bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Offending and the Intersection with Victimization
Authors: Zaykowski Heather
Published: August 2019

Extensive evidence suggests that offending (the perpetration of a crime) and victimization (being harmed by a criminal act) have a strong connection. Childhood victimization is particularly salient to female offending during adolescence and young adulthood. In addition, female offending poses risk for further victimization as a result of exposure to and relationships with male offenders. Finally, in the context of family and intimate partner violence, females may be viewed as both victims and offenders. Some perspectives suggest that violence is gender symmetrical while others contest that females' use of violence is in self‐defense rather than as provocation.
Palfrey, Deborah Jeane
Authors: Callahan Kelli
Published: August 2019

The entry provides a background on Deborah Jeane Palfrey, more commonly referred to as the “DC Madam.” Palfrey ran a successful escort service out of Washington, DC, whose clients consisted of the political elite among other high‐power governmental officials. The exposure of Palfrey's infamous client list ultimately resulted in political scandals for several politicians who utilized her escort services.
Parker, Bonnie
Authors: Scheidegger Amie R.
Published: August 2019

Bonnie Elizabeth Parker was born in Rowena, Texas, on October 1, 1910. She is most famous for being the female counterpart to Clyde Barrow; the couple is commonly known as Bonnie and Clyde. The two traveled the United States during the Great Depression, stealing cars, robbing banks and small businesses, and committing murder. The couple was killed in a police ambush on May 23, 1934, in Gibsland, Louisiana.
Pornography and Violence against Women
Authors: Goodson Amanda
Published: August 2019

With the growth of the pornography industry over the past few decades, researchers have examined the potential effects of viewing the explicit materials. Concerns include the effects pornography consumption can have on attitudes about and violence against women. Resulting from a variety of methodologies, overall research findings are mixed, with no consensus on the relationship between pornography consumption and violence against women.
Pregnant Female Offenders and Drug Dependency
Authors: Streisel Shannon
Published: August 2019

Drug use during pregnancy was highlighted during the crack epidemic of the 1980s and became sensationalized as a rapidly growing social problem. Pregnant, drug‐using offenders, who constitute between 5% and 10% of the female incarcerated population, are often faced with additional challenges and punishments compared to their nonpregnant counterparts. While states utilize punitive measures to approach pregnant drug users, the medical community and researchers call for a public health approach focused on holistic treatment and the well‐being of both the mother and the fetus.
Prison Programming for Females
Authors: Cabage LeAnn N.
Published: August 2019

Prison programming for females in the United States has a varied past, from being housed in the same facilities with men and engaging in gender‐stereotypical tasks to a movement toward gender‐responsive programs. In recent years, the call for gender‐responsive programs and evidence‐based correctional practices has led to the implementation of empirically supported programs that address the unique needs of incarcerated women. The implementation of these programs provides hope for the future of addressing the criminogenic needs of females.
Private Prisons and Female Offenders
Authors: McGee‐Cobbs Rochelle , House Tanessa
Published: August 2019

For several decades the operations of US prisons were the sole responsibility of governments. As incarceration levels increased during the 1900s, private for‐profit corporations got involved in the management of prisons. However, this historic initiative has been widely debated on whether private prisons provide the same level of services, safety, and security at a lower cost as compared to publicly run prisons. Questions arise also as to whether the human rights and well‐being of inmates in the private for‐profit prisons are sacrificed on the altar of profits by the corporations. There are also issues relating to the treatment of female inmates in private prisons. Principally, many argue that prisons are important security and social control services that should be the sole responsibility of governments, whose primary goal is the maintenance of law and order in society.
Rape Culture
Authors: Prior Sarah
Published: August 2019

Rape culture
is the term used to describe the prevalence and normalization of sexual violence in American culture. Coined in the early 1970s, the term underlines the systemic and endemic nature of sexual violence, particularly within college and university institutions. Scholars and activists argue that rape culture is about more than just rape – it is about a culture that makes sexual violence seem inevitable. While the term remains debated in popular conversation, examples of rape culture range from advertising campaigns that promote “spiking your best friend's eggnog” to fraternities circulating rape‐bait e‐mails. US college and university culture is steeped in rape culture, which is perpetuated by the media and by the lack of bystander intervention.
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
Authors: Comerford Caroline V.
Published: August 2019

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is a diplomatic treaty that established the ICC. The Rome Statute of the ICC was originally adopted at a conference held in Rome on July 17, 1998, and was formally implemented on July 1, 2002. The ICC is an autonomous international court with 123 current state members. It was the first permanent international court established with the main goal of addressing the impunity of offender(s) who commit the most severe crimes that victimize the international community as a whole. There are four core crimes established within the Rome Statute and the ICC: (1) war crimes; (2) crimes against humanity; (3) genocide; and (4) the crimes of aggression. According to the Rome Statute and the ICC, there is no statute of limitations regarding the international prosecution of the above listed crimes.
Sexual Harassment Laws
Authors: Levesque Amie
Published: August 2019

