Neurodevelopmental and psychosocial risk factors in serial killers and mass murderers

Multiple and serial murders are rare events that have a very profound societal impact. We have conducted a systematic review, following PRISMA guidelines, of both the peer reviewed literature and of journalistic and legal sources regarding mass and serial killings. Our findings tentatively indicate that these extreme forms of violence may be a result of a highly complex interaction of biological, psychological and sociological factors and that, potentially, a significant proportion of mass or serial killers may have had neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder or head injury. Research into multiple and serial murders is in its infancy: there is a lack of rigorous studies and most of the literature is anecdotal and speculative. Specific future study of the potential role of neurodevelopmental disorders in multiple and serial murders is warranted and, due to the rarity of these events, innovative research techniques may be required

A Futile Redox Cycle Involving Neuroglobin Observed at Physiological Temperature

Previous studies identifying the potential anti-apoptotic role of neuroglobin raise the question as to how cells might employ neuroglobin to avoid the apoptotic impact of acute hypoxia whilst also avoiding chronic enhancement of tumour formation. We show that under likely physiological conditions neuroglobin can take part in a futile redox cycle. Determination of the rate constants for each of the steps in the cycle allows us to mathematically model the steady state concentration of the active anti-apoptotic ferrous form of neuroglobin under various conditions. Under likely normal physiological conditions neuroglobin is shown to be present in the ferrous state at approximately 30% of its total cellular concentration. Under hypoxic conditions this rapidly rises to approximately 80%. Temporal analysis of this model indicates that the transition from low concentrations to high concentration of ferrous neuroglobin occurs on the seconds time scale. These findings indicate a potential control model for the anti-apoptotic activity of neuroglobin, under likely physiological conditions, whereby, in normoxic conditions, the anti-apoptotic activity of neuroglobin is maintained at a low level, whilst immediately a transition occurs to a hypoxic situation, as might arise during stroke, the anti-apoptotic activity is drastically increased. In this way the cell avoids unwanted increased oncogenic potential under normal conditions, but the rapid activation of neuroglobin provides anti-apoptotic protection in times of acute hypoxia

Controlled sub-10-nanometer poly(N-isopropyl-acrylamide) layers grafted from silicon by atom transfer radical polymerization

Surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) was used to graft poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) brush layers with a controllable thickness in the 10-nm range from silicon substrates. The rate of polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide was tuned by the [Cu(II)]0/[Cu(I)]0 ratio between the deactivating and activating species. The polymer layer thickness was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and ellipsometry. PNIPAM layers with a dry thickness between 5.5 and 16 nm were obtained. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) confirmed that the chemical structure is PNIPAM brushes. Analysis of the AFM data showed that our procedure leads to polymer grafts in the "mushroom-to-brush" transition regime

Mechano heterocyclic chemistry: Grinding and Ball Mills

This review covers till 2013 the main publications dealing with the use of mechanochemistry in heterocyclic chemistry. Physical aspects, like polymorphism and cocrystals, physicochemical problems, like tautomerism and desmotropy, and pure chemical ones, like synthesis and reactivity, are discussed. The review puts special emphasis on active pharmaceutical ingredients and, in general, on biological aspects. It will become clear that the technique has the advantages of time, simplicity, cost, and lower waste. Moreover, some complex structures that are difficult to prepare in solution, can be easily obtained by using simple, solventless grinding. The conclusion of this survey is that mechanochemistry will become another green method as important as microwave ovens in chemistry, although much exciting work remains to be done, both experimental and theoretically.Peer Reviewe