explosives (high‐destructive explosives) is done in the paper. These types of explosives are defined, their common features and differences are shown. Special attention is paid to the physical phenomena accompanying the process of explosion of such fuel‐enriched heterogeneous explosives. These materials are divided into liquid and solid mixtures and composite materials, including layered charges. The considered explosives are characterized in details, methods of determination of their blast parameters are discussed and the results of experimental tests are presented.
CFD Cook‐Off Simulation and Thermal Decomposition of Confined High Energetic Material
Authors: Asante Daniel O. , Kim Shinhyuk , Chae Jooseung , Kim Hyounsoo , Oh Min
Published: April 2015

The handling, storage and safety before deployment of explosives are major key issues that confront the ammunition industry. Precautions have to be taken not to cause premature detonations and fatal accidents by studying their thermal behaviour. Research has been conducted to investigate the thermal stability of some secondary explosives such as RDX, HMX and TNT and their response to thermal stimuli. For the fact that real experiment which involves large amount of explosives can be potentially dangerous, cook‐off numerical simulation and experiment has been regarded as the best method to analyse such thermal behaviour of explosives. Prominent among these researches involve experiment and numerical analysis such as ODTX, SITI, and DDT experiments. In this work, numerical CFD simulation will be executed for the thermal behaviour of TNT including cook‐off and thermal decomposition. The heating rates were varied for both slow and fast cook‐off cases. In view of these thermal decomposition reactions which mainly consist of kinetic parameters were factored in the numerical simulation as well as the critical thermodynamic physical properties. To effectively handle the reactions, UDF was employed. Attention was paid on the melting time to ignition of explosive, the location likely for ignition occurrence, as well as temperature distribution in the course of the heating process. CFD simulation results showed that the location of ignition was around the supplementary charge.
Photoluminescence characterization of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar‐cell processes
Authors: Shirakata Sho
Published: April 2015

Photoluminescence (PL) has been reviewed for the characterization of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells with emphasis on PL intensity and lifetime in the photovoltaic heterojunction, characterization of photovoltage by PL mapping, PL in CIGS solar process, and degradation of CIGS surface in air.
Comparative Study of the Biological Activity of Allantoin and Aqueous Extract of the Comfrey Root
Authors: Savić Vesna Lj. , Nikolić Vesna D. , Arsić Ivana A. , Stanojević Ljiljana P. , Najman Stevo J. , Stojanović Sanja , Mladenović‐Ranisavljević Ivana I.
Published: April 2015

This study investigates the biological activity of pure allantoin (PA) and aqueous extract of the comfrey (Symphytum officinale L.) root (AECR) standardized to the allantoin content. Cell viability and proliferation of epithelial (MDCK) and fibroblastic (L929) cell line were studied by using MTT test. Anti‐irritant potential was determined by measuring electrical capacitance, erythema index (EI) and transepidermal water loss of artificially irritated skin of young healthy volunteers, 3 and 7 days after application of creams and gels with PA or AECR. Pure allantoin showed mild inhibitory effect on proliferation of both cell lines at concentrations 40 and 100 µg/ml, but more pronounced on MDCK cells. Aqueous extract of the comfrey root effect on cell proliferation in concentrations higher than 40 µg/ml was significantly stimulatory for L929 but inhibitory for MDCK cells. Pharmaceutical preparations that contained AECR showed better anti‐irritant potential compared with PA. Creams showed better effect on hydration and EI compared with the gels that contained the same components. Our results indicate that the biological activity of the comfrey root extract cannot be attributed only to allantoin but is also likely the result of the interaction of different compounds present in AECR. Topical preparations that contain comfrey extract may have a great application in the treatment of skin irritation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.