Neutralization Techniques Research Articles

Constructions of plateaued correctors with high correction order and good nonlinearity via Walsh spectral neutralization technique

Constructions of plateaued correctors with high correction order and good nonlinearity via Walsh spectral neutralization technique

Online paedophiles and the criminal justice experience: A qualitative perspective

BackgroundOnline forums provide a conduit for anonymous communication within deviant subcultures, such as online paedophiles. This helps to build virtual communities of support. ObjectiveThis study explores the experience of paedophiles in the criminal justice system as reported by those who experienced it on such a forum. By analysing and understanding the experiences disclosed by these individuals, we may be able to design more targeted prevention strategies and treatment options.Participants and Setting.Data are from one online forum discussion thread that includes 595 online forum posts by 212 unique usernames ranging over 11 years from 2012 to 2023. This forum claims to be an anonymous “therapeutic community” for paedophiles and does not allow the sharing of media (e.g., videos or images). MethodsThis study uses an inductive approach to analyse the posts and discover the perspective and concerns of users who have experienced or are faced with prosecution and punishment. ResultsSeven main themes emerged from the posts on this thread: support and praise, techniques of neutralisation, life in prison, anxiety and mental health, relationships, therapy, and difficulties post-prison. ConclusionsThe forum provided an important source of support among a virtual community of people who shared similar sexual interest in children and feel rejected and demonised by mainstream society. The thread functioned like an “echo chamber” that reinforced a positive view of users' deviant interest. Individuals who had been prosecuted for their offending were returning to the forum, which may encourage reoffending. Parole boards and probation officers may need to consider limiting or restricting access to the Internet, particularly the Tor network, when setting release conditions. Implications for treatment focus on challenging the justifications and excuses used by paedophiles.

The impact of delivery technique on Woven EndoBridge deployment and detachment in an in vitro aneurysm model.

The Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device is increasingly used for treatment of wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms. With the newer 17 system, WEB deployment has been associated with a phenomenon known as incomplete or "sticky" detachment from the delivery wire, which may lead to imprecise placement. Optimal techniques for WEB manipulation and delivery to avoid this problem are poorly defined. This study aimed to evaluate standard WEB deployment techniques and determine the impact of delivery techniques and WEB stickiness on procedural success. An in vitro study using identical silicone middle cerebral artery aneurysm models (n = 32) assessed WEB (6 × 2 mm) deployment through a VIA 17 microcatheter via three techniques that involved: "loading," "neutral," and "tension" on the pusher wire. Microcatheter position was placed in varied positions from the WEB device. Woven EndoBridge stickiness was graded during detachment attempts. Primary outcomes were detachment stickiness and attempt number, compared between techniques using Fisher's exact test. The tension technique resulted in significantly fewer sticky detachments and detachment attempts compared to forward load or neutral techniques (p < 0.001). Sticky detachment was lower with tension (0% sticky) versus forward load (42% sticky, 8% very sticky) (p < 0.001). Forward load had a 50% rate of stickiness versus 0% with tension and neutral (p < 0.001). Forward load required multiple attempts in 100%, compared to 57% with neutral and 8% with tension (p < 0.001). Higher stickiness grades increased the need for multiple attempts (p < 0.001). The tension technique reduces incomplete WEB detachment and enables precise single-attempt detachment, optimizing delivery precision. In vivo confirmation is needed.

Modified Combined Impression Technique for Cawood &amp; Howell Class V/VI Mandibular Ridges: A Case Report

