Gangs, violence, and fear: punitive Darwinism in El Salvador.

This article evaluates the factors impacting support for tough on crime policies in El Salvador. Examining theoretical and empirical scholarly work, we look at how fear, together with social and political contexts drive public appetite for punitive policies towards criminals. We show that President Nayib Bukele is responding to public opinion and has implemented tough on crime policies at the expense of human rights violations and democratic institutions. Society favors candidates who are the "toughest" against criminal actors. Political candidates from all sides of the ideological spectrum tap into the fear of the populace to win votes, leading to punitive Darwinism. We provide an empirical assessment of which theoretically relevant factors are statistically associated with punitivism in the Salvadoran context, using multiple regression analysis of high-quality public opinion survey data from LAPOP.

In-depth analysis of crocetin ester glycosides from dried/processed stigmas of Crocus sativus L. by HPLC-ESI-MSn (n = 2, 3).

INTRODUCTION: Saffron stigmas from Crocus sativus L. (Iridaceae) are used as a drug in folk medicine, as a food additive and as a dying agent for at least 3500 years. Despite this long-term use the chemical composition of saffron seems still to be not fully known. OBJECTIVE: An analytical strategy for detailed investigations of aqueous saffron extract is developed based on reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionisation (HPLC-ESI) multistage mass spectrometry (MSn ) for crocins. METHODS: Commercially available stigmas are analysed by reverse-phase HPLC in combination with ESI/three-dimensional (3D)-ion trap mass spectrometry (MS) and MSn (n = 2 and 3). Sodium chloride is added to the analyte solution ready for injection to promote abundant [M + Na]+ adduct ions of crocins, being ideal precursor ions for low-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID)-MS2/3 . RESULTS: This strategy allows the detailed structural elucidation of known as well as previously unknown crocin derivatives (molecular mass of the aglycon, oligosaccharide chain length and linkage determination). The two isomeric trisaccharide substituents neapolitanose and gentiotriose are distinguished based on linkage-specific cross-ring cleavage for the first time. Furthermore, crocins containing up to six hexose units are also observed. Five novel crocin ester glycosides shifted by a mass difference of -40 Da indicate the presence of the here newly described C17 -aglycon, termed norcrocetin (crocetin = C20 ). CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate the action of at least two different carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases (CCD2 and tentatively CCD4) during biosynthesis of this new bis-apocarotenoid aglycon (norcrocetin) and the existence of even higher glycosylated crocin derivatives at trace level.

Overcoming Stigma and Discrimination: Challenges for Reinsertion of Gang Members in Developing Countries.

This article is an effort to better understand the discrimination mechanisms that ex-gang members perceive upon leaving the gang and seeking to reinsert themselves into a society marked by high levels of violence and inequality, as in Central America. Based on 24 in-depth interviews with former members of MS-13, the 18th Street gang, and other street gangs in El Salvador, this article analyzes the different mechanisms of discrimination perceived by respondents as a result of the stigma of past gang membership. This article also documents how these perceptions of discrimination can affect individuals who are searching for employment opportunities and seeking to reinsert themselves into society.

Analysis of Mass Isotopomer Distributions of Proteingenic Amino Acids Used GC-MS during ~(13)CMFA / 中国生物工程杂志

13C metabolic flux analysis(13CMFA)have been the research hotspots of metabolic engineering internationally due to its accuracy and applicability.It is vital that the measurement of 13C labelling pattern of proteinogenic amino acids for 13C metabolic flux analysis.To acquire 13C-labelling proteinogenic amino acids,Pseudomonas denitrifican which products Vitamin B12 was firstly fed with mimimal culture medium contained 20% U-13C and 80% natural glucose,after the culture reached a steady state,then about 20 mg biomass was hydrolyzed by 1 ml of 6 mol/L hydrochloric acid for 24h at 110℃.Then amino acids was separated,concentrated,evaporated in a vacuum,and derivatized with MBDSTFA,TBDMS-derivatized amino acids can be observed by GC-MS last we get 13C labelling pattern of fifteen aminio acids through mass spectrum.The experimental methods and sample preparation offers referential value for the development of 13C metabolic flux analysis in our courtry.