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, but sexual harassment was not included in this law until 1972. Definitions of sexual harassment have evolved, based on Catherine MacKinnon's 1979 work to include the categories ofquid pro quoand hostile work environment, in which victims face threats of job loss, abuse, and coercion into sexual relationships. Currently, state laws are expanding sexual harassment laws to protect victims of same‐sex sexual harassment, and harassment based on both sex and additional minority statuses.
Sexual Tourism
Authors: Kulig Teresa C.
Published: August 2019

Facilitated by increased opportunities for international travel, sex tourism is a growing industry that, though found most often in poor or less developed countries, occurs on virtually every continent. Some sex workers choose to join the sex industry voluntarily. Traffickers or pimps, however, force other, vulnerable populations into prostitution. Children are victimized when tourists either wittingly or unwittingly engage in sexual relations with a child. Policies have been created and suggestions made to help control sex tourism, but there has not been a consistent response to the growing concerns that tourism creates.
Smith, Susan
Authors: Scheidegger Amie R.
Published: August 2019

Susan Leigh Vaughan Smith (born September 26, 1971, in Union, South Carolina), was convicted of drowning her two sons, three‐year‐old Michael Daniel Smith and 14‐month‐old Alexander Tyler Smith on October 25, 1994. The case drew worldwide media attention because of the false claim that Smith had been carjacked by an African American man while her sons were in the car. After nine days of intense media coverage and investigations by law enforcement, Smith confessed to murdering her sons by allowing her car to roll into a lake with the children still inside. Smith was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years.
Stalking Victimization Patterns
Authors: Martland Tricia P. , Manzi Stephanie P.
Published: August 2019

A stalking victimization pattern refers to a pattern of behavior by a stalker intended to instill fear in a victim. The term “stalking” became known in 1989 after a California actress was shot and killed at her home by a man who had stalked her for over two years. As a result, California passed the first antistalking statute, followed by every state and the federal government. Today, antistalking laws require victims to show a “pattern of behavior” or more than one incident that caused the victim to feel afraid. Some of the behavior patterns commonly used by stalkers include following or tracking a victim, sending unwanted letters, cards, e‐mails, or texts. Cyberstalking, another kind of stalking behavior, is where electronic communications are used to stalk or harass the victim.
Statute of Limitations on Child Sexual Abuse
Authors: Simmons‐Horton Sherri
Published: August 2019

Child sexual abuse (CSA) has evolved into a distressingly common criminal offense. However, the crime of sexual abuse has been known to generally go silent and unreported, where there is a lack of physical evidence or witnesses when reports and arrests are made. Court cases of CSA, likewise, are complicated by civil and criminal processes intended to punish perpetrators and give victims well‐deserved justice. A matter which prosecutors and civil courts must consider when accepting a CSA case is the statute of limitations, which defines the length of time that a court case on a sexual abuse crime can proceed. Because CSA reporting is often delayed, an understanding of the statute of limitations is necessary to determine whether a victim can proceed following a significant time period.
Statutory Rape Laws
Authors: Beck Victoria Simpson , Boys Stephanie K.
Published: August 2019

Statutory rape laws (aka age of consent laws) were conceived within a patriarchal framing, focusing primarily on protecting male interests in the sexuality of White females. Although the laws have evolved over time to address issues of gender and racial bias in the United States, they have not succeeded in preventing such biased application of the laws. Moreover, in a governmental attempt to reduce teen pregnancies and the sometimes‐resulting reliance on welfare, statutory rape laws have been used as a criminal justice juggernaut against teen romances. Given the recent governmental overreach with statutory rape laws resulting in a number of teen lives (females and males) being forever ruined, the authors suggest that assenting teen sexual behavior be decriminalized and rape laws be used to prosecute nonconsenting sexual behavior.
Trends in Female Offending
Authors: Clark Kyleigh
Published: August 2019

Historically, criminological research has focused primarily on male criminality, comparatively neglecting the nature of female crime and trends in female offending. Since the 1970s, however, female criminality has been a growing subject of inquiry, with findings indicating that females are committing more crimes than traditionally estimated. Indeed, in recent history there has been an increase in female arrest rates for certain offense types, leading researchers to analyze the trends in female offending more closely, and triangulating analyses with multiple data sources. Recent scholarship has acknowledged that the traditional gender gap is narrowing, although this may be attributed to a shift in behavior or a shift in policy. Nonetheless, recent trends in female offending have resulted in not only the expansion of research into offending patterns, but the extension and development of theoretical explanations of female criminality, ultimately resulting in a more nuanced understanding of both how patterns of female offending are changing and why women are seemingly committing more crime.
Tucker, Karla Faye
Authors: Trejbalová Tereza
Published: August 2019

Karla Faye Tucker (November 18, 1959 to February 3, 1998) is one of the best‐known female death row inmates to be executed in the United States of America. The crime that Tucker and her male accomplice were convicted of was a double murder with a pickax. Her case gained enormous attention from the media, because of her religious transformation and her gender. Tucker was executed by lethal injection in 1998 in Texas.
United States
v.
Castleman
Authors: Coroian George E.
Published: August 2019

