Illegal Gambling and Its Operation via the Darknet and Bitcoin: An Application of Routine Activity Theory

The Darknet and Bitcoins have been widely utilized by those who wish to anonymously perform illegal activities in cyberspace. Restricted in many countries, gambling websites utilize Bitcoin payments that allow users to freely engage in illegal gambling activities with the absence of a formal capable guardian. Despite the urgency and limited knowledge available to law enforcement regarding this issue, few empirical studies have focused on illegal gambling websites. The current study attempts to examine the characteristics and operations of online gambling websites on both the Darknet and Surface Web, which allow Bitcoin payments. The findings suggest that both websites on the Surface Web and Darknet have similar and distinctive features that attract and encourage online users to engage in extensive illegal gambling activities and potentially other illegal activities as well. The study concludes with policy recommendations to remedy the issue of online gambling

Carnosol induces apoptotic cell death through ROS-dependent inactivation of STAT3 in human melanoma G361 cells

Melanoma is the leading cause of skin cancer deaths, and the poor prognosis of metastatic melanoma has made needs for a novel pharmacological treatment or efficient intervention. Carnosol, a major polyphenolic compound from Rosmarinus officinalis, has a wide range of biological activities including anti-cancer effect. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of its anti-cancer effect remain poorly understood in malignant human melanoma cells. In the present study, we investigate the apoptotic effect and the underlying anti-cancer mechanisms of carnosol. Our results revealed that carnosol strongly induced apoptosis against human melanoma G361 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and caused dramatical elevation in cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level during apoptosis. In mechanistic studies, carnosol treatment decreased protein level of anti-apoptotic B‑cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and B cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xL), however, increased level of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) protein. Moreover, carnosol escalated cellular level of p53, which was accompanied by a decline of mouse double minute 2 homolog (MDM2) level. Also, carnosol inhibited activation of Src and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), therefore down-regulated STAT3-dependent gene expression, such as D-series cyclin and survivin. These changes by carnosol were attenuated by pre-treatment of N-acetyl cysteine, and abolished progression of carnosol-induced apoptosis. In conclusion, carnosol induced apoptosis in human melanoma G361 cells through ROS generation and inhibition of STAT3-mediated pathway. Our results provide molecular bases of carnosol-induced apoptosis, and suggest a novel candidate for human melanoma treatment.This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (2018R1D1A1A02050495, J.-S. Choi) and by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning 2017R1A2B4009831, K.- S. Chun)

L’identité des hommes aux pratiques homosexuelles à Shanghai

En Chine, les hommes ayant des rapports sexuels avec d’autres hommes (HSH) sont de plus en plus avertis des discours sur l’homosexualité et ont créé de nombreux espaces publics où ils peuvent se rencontrer. En même temps, la population chinoise est désormais plus familière des identités « gay », homosexuelle ou « tongzhi », aujourd’hui largement tolérées et popularisées par les médias, et surtout l’Internet. Dans les grandes villes chinoises, à la différence du passé, les HSH ont à leur disposition plusieurs modèles possibles d’identification tandis qu’un climat de relative tolérance leur permet de dévoiler leur identité sexuelle dans divers contextes sociaux. A partir d’entretiens avec 30 hommes de Shanghai ayant eu des rapports sexuels avec d’autres hommes, cet article tente d’analyser comment ces individus construisent et analysent leur identité sociale en tant qu’HSH. Nous examinerons les termes qu’ils utilisent pour décrire leur orientation sexuelle, puis nous analyserons comment ils sont arrivés à s’identifier comme HSH, gay ou tongzhi et comment ils jugent leur orientation sexuelle. Finalement, nous verrons dans quels contextes ces hommes révèlent leur identité sexuelle à leur entourage, notamment en dehors du milieu gay. En particulier, nous discuterons de quelques facteurs sociologiques qui paraissent influencer la révélation de leur identité sexuelle en dehors des cercles gay. Plus généralement, nous analyserons les conséquences de cette révélation ou de la dissimulation sur leurs relations sociales

Sexual Identity Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Shanghai

Chinese men who have sex with men are increasingly aware of public discourses of homosexuality, and have created numerous public spaces in which they can make contact with other Chinese men who have sex with men (MSM). At the same time Chinese in general, as well as MSM themselves, have increasingly also become aware of models of openly tolerated “gay”, “homosexual” or “tongzhi” identities popularised through the media, especially internet media. Therefore MSM in large Chinese cities now seem to have a greater number of possible models of sexual identification than in the past, as well as a more tolerant atmosphere for revealing their sexual identities in various social contexts. This paper uses in depth interviews with 30 MSM in Shanghai to discover how they construct and organise their social identities as MSM. It examines the terms men use to describe their sexual orientation, including the nuances that accrue to these terms, stories of how men come to identify themselves as MSM, gay or tongzhi, including their assessment of their sexual orientation, and their different patterns of revealing their sexual identities to different members of their social circles. In particular, it looks at some of the sociological factors that seem to influence self-revelation outside the gay circle, also the consequences of these patterns of self revelation and concealment for these other types of social relations