Geriatric prosthodontic rehabilitation with compromised residual ridge has become challenging, the principal concern being rejuvenating and maintaining complex stomatognathic functional harmony with severe residual ridge resorption (RRR). Modification of contemporary treatment techniques should be considered to achieve a patient’s functional and esthetic requirements. Contemporary prosthodontics utilizing combination of Neutral zone technique (NZ) and all green impression (AGI) for the management of Cawood &amp; Howell Class V/VI (severely resorbed) ridges are innovative techniques for the construction of removable prosthesis with a profound effect in denture stability and retention, particularly in mandible. NZ implies the principle of synergistic activity of Oro-muscular function in denture stability by arranging the prosthetic teeth within the neutral zone area, hence preventing their interfere with the oro-muscular function, while AGI aimed at achieving prosthesis retention through functional moulding and the viscosity of impression material helps disseminate the forces transmitted to the denture-bearing area reducing the potential for discomfort arise from the soft tissue folds over atrophic ridge. This case report attempts to present a combination of modified impression techniques utilizing all green impression techniques and neutral zone techniques in a 66-year-old patient for C&amp;H Class V mandibular ridge. The goal of this technique is to provide optimal stability covering the maximum denture bearing area and selectively distributing the pressure and to produce a denture molded by oro-muscular function in harmony with its surrounding structures thereby enhancing stability and retention.

Complete denture treatment in a resorbed mandibular ridge with suction effective method and neutral zone technique using a semi-adjustable articulator: A case report

Complete denture treatment in a resorbed mandibular ridge with suction effective method and neutral zone technique using a semi-adjustable articulator: A case report

College Students are Helping Each Other Cheat in the Group Chat and Here’s Why

ABSTRACT When students have a space of their own, unobserved by professors and administrators, where they can freely talk about their classes and share their coursework, many engage in academic dishonesty. But, as observed in the present study, cheating is not a foregone conclusion for students who decide to join an online group chat. The present study examined N = 30 GroupMe chatrooms associated with undergraduate classes at a mid-sized “Southern State University” – observing academic dishonesty how it happens, when it happens. Significant associations rooted in techniques of neutralization and general strain theory were observed for both the solicitation of academic dishonesty and responses to those solicitations. As hypothesized, greater academic dishonesty was observed for appeals to higher loyalties and denial of responsibility. While the denial of injury and condemnation of the condemners each corresponded with greater solicitation of academic dishonesty, no effects were observed for responses to solicitation. The removal of positively valued stimuli also corresponded with more academic dishonesty. However, the presentation of negatively valued stimuli and failure to achieve positively valued goals were, unexpectedly, associated with less of this kind of behavior. Implications for designing out academic dishonesty are proposed within the context of these findings.

Cyberbullying perpetration on social media: A situational action perspective

The advent of social media platforms has made cyberbullying a growing concern. Current studies primarily investigate singular individual-level or environmental-level factors, yet cyberbullying is a multifaceted phenomenon that cannot be fully understood through single-dimensional perspectives. In this research, we draw on situational action theory (SAT) to explore how cyberbullying develops on social media by examining the synergistic effect of individual propensity and criminogenic exposure. Our empirical results reveal that individuals’ cyberbullying behavior is predominantly influenced by previous habits and exposure to the cyberbullying behavior of important others. Furthermore, individuals tend to employ neutralization techniques to rationalize their cyberbullying behaviors.

Consumer Excuse Mechanisms, Neutralization Techniques in Stolen Goods Markets

ABSTRACT The act of wittingly or suspiciously buying stolen goods is ethically questionable, legally punishable consumer behavior. Hence, purchasing stolen goods can lead to various cognitive and emotional sufferings, such as cognitive dissonance, ethical conflict, and feelings of guilt. In the context of buying stolen goods, consumer dissonance is a very significant predictor of consumer guilt. However, our findings did not confirm an expected positive relationship between ethical conflict and guilt. While buying stolen goods, consumer excuse and neutralization strategies are used to cope with both cognitive and emotional sufferings resulting from wrongdoings. The findings of this study are based on survey research conducted among the consumers of the stolen goods market, locally named Chor Bazaar (Theif Market) in India, focusing on Delhi and Mumbai. The findings confirmed that consumer’s use of excuse and neutralization strategies moderates the relationship between consumer guilt and the purchase of stolen goods. However, there is no direct relationship between neutralization and the purchase of stolen goods.