In
United States v. Castleman
(2014) the US Supreme Court unanimously held that a state law conviction for misdemeanor domestic assault involving bodily injury qualifies as a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence under 18 U.S.C. §922(g)(9). The Court determined that violent force is not necessary, as the phrase “use … of physical force” in 18 U.S.C. §922(g)(9) includes crimes involving any level of physical force. Thus, anyone convicted by a state for misdemeanor assault involving bodily injury, particularly in a domestic violence situation, is prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm.
UN
Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict
Authors: Nadj Daniela
Published: August 2019

Mali, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Myanmar, Burundi, Uganda, Libya, the Ivory Coast, and South Sudan have one sad footnote in common: they are sites of recent armed conflict characterized by sustained sexual violence attacks against women. Increasingly, paramilitary fighters, nonstate actors, perpetrate sexual violence offenses. Even those who are meant to protect civilians, such as UN peacekeepers, have engaged in acts of violence. Recent examples brought to the attention of the world media include attacks by UN peacekeepers against girls as young as 12 years old in the Central African Republic. In response to this alarming trend, the UN has promulgated a series of groundbreaking resolutions condemning conflict‐related sexual violence offenses since the turn of the millennium. To date, eight UN Security Council resolutions have called for a greater inclusion of women at the peace negotiation table and in post‐conflict demobilization efforts, urging states to implement national action plans to give effect to these objectives. However, despite the UN's efforts to address wartime sexual violence, there remains a stark discrepancy between the political action and the reality on the ground, where conflict‐related sexual violence continues to be pervasive.
Victim Experience in Court
Authors: McGrath Shelly A.
Published: August 2019

Much research on the subject of the victim's experience in court has focused on victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Women are much more likely to be victims of these crimes than are men. The court is one part of the criminal justice system that the victims may be part of. Prior to the 1990s, generally the victim did not participate, except as a witness, in court. Research on victims of domestic violence and sexual assault indicate that they are more willing to not drop the charges if they are actively involved in the process. Victim advocates and victim impact statements have become a very important part of the court that increases victims' satisfaction with the judicial process.
Victim Rights
Authors: Manzi Stephanie P. , Martland Tricia P.
Published: August 2019

Victims' rights are rights that are afforded to victims of crime to ensure that they are informed and protected throughout the criminal justice process. These rights have been obtained over the past several decades through the passage of both federal and state laws in the United States. These rights include, but are not limited to, the rights to be present and heard during the proceedings, and compensation for lost wages and medical expenses. Many US jurisdictions also allow crime victims to seek redress if these rights are violated.
Women and White‐Collar Crime
Authors: Gossett Jennifer
Published: August 2019

Women have been active in the labor market since World War II, though discrimination and gender stereotypes have kept women from having a significant presence in white‐collar jobs. This has limited their opportunities to commit various white‐collar crimes, until today. Women's presence in committing specific white‐collar crimes is notable, though little is still known about their inclusion or exclusion in white‐collar crimes.
Women Who Kill
Authors: Campbell Lori Ann , Jensen Vickie
Published: August 2019

A large gender gap in homicide offending exists, with men being responsible for most homicides in the United States. Overall, women commit a disproportionately small number of homicides: in 2015 just 11% of all known homicide offenders were women, and this percentage has been stable for the past 40 years. While the gender gap in homicide offending is evident, women commit homicide in different contexts than men. For example, there are differences in victim–offender relationships and differences in the motives for killing. Moreover, traditional criminological theories of homicide did not usually address the role of gender and, as a result, were less effective in explaining women's offending than men's offending. Researchers studying the gendered nature of women's offending have found that as women's social and economic resources expanded, the rate of women's homicide offending declined. Incorporating gender into research and theorizing about women's homicide offending will allow scholars to understand the contexts better of women who kill.
World Report on Violence and Health
Authors: Semenza Daniel C.
Published: August 2019

Published in 2002 by the World Health Organization, the
World Report on Violence and Health
is a study of global violence and its impact. The report is a comprehensive, evidence‐based assessment of the international burden of violence, outlining the key forms and contexts of violence, prevention strategies, and recommendations for future violence prevention. The report has been used by many countries around the world as a guide to scientifically assess the prevalence of violence and develop prevention strategies in the years since the release of the report.
Gender Disparity in Death Penalty Sentencing
Authors: Craig Miltonette Olivia
Published: August 2019

Although race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status garner the majority of attention when considering bias within the US capital sentencing system, a less frequently mentioned yet equally pervasive disparity concerns gender bias. Women appear to be the “favored” gender under the US death penalty scheme, as they are subject to death sentences at a much lower rate than are men (referred to as the gender‐of‐offender effect) and female victims' deaths are punished more harshly than the deaths of their male counterparts (referred to as the gender‐of‐victim effect). Scholars contend that the underlying causes for this disparity include the influential role of media coverage in prosecutors' decisions to seek the death penalty as well as the powerful impact that chivalry has had on the development of American jurisprudence.
The Development and Characterization of a Cell Culture System from Indian Mud Crabs Scylla serrata
Authors: Sivakumar Selvaraj , Raja Swaminathan T. , Kumar Raj , Kalaimani Natarajan
Published: August 2019