Sexual Identity Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Shanghai

Chinese men who have sex with men are increasingly aware of public discourses of homosexuality, and have created numerous public spaces in which they can make contact with other Chinese men who have sex with men (MSM). At the same time Chinese in general, as well as MSM themselves, have increasingly also become aware of models of openly tolerated “gay”, “homosexual” or “tongzhi” identities popularised through the media, especially internet media. Therefore MSM in large Chinese cities now seem to have a greater number of possible models of sexual identification than in the past, as well as a more tolerant atmosphere for revealing their sexual identities in various social contexts. This paper uses in depth interviews with 30 MSM in Shanghai to discover how they construct and organise their social identities as MSM. It examines the terms men use to describe their sexual orientation, including the nuances that accrue to these terms, stories of how men come to identify themselves as MSM, gay or tongzhi, including their assessment of their sexual orientation, and their different patterns of revealing their sexual identities to different members of their social circles. In particular, it looks at some of the sociological factors that seem to influence self-revelation outside the gay circle, also the consequences of these patterns of self revelation and concealment for these other types of social relations

Effects of dodecacalcium heptaaluminate content on the setting time, compressive strength, alkalinity, and cytocompatibility of tricalcium silicate cement

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of dodecacalcium hepta-aluminate (C12A7) content on some physicochemical properties and cytocompatibility of tricalcium silicate (C3S) cement using human dental pulp cells (hDPCs). Material and Methods: High purity C3S cement was manufactured by a solid phase method. C12A7 was mixed with the cement in proportions of 0, 5, 8, and 10 wt% (C12A7-0, -5, -8, and -10, respectively). Physicochemical properties including initial setting time, compressive strength, and alkalinity were evaluated. Cytocompatibility was assessed with cell viability tests and cell number counts. Statistical analysis was performed by using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s test (p<0.05). Results: The initial setting time of C3S-based cement was shorter in the presence of C12A7 (p<0.05). After 1 day, C12A7-5 showed significantly higher compressive strength than the other groups (p<0.05). After 7 days, the compressive strength of C12A7-5 was similar to that of C12A7-0, whereas other groups showed strength lower than C12A7-0. The pH values of all tested groups showed no significant differences after 1 day (p>0.05). The C12A7-5 group showed similar cell viability to the C12A7-0 group (p>0.05), while the other experimental groups showed lower values compared to C12A7-0 group (p<0.05). The number of cells grown on the C12A7-5 specimen was higher than that on C12A7-8 and -10 (p<0.05). Conclusions: The addition of C12A7 to C3S cement at a proportion of 5% resulted in rapid initial setting time and higher compressive strength with no adverse effects on cytocompatibility

Renal transplantation in a patient with Bartter syndrome and glomerulosclerosis

Bartter syndrome (BS) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous inherited renal tube disorder characterized by renal salt wasting, hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis and normotensive hyperreninemic hyperaldosteronism. There have been several case reports of BS complicated by focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Here, we have reported the case of a BS patient who developed FSGS and subsequent end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and provided a brief literature review. The patient presented with classic BS at 3 months of age and developed proteinuria at 7 years. Renal biopsy performed at 11 years of age revealed a FSGS perihilar variant. Hemodialysis was initiated at 11 years of age, and kidney transplantation was performed at 16 years of age. The post-transplantation course has been uneventful for more than 3 years with complete disappearance of BS without the recurrence of FSGS. Genetic study revealed a homozygous p.Trp(TGG)610Stop(TGA) mutation in the CLCNKB gene. In summary, BS may be complicated by secondary FSGS due to the adaptive response to chronic salt-losing nephropathy, and FSGS may progress to ESRD in some patients. Renal transplantation in patients with BS and ESRD results in complete remission of BS

Prospective evaluation of clinical symptoms of chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis in adult patients with acute leukemia: A preliminary study

Objective The objective of this study was to prospectively evaluate the clinical features of chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis (CIOM) in adult patients with acute leukemia and the aggravating factors for such symptoms. Subjects Thirty-seven prospective patients aged >= 19 years with acute leukemia undergoing chemotherapy were enrolled. Oral and clinical investigations were performed at baseline and on Day 14 after starting chemotherapy. The presence and severity of cancer-induced oral mucositis were demonstrated using the World Health Organization (WHO) scoring system. Results On Day 14, we found that oral mucositis had developed in eight patients (21.6%). Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in patients was a predictor of increased WHO scores (beta = 1.937, p < .001). Regarding oral sites, ventral tongue (beta = 1.670), soft palate (beta = 1.242), and buccal mucosa (beta = 0.593) were predictors for increased scores. In addition, the increase in WHO scores was positively correlated with the number of oral lesions (r = .521), the difficulty in eating (r = .250), and the overall oral health (r = .534; all p < .05). Conclusion The main factors affecting the severity of CIOM symptoms were the treatment with HSCT and the location of oral lesions. The incidence of CIOM and WHO scores were not significantly different between the subgroups of disease. Our findings will help clinicians investigate the oral findings after chemotherapy in adult patients with acute leukemia.Y