Efficient Recycling and Utilization Strategy for Steel Spent Pickling Solution

Before steel can be utilized, pickling is necessary to remove surface oxidation products. However, as the ferrous ion concentration in the pickling solution increases, the pickling rate significantly diminishes, necessitating the treatment of spent pickling solution (SPS) to mitigate its hazardous effects prior to disposal. Current industrial methods predominantly rely on neutralization and precipitation techniques, which are cost-prohibitive and generate substantial by-products, thus failing to meet environmental protection standards. In this study, a new method, which is based on the formation of FeC2O4·2H2O precipitate in a strong acid solution, is proposed to treat the SPS. Initially, the SPS undergoes a two-step impurity removal process, followed by the controlled addition of oxalic acid dihydrate (H2C2O4·2H2O) to precipitate iron. The resulting precipitate is filtered, washed, and vacuum-dried, and the regenerated acid is recycled back into the pickling tank. When 1 g/10 mL of H2C2O4·2H2O is used, the iron removal rate achieves 60%, and the acidity of the regenerated acid increases by 11.3%. X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) and thermogravimetric–differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) characterization showed that the precipitate was α-FeC2O4·2H2O, with an average particle size of about 3.19 μm and a purity of 95.24%. This process innovatively achieves efficient recycling of acid and iron resources, offering a potential solution to the industrial challenge of difficult SPS treatment in the steel industry and meeting the urgent need for sustainable development.

Novel method for developing explainable machine learning framework using feature neutralization technique

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has led to its widespread adoption across various domains. One of the most important challenges faced by AI adoption is to justify the outcome of the AI model. In response, explainable AI (XAI) has emerged as a critical area of research, aiming to enhance transparency and interpretability in AI systems. However, existing XAI methods facing several challenges, such as complexity, difficulty in interpretation, limited applicability, and lack of transparency. In this paper, we discuss current challenges using SHAP and LIME metrics being popular methods for explainable AI and then present a novel approach for developing an explainable AI framework that addresses these limitations. This novel approach uses simple techniques and understandable human explanations to provide users with clear and interpretable insights into AI model behavior. Key components of this approach include model-agnostic interpretability, a newly developed explainable factor overcoming the challenges of current XAI methods and enabling users to understand the decision-making process of AI models. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the new approach through a case study and evaluate the framework’s performance in terms of interpretability. Overall, the new approach offers enhanced transparency and trustworthiness in AI systems across diverse applications.

Utilization Of Neutral Zone Technique In Complete Denture Fabrication For A Class III Sagittal Jaw Relation Patient

Long-term denture wearers have advanced ridge atrophy and atrophy of the musculature of the cheeks and lips and often face challenges associated with decreased mandibular denture stability. This case report highlights the successful implementation of the neutral zone technique in the fabrication of maxillary and mandibular complete dentures to address this issue. Understanding the concept of the neutral zone is essential for achieving optimal denture stability, retention, and speech quality. The steps involved in capturing and utilizing the neutral zone to improve denture stability are thoroughly described. The case exemplifies the effectiveness of the neutral zone technique in overcoming mandibular denture instability for patients with compromised edentulous ridges, resulting in enhanced patient satisfaction, improved oral function and speech.

Unveiling the Neutral Difference and Its Automated Search

Given a differential characteristic and an existing plaintext pair that satisfies it (referred to as a right pair), generating additional right pairs at a reduced cost is an appealing prospect. The neutral bit technique, referred to as neutral differences throughout this paper, provides a solution to this challenge. Traditionally, the search for neutral differences has heavily depended on experimental testing, leading to limitations in the search range. In this work, we propose the neutral difference table and establish a link between boomerang cryptanalysis and neutral differences. Furthermore, we propose an automated search for neutral differences to address the problem of a limited search range of neutral differences, as previous approaches relied on experimental testing. This approach provides a basis for the subspace spanned by the neutral differences, and we apply this technique to both SPECK32 and LEA, where the predicted results closely match the experimental ones. Consequently, we present the improved differential-linear distinguishers for SPECK32 and LEA, along with the 18-round attacks on LEA192 and LEA256 with the lowest time complexity up to date.