Commercially available culture media and supplements were tested for their potential to produce primary cell cultures from tissues of Indian mud crabs Scylla serrata. Eight commercially available culture media from Sigma-Aldrich (Leibovitz's L-15, Medium 199, Grace's Insect Medium, Minimal Essential Medium, Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium, TC-100 Insect Medium, IPL-41 Insect Medium, and Roswell Park Memorial Institute) were examined. Three different supplements (amino acid and sugar [AS], crab muscle extract [CME], and natural seawater [NSW]) were also examined. The hemocyte culture appeared to grow well for a maximum period of 21 d in 2 × L-15 medium supplemented with AS and 15% fetal bovine serum (FBS). Partial amplification and sequencing of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene confirmed that the primary hemocytes originated from Indian mud crabs. The effects of four metals on hemocyte viability were evaluated using the MTT assay. Of the four metals examined (arsenic, lead, cobalt, and nickel), cobalt and nickel were more toxic to the crab cells than the other metals. Both acridine orange/ethidium bromide and Hoechst staining showed the presence of apoptosis and necrosis in metal-treated groups, which suggests that metals in an aquatic environment induce death of the Indian mud crab's hemocytes. The hemocyte primary cell culture was also used to study the cytotoxicity effect of bacterial extracellular products from Vibrio harveyi and white spot syndrome virus. This study demonstrates that hemocyte primary cell culture can be used as a tool to study viral and bacterial pathogenesis and to assess the cytotoxicity of pollutants present in aquatic environments.
Peptide‐Functionalized Hydrogels Modulate Integrin Expression and Stemness in Adult Human Epidermal Keratinocytes
Authors: Davis‐Hall Duncan , Nguyen Vy , D'Ovidio Tyler J. , Tsai Ethan , Bilousova Ganna , Magin Chelsea M.
Published: August 2019

The extracellular matrix (ECM) controls keratinocyte proliferation, migration, and differentiation through β‐integrin signaling. Wound‐healing research requires expanding cells in vitro while maintaining replicative capacity; however, early terminal differentiation under traditional culture conditions limits expansion. Here, a design of experiments approach identifies poly(ethylene glycol)‐based hydrogel formulations with mechanical properties (elastic modulus, E = 20.9 ± 0.56 kPa) and bioactive peptide sequences that mimic the epidermal ECM. These hydrogels enable systematic investigation of the influence of cell‐binding domains from fibronectin (RGDS), laminin (YIGSR), and collagen IV (HepIII) on keratinocyte stemness and β1 integrin expression. Quantification of 14‐day keratin protein expression shows four hydrogels improve stemness compared to standard techniques. Three hydrogels increase β1 integrin expression, demonstrating a positive linear relationship between stemness and β1 integrin expression. Multifactorial statistical analysis predicts an optimal peptide combination ([RGDS] = 0.67 mm, [YIGSR] = 0.13 mm, and [HepIII] = 0.02 mm) for maintaining stemness in vitro. Best‐performing hydrogels exhibit no decrease in Ki‐67‐positive cells compared to standards (15% decrease, day 7 to 14; p < 0.05, Tukey Test). These data demonstrate that precisely designed hydrogel biomaterials direct integrin expression and promote proliferation, improving the regenerative capability of cultured keratinocytes for basic science and translational work.
Hollow Covalent Triazine Frameworks with Variable Shell Thickness and Morphology
Authors: Wang Ning , Cheng Guang , Guo Liping , Tan Bien , Jin Shangbin
Published: August 2019

Covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs) are a class of semiconductive porous materials, showing enormous potential in many applications, such as gas adsorption and storage, and heterogeneous catalysis. At present, most of the studies on CTFs are focused on the structural design, synthesis, and applications, whereas very little attention is paid to morphological study, probably due to the difficulty in the control of the morphology via the conventional synthetic methods. In this work, a general approach is reported to fabricate morphological controllable CTFs by virtue of a mild polycondensation reaction via template method. As a proof of concept, a new type of hollow‐structured CTFs is developed for the first time. The shell thickness of the hollow CTFs can be conveniently tuned by varying the amount of the template. Notably, the morphologies can be transformed from sphere to bowl with the decrease of the shell thicknesses. The hollow morphology of CTFs can efficiently improve the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance, in which the hydrogen evolution rate can be boosted by about 4 times as compared to the bulk state. The present study not only shows an effective strategy to construct morphology controllable CTFs, but also demonstrates an effective way to enhance photocatalytic performance for CTFs.
Dynamic Terahertz Plasmonics Enabled by Phase‐Change Materials
Authors: Jeong Young‐Gyun , Bahk Young‐Mi , Kim Dai‐Sik
Published: August 2019

Phase‐change phenomena have been an attractive research theme for decades due to the dynamic transition of material properties providing extraordinary capabilities for versatile optical device applications. Even at the terahertz (THz) frequency regime, phase‐change materials (PCMs) promote the development of dynamic devices, especially when combined with a plasmonic approach delivering strong field enhancement and localization. According to the design of plasmonic metamaterials or hybrid composites, PCMs can actively modulate the electromagnetic properties of THz waves through thermal, electrical, and optical means. In turn, THz waves can affect the PCM properties in the nonlinear regime due to the intense field strength enhancement by plasmonic structures. Here, a few types of PCMs demonstrating promising potential in THz plasmonic applications are introduced. Starting from the best‐known transition metal oxide, vanadium dioxide (VO2), which possesses an insulator‐to‐metal phase transition near room temperature, superconductors, chalcogenides, ferroelectrics, liquid crystals, and liquid metals are covered along with their phase‐change properties and the control mechanisms infused with THz plasmonic applications. The corresponding recent progress presenting how PCMs combined with plasmonic structures can demonstrate effective THz modulation is reviewed. This general overview may provide a better understanding of dynamic THz plasmonics and new ideas for future THz technology.
Total Syntheses of rac‐ and (+)‐Goniomitine
Authors: Park Eunjoon , Cheon Cheol‐Hong
Published: August 2019

Concise total syntheses of rac‐ and (+)‐goniomitine were developed. The cyanide‐catalyzed imino‐Stetter reaction of an aldimine, derived from ethyl 2‐aminocinnamate and either rac‐ or (S)‐α,β‐unsaturated aldehyde bearing a δ‐valerolactam at the β‐position, provided rac‐ or (S)‐indole‐3‐acetate carrying an α‐vinyl‐δ‐valerolactam scaffold at the 2‐position, respectively. Subsequent saturation of the vinyl group, followed by treatment with DIBAL‐H, afforded N‐benzyl protected goniomitine. Final debenzylation provided the desired natural product after only three column separations.

magnified image
Olfactory cleft mucus proteins associated with olfactory dysfunction in a cohort without chronic rhinosinusitis
Authors: Yoo Frederick , Soler Zachary M. , Mulligan Jennifer K. , Storck Kristina A. , Lamira Jensine M. , Pasquini Whitney N. , Hill Jonathan B. , Noonan Tegan E. , Washington Brandon J. , Schlosser Rodney J.
Published: August 2019

Background

Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is a common problem, affecting up to 20% of the general population. Previous studies identified olfactory cleft mucus proteins associated with OD in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) but not in a healthy population. In this study we aimed to identify olfactory cleft mucus proteins associated with olfaction in individuals without sinus disease.

Methods

Subjects free of sinus disease completed medical history questionnaires that collected data regarding demographics, comorbidities, and past exposures. Olfactory testing was performed using Sniffin’ Sticks, evaluating threshold, discrimination, and identification. Olfactory cleft mucus (OC) and, in select cases, inferior turbinate mucus (IT) were collected with Leukosorb paper and assays performed for 17 proteins, including growth factors, cytokines/chemokines, cell‐cycle regulators, and odorant‐binding protein (OBP).

Results

Fifty‐six subjects were enrolled in the study, with an average age of 47.8 (standard deviation [SD], 17.6) years, including 33 females (58.9%). The average threshold/discrimination/identification (TDI) score was 30.3 (SD, 6.4). In localization studies, OBP concentrations were significantly higher in OC than IT mucus (p = 0.006). Cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A/p16INK4a), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2/MCP‐1), granulocyte macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF), and chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20/MIP‐3a) all inversely correlated with overall TDI (all rho ≥ ‐0.479, p ≤ 0.004). Stem cell factor (SCF) correlated positively with overall TDI (rho = 0.510, p = 0.002).

Conclusion

Placement of Leukosorb paper is relatively site‐specific for olfactory proteins and it is feasible to collect a variety of olfactory cleft proteins that correlate with olfactory function. Further study is required to determine mechanisms of OD in non‐CRS subjects.
Configurational Entropy and Newton's Law in Double Sine‐Gordon Braneworlds
Authors: Cruz Wilami Teixeira da , Dantas Davi Monteiro , Maluf Roberto Vinhaes , Almeida Carlos Alberto Santos
Published: August 2019

The Shannon‐like entropic measure of spatially localized functions for a 5D braneworld generated by a double sine‐Gordon (DSG) potential is evaluated. The differential configurational entropy (DCE) has been shown in several recent works to be a configurational informational measure (CIM) that selects critical points and brings out phase transitions in confined energy models with arbitrary parameters. The DSG scenario is selected because it presents an energy‐degenerate spatially localized profile where the solutions to the scalar field demonstrate critical behavior that is only a result of geometrical effects. As is shown, the DCE evaluation provides a method for predicting the existence of a transition between the phases of the domain wall solutions. Moreover, the entropic measure reveals information about the model that is capable of describing the phase sector where resonance modes on the massive spectra of the graviton is obtained. The graviton resonance lifetimes are related to the existence of scales on which 4D gravity is recovered. Thus, the critical points defined by the CIMs with the existence of resonances and their lifetimes are correlated. To extend the research regarding this system, the corrections to Newton's law coming from the graviton modes are calculated.
A Crystallographic Charge Density Study of the Partial Covalent Nature of Strong N⋅⋅⋅Br Halogen Bonds
Authors: Eraković Mihael , Cinčić Dominik , Molčanov Krešimir , Stilinović Vladimir
Published: August 2019