Circumferential slots based decoupled wideband MIMO antenna for 5G and sub-6 GHz applications

This paper investigates a small size 2 × 2 wideband multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna covering frequency band of 2.61 to 5.52 GHz. The antenna structure consists of elliptical ring patch with multiple circumferential slots. The edge-to-edge separation between the patches are kept 3.6 mm with volumetric dimensions of 30 × 46 × 1.6 mm3. The narrow slits are etched in the tapered ground plane to obtain the wideband characteristics. The electromagnetic coupling is improved more than 16 dB by employing the neutralization technique. The measured average gain and radiation efficiency of the proposed antenna are above 2.61dBi and 83.54%, respectively across the operating band. In addition to that, the important MIMO diversity parameters are investigated. The group delay and signal analysis in different orientations are also studied to ensure the quality performance of the antenna. The proposed MIMO antenna is simulated using CST microwave studio and further validated with the measurements. In addition to that, the parallel and orthogonal configuration of 4 × 4 MIMO antennas are analyzed by extending the proposed 2 × 2 MIMO design. The 4-port MIMO antennas exhibit the operating frequency bands varying from 2.80 to 5.58 GHz and 3.4 to 5.52 GHz, respectively for parallel and orthogonal MIMO configurations. The diversity parameters of 4-port MIMO antennas are calculated and compared with the measured results to verify its practical applications. Finaly, the SAR analysis of the antenna is presented at 3.08 and 5.20 GHz for 1/10 g tissues and are found 0.111/0.106 and 0.079/0.063 W K−1g−1, respectively. The proposed MIMO antenna designs are suitable for modern high-speed communication for 5G and sub-6 GHz frequency bands.

Moral disengagement and neutralization techniques as explanations of unethical behavior

AbstractEthical consumption is important for both consumers and social welfare. However, many consumers avoid or ignore ethical consumption practices. An explanation of the psychological processes that impede ethical behavior is important research. A survey of 436 American consumers reveals that various types of moral disengagement (behavior and victim loci) and neutralization techniques sequentially explain unethical consumer behavior. From a theoretical perspective, both these constructs are relevant in this context, yet prior research utilizes these constructs separately or conflates them. Moreover, findings show that a particular type of moral disengagement, the agency locus, paradoxically promotes ethical consumer behavior. This research also examines locus of control (chance) and trait cynicism as antecedents of unethical consumer behavior. Locus of control (chance), not trait cynicism, leads to less ethical consumer behavior through moral disengagement and neutralization techniques. Insights benefit consumers, marketers, and policymakers in promoting ethical consumption that enhances consumer well‐being.

Turning harmful Mn2+ to treasure: In-situ formed ε-MnO2 for removing heavy metals from acid mine drainage

Acid mine drainage (AMD) contains high concentrations of heavy metals, causing serious environmental pollution. Current neutralization techniques fail to recover and utilize valuable heavy metals, and generate large quantities of hazardous sludge. Manganese (Mn) is generally present at high levels in AMD. Therefore, this paper proposed a technology to recover Mn from AMD, by adding KMnO4 to converting Mn into ε-MnO2. Ultra-Violet C (UVC) was used to photolyze the residual KMnO4. The study then evaluated the processes and mechanisms involved in the technology. The photolysis of KMnO4 in strong acidic conditions was determined, and new mechanisms were proposed. MnO2 produced by the photolysis process was formed through the reaction between Mn(III) and KMnO4. In the absence of KMnO4, Mn(III) underwent further photolysis and was reduced to Mn2+. The maximum adsorption capacities of in-situ formed ε-MnO2 for Pb2+, Cd2+, and Fe3+ were 449.80, 122.05, and 779.88 mg/g, respectively. Higher Mn-OH levels and MnO2 regeneration were crucial in improving adsorption performance. Proton exchange and inner-circle complexation were the main pathways for Pb2+ and Cd2+ adsorption by in-situ formed ε-MnO2. A phase transformation occurred when a substantial amount of Fe3+ was adsorbed, leading to the gradual transformation to MnFe binary oxides. When applying in-situ formed ε-MnO2 technology for actual AMD treatment, 98.62 % of Mn in AMD was recovered within 24 h in the presence of ε-MnO2 for possible further reuse in industries, with a final recovery of 0.76 kg/m3. Further, this technique removed other heavy metals and reduced the sludge volume by 20.99 % when used as a pre-treatment step for neutralization. These results demonstrated the broad potential of this treatment technology.