The covalent nature of strong N−Br⋅⋅⋅N halogen bonds in a cocrystal (2) of N‐bromosuccinimide (NBS) with 3,5‐dimethylpyridine (lut) was determined from X‐ray charge density studies and compared to a weak N−Br⋅⋅⋅O halogen bond in pure crystalline NBS (1) and a covalent bond in bis(3‐methylpyridine)bromonium cation (in its perchlorate salt (3). In 2, the donor N−Br bond is elongated by 0.0954 Å, while the Br⋅⋅⋅acceptor distance of 2.3194(4) is 1.08 Å shorter than the sum of the van der Waals radii. A maximum electron density of 0.38 e Å−3 along the Br⋅⋅⋅N halogen bond indicates a considerable covalent contribution to the total interaction. This value is intermediate to 0.067 e Å−3 for the Br⋅⋅⋅O contact in 1, and approximately 0.7 e Å−3 in both N−Br bonds of the bromonium cation in 3. A calculation of the natural bond order charges of the contact atoms, and the σ*(N1−Br) population of NBS as a function of distance between NBS and lut, have shown that charge transfer becomes significant at a Br⋅⋅⋅N distance below about 3 Å.
Thermal conversion mechanism and thermodynamics of mixed oil in coal‐based needle coke production
Authors: Cheng Jun‐xia , Zhao Xue‐fei , Gao Li‐juan , Zhu Ya‐ming
Published: August 2019

In this work, the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of mixed oil during the process of thermal conversion are analyzed using a kinetic model and thermodynamic calculations combined with thermogravimetric analysis. On the basis of the Flynn–Wall–Ozawa kinetic model, the calculated activation energies change in the reaction progress of mixed oil. Additionally, the thermal conversion process can be divided into three stages. The reaction mechanism is the exponential law mode in the first phase, and the latter two stages belong to the random nucleation and subsequent growth model, but they have completely different ways of nucleation and crystal growth. During the whole thermal conversion of mixed oil, △H≠ > 0, and it does not show that the thermal conversion of mixed oil is a completely endothermic process; △G≠ > 0 and represents a nonspontaneous reaction; and the change of the △S≠ value is the most complicated.
Resilient biological hexavalent chromium removal with a two‐stage, fixed‐bed biotreatment system
Authors: Upadhyaya Giridhar , Dunagan Brandon , Mattingly Chris , Brown Jess
Published: August 2019

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) can be biologically reduced to nontoxic and easily separable trivalent chromium (Cr(III)) without generating concentrated wastes. Using a 6–25 gpm pilot‐scale two‐stage, fixed‐bed (FXB), biologically active carbon (BAC) treatment system, approximately 75 μg/L Cr(VI) was consistently removed to less than 7 μg/L with a 10‐min empty‐bed contact time. Potential Cr(VI)‐reducing bacteria, including members from the Dechloromonas and Acinetobacter genera, were present in the system. The system was resilient, and 91% Cr removal was observed when the system was challenged with a 24‐h phosphoric acid feed shutdown, a 3‐day system shutdown, spiking Cr(VI) to 100 μg/L, or operating intermittently with regular shutdown periods of hours to days. The system recovered within 6 h after a 26‐h acetic acid feed shutdown. Readily settling backwash wastewater was generated with characteristics similar to municipal wastewater. Overall, the results indicated that a two‐stage, FXB BAC system can provide an effective and robust option for Cr(VI) removal.
Viral Detection: Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Katsarou Konstantina , Bardani Eirini , Kallemi Paraskevi , Kalantidis Kriton
Published: August 2019

Viruses are essentially composed of a nucleic acid (segmented or not, DNA, or RNA) and a protein coat. Despite their simplicity, these small pathogens are responsible for significant economic and humanitarian losses that have had dramatic consequences in the course of human history. Since their discovery, scientists have developed different strategies to efficiently detect viruses, using all possible viral features. Viruses shape, proteins, and nucleic acid are used in viral detection. In this review, the development of these techniques, especially for plant and mammalian viruses, their strengths and weaknesses as well as the latest cutting‐edge technologies that may be playing important roles in the years to come are described.
Multicentre analysis of the learning curve for laparoscopic liver resection of the posterosuperior segments
Authors: Berardi G , Aghayan D , Fretland Å A , Elberm H , Cipriani F , Spagnoli A , Montalti R , Ceelen W P , Aldrighetti L , Abu Hilal M , Edwin B , Troisi R I
Published: August 2019

Background

Laparoscopic liver resection demands expertise and a long learning curve. Resection of the posterosuperior segments is challenging, and there are no data on the learning curve. The aim of this study was to evaluate the learning curve for laparoscopic resection of the posterosuperior segments.

Methods

A cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis of the difficulty score for resection was undertaken using patient data from four specialized centres. Risk-adjusted CUSUM analysis of duration of operation, blood loss and conversions was performed, adjusting for the difficulty score of the procedures. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to identify the completion of the learning curve.

Results

According to the CUSUM analysis of 464 patients, the learning curve showed an initial decrease in the difficulty score followed by an increase and, finally, stabilization. More patients with cirrhosis or previous surgery were operated in the latest phase of the learning curve. A smaller number of wedge resections and a larger number of anatomical resections were performed progressively. Dissection using a Cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator and the Pringle manoeuvre were used more frequently with time. Risk-adjusted CUSUM analysis showed a progressive decrease in operating time. Blood loss initially increased slightly, then stabilized and finally decreased over time. A similar trend was found for conversions. The learning curve was estimated to be 40 procedures for wedge and 65 for anatomical resections.

Conclusion

The learning curve for laparoscopic liver resection of the posterosuperior segments consists of a stepwise process, during which accurate patient selection is key.
Juvenile homicide offenders: A 35‐year‐follow‐up study
Authors: Heide Kathleen M.
Published: August 2019

Murders committed by juveniles have been a major concern in the USA for more than 40 years. Due to decisions in the 21st century by the United States Supreme Court, the likelihood of juvenile homicide offenders being sentenced to life without parole (LWOP) is less than in past decades. In addition, hundreds of individuals in prison who were sentenced to LWOP under mandatory sentencing statutes or their equivalent as juveniles for murder are now eligible for resentencing and may be released. Given these changes in sentencing policies and practices, follow‐up research on juveniles involved in murder is needed. This study is a 35‐year follow‐up study of 59 boys who were convicted of murder and sentenced to adult prisons in a southeastern state, and initially interviewed in the early 1980s. Twenty‐two of these men agreed to participate in clinical interviews about their experiences in prison and upon return to the community if released. The experiences in prison are highlighted for all men. Thereafter, attention focuses on the 19 juvenile homicide offenders who have been released. Of these 19 men, 11 were classified as failures given that they were sent back to prison at least once. Length of time served and completion of GED were the best predictors of post‐release success. Clinical observations, implications of the findings, limitations of the study, and directions for future research are discussed.
Techno‐economic analysis of a plant‐based platform for manufacturing antimicrobial proteins for food safety
Authors: McNulty Matthew J. , Gleba Yuri , Tusé Daniel , Hahn‐Löbmann Simone , Giritch Anatoli , Nandi Somen , McDonald Karen A.
Published: August 2019

Continuous reports of foodborne illnesses worldwide and the prevalence of antibiotic‐resistant bacteria mandate novel interventions to assure the safety of our food. Treatment of a variety of foods with bacteriophage‐derived lysins and bacteriocin‐class antimicrobial proteins has been shown to protect against high‐risk pathogens at multiple intervention points along the food supply chain. The most significant barrier to the adoption of antimicrobial proteins as a food safety intervention by the food industry is the high production cost using current fermentation‐based approaches. Recently, plants have been shown to produce antimicrobial proteins with accumulation as high as 3 g/kg fresh weight and with demonstrated activity against major foodborne pathogens. To investigate potential economic advantages and scalability of this novel platform, we evaluated a highly efficient transgenic plant‐based production process. A detailed process simulation model was developed to help identify economic “hot spots” for research and development focus including process operating parameters, unit operations, consumables, and/or raw materials that have the most significant impact on production costs. Our analyses indicate that the unit production cost of antimicrobial proteins in plants at commercial scale for three scenarios is $3.00–6.88/g, which can support a competitive selling price to traditional food safety treatments.
A simplified reverse wire technique using an angulated supercross microcatheter
Authors: Chan Yu Ho , Cheng Victor Yue Hong , Wong Chi Wing , Lam Cheuk Sum
Published: August 2019

Bifurcation lesion with an extreme angulated side branch remains a challenge in coronary intervention. Reverse wire technique was originally described by Dr. Kawasaki and nowadays this can be done by double‐lumen catheter. We report a novel “simplified reverse wire technique with a specialized angle tip microcatheter,” Supercross microcatheter™ (Teleflex). This can facilitate wiring of extreme angulated side branch by this simple and feasible method without using double lumen catheter.
Primary hyperparathyroidism and recurrent ventricular tachyarrhythmia in a patient with novel RyR2 variant but without structural heart disease
Authors: Pedersen Christian Møller , Rolighed Lars , Harsløf Torben , Jensen Henrik Kjærulf , Nielsen Jens C.
Published: August 2019

It is important to consider calcium and parathyroid hormone levels in patients with recurrent VT/VF without any obvious cause of arrhythmia. In similar cases to gain rhythm control using isoprenaline and do comprehensive molecular‐genetic. Diagnosis and surgery in case of parathyroid adenoma may be needed to obtain definite arrhythmia control.
Probing the Lewis Acid Catalyzed Acyclic Pathway of Carbohydrate Conversion in Methanol by In Situ NMR
Authors: Jensen Pernille Rose , Taarning Esben , Meier Sebastian
Published: August 2019

Future bioindustries will rely on the formation of diverse chemicals at high yield through various reaction pathways. These pathways include reactions to a series of alpha‐hydroxy esters and acids that can be formed from the conversion of C3–C6 carbohydrates by Lewis acidic catalysts in alcohols and water. Definitive kinetic and mechanistic insights to support the development of carbohydrate conversion processes are arguably less developed than for analogous biocatalytic processes. Here, we visualize acyclic pathways of carbohydrate dehydration, using the acyclic C4 carbohydrate erythrulose as a probe molecule for the conversion by homogeneous SnCl4 in methanol. In situ studies allow the detection of previously postulated intermediates, identify the branch point to competing products and provide energetic and mechanistic insight by kinetic analysis. Reversibility of reactions, stereoselectivity and differential propensity for deuterium incorporation in competing pathways can be tracked by the formation of compounds with asymmetric mass distribution.
Metal‐Organic‐Framework‐Based Cathodes for Enhancing the Electrochemical Performances of Batteries: A Review
Authors: Wang Zhaoyang , Tao Haizheng , Yue Yuanzheng
Published: August 2019

Owing to their huge specific surface area, high porosity, abundant metal active sites, adjustable structure, and tunable pore diameters, metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted much attention from the battery scientists and technologists. MOFs have proven to be versatile precursors of cathode materials for batteries, and MOF‐based cathodes have already exhibited excellent electrochemical performances. Herein, we review some recent advances in developing MOF‐derived cathodes for lithium‐/sodium‐ion batteries, lithium‐sulfur batteries, lithium‐air batteries, and lithium‐selenium batteries. We also describe the synthetic mechanism, characterization of MOF‐derived cathodes, and the origin of the enhanced electrochemical performances. Finally, we point out some challenges and opportunities for the future development of MOF‐based cathodes.
Seeigeleier und Gift als Aufklärer der Zellatmung
Authors: Schönfeld Peter
Published: August 2019

Leben kostet Energie und diese wird bei den meisten Lebewesen durch „Verbrennen“ von Fettsäuren, Kohlenhydraten und Aminosäuren innerhalb der Zellen erzeugt. Die Basisreaktion ist die von der Atmungskette katalysierte Knallgasreaktion. Untersuchungen mit Seeigeleiern lieferten einen ersten Einblick über die Sauerstoffaktivierung bei der Zellatmung. Wegen der Unzulänglichkeit der damaligen analytischen Chemie musste eine völlig neue experimentelle Strategie für die chemische Charakterisierung des Atmungsfermentes (Cytochrom‐c‐Oxidase) entwickelt werden. Mit dieser wurden Änderungen der Sauerstoffaufnahme von „vergifteten“ Zellen unter Bestrahlung mit monochromatischem Licht gemessen. Damit gelang es Otto Heinrich Warburg und Mitarbeitern, vom „Atmungsferment“ einen optischen „Fingerabdruck“ (Absorptionsspektrum) zu erhalten. Durch die Aufklärung der Chemie der Cytochrom‐c‐Oxidase konnte die Giftwirkung von Zyankali erklärt und eine Behandlungstherapie entwickelt werden.
Model of a red blood cell based on alginate beads
Authors: Hamel Elias , Holfeld Martin
Published: August 2019

Seit einiger Zeit ist bekannt, dass sich Redoxreaktionen und Säure‐Base‐Reaktionen in Alginatbällchen durchführen lassen. In diesem Artikel wird ein Osmose‐Modell aus Alginatbällchen vorgestellt. Hierzu werden ca. 2 cm Zentimeter große Alginatbällchen rot eingefärbt und in hypertone und hypotone Lösungen gegeben. Sie stellen modellhaft einen Erythrozyten unter osmotischen Bedingungen dar. Die Größe und Struktur der Bällchen sind abhängig von der Elektrolyt‐Konzentration der Lösung, in der sie sich befinden. Ist diese niedrig, werden die Bällchen größer und platzen, ist sie hoch, erschlaffen sie. So können osmotische Prozesse auf makroskopischer Ebene in Schulen dargestellt werden.
Energy‐efficient design of 3D UWSNs leveraging compressive sensing and principal component analysis: A communication techniques perspective
Authors: Yadav Sadanand , Kumar Vinay
Published: August 2019

The design of energy‐efficient underwater wireless sensor networks (UWSNs) poses many challenges due to the intrinsic properties of propagation medium and limited battery power of sensor nodes. This paper proposes the concept of optimal clustering for three‐dimensional (3D) UWSNs leveraging compressive sensing (CS) and principal component analysis (PCA) technique of data compression. Optimal clustering reduces the energy consumption by selecting the optimal number of clusters whereas CS and PCA compression techniques reduce the energy consumption by considering a lesser number of samples and reduce the data redundancy at cluster heads (CHs) level, respectively. Moreover, three communication techniques like acoustic, electromagnetic (EM), and free‐space optical (FSO) wave are considered for communication in 3D UWSNs. We compared the energy efficiency for all three communication techniques by examining the three base station (BS) positions at the center, at the corner, and at the lateral midpoint of the 3D sensing area. Moreover, performance parameters (network lifetime, throughput, packet drop rate, and latency) are also evaluated for 3D UWSNs. It is observed that PCA outperforms the CS technique. The proposed technique is suitable for long‐term and densely deployed 3D UWSNs, in which saving energy is of crucial importance.