Bridging the Gap Between Legitimacy and Neutralisation Strategies in Sustainability Reporting

Amid global sustainability challenges, such as climate change, companies operating in different industries face increasing demands for accountability and transparency. To meet these demands, sustainability reporting (SR) has become a mainstream business practice in communicating companies’ positive and negative sustainability impacts. This short paper aims to increase our understanding of how companies may release negative information while seeking to maintain their legitimacy. For this purpose, the paper bridges the gap between legitimacy strategies, impression management and neutralisation techniques by reviewing their associated literature. The nature of neutralisation techniques and how organisations use them in the SR context is underexplored by scholars. Finally, the paper presents prospective discussions of an ongoing study that examines negative sustainability disclosure in the tourism transportation context, namely the airlines.

Time Will Tell: The Case for an Idiographic Approach to Behavioral Cybersecurity Research

Many of the theories used in behavioral cybersecurity research have been applied with a nomothetic approach, which is characterized by cross-sectional data (e.g., one-time surveys) that identify patterns across a population of individuals. Although this can provide valuable between-person, point-in-time insights (e.g., employees who use neutralization techniques, such as denying responsibility for cybersecurity policy violations, tend to comply less), it is unable to reveal within-person patterns that account for varying experiences and situations over time. This paper articulates why an idiographic approach, which undertakes a within-person analysis of longitudinal data, can: (1) help validate widely used theories in behavioral cybersecurity research that imply patterns of behavior within a given person over time and (2) provide distinct theoretical insights on behavioral cybersecurity phenomena by accounting for such within-person patterns. To these ends, we apply an idiographic approach to an established theory in behavioral cybersecurity research—neutralization theory—and empirically test a within-person variant of this theory using a four-week experience sampling study. Our results support a more granular application of neutralization theory in the cybersecurity context that considers the behavior of a given person over time. We conclude the paper by highlighting the contexts and theories that provide the most promising opportunities for future behavioral cybersecurity research using an idiographic approach.

Entropy Sharing in Ransomware: Bypassing Entropy-Based Detection of Cryptographic Operations.

This study presents a groundbreaking approach to the ever-evolving challenge of ransomware detection. A lot of detection methods predominantly rely on pinpointing high-entropy blocks, which is a hallmark of the encryption techniques commonly employed in ransomware. These blocks, typically difficult to recover, serve as key indicators of malicious activity. So far, many neutralization techniques have been introduced so that ransomware utilizing standard encryption can effectively bypass these entropy-based detection systems. However, these have limited capabilities or require relatively high computational costs. To address these problems, we introduce a new concept entropy sharing. This method can be seamlessly integrated with every type of cryptographic algorithm and is also composed of lightweight operations, masking the high-entropy blocks undetectable. In addition, the proposed method cannot be easily nullified, contrary to simple encoding methods, without knowing the order of shares. Our findings demonstrate that entropy sharing can effectively bypass entropy-based detection systems. Ransomware utilizing such attack methods can cause significant damage, as they are difficult to detect through conventional detection methods.

A 16-bit DPT-DAC over 120dBc SFDR with Signal-Phase regulation and Switching-Glitch neutralization

This paper introduces a fully-differential current steering, dynamically performance tunable digital-to-analog converter (DPT-DAC) for 5G and 6G telecommunication systems. In the DPT-DAC, a novel signal-phase regulation (SPR) technique and switching-glitch neutralization (SGN) technique are proposed to improve the dynamic performance of the DAC. In the standard 65 nm CMOS process, the simulation results show that by using the proposed SPR technique, the spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) can be tuned in the range of 97.3dBc to 122.4dBc under the best conditions. The optimized intermodulation distortion of the third order (IMD3) is −115.3dBc. By adding the extra SGN structure, we optimized the integral nonlinearity (INL) and differential nonlinearity (DNL) parameters of the DAC to 0.604LSB and 0.547LSB, respectively. Our design consumes 152mW at a working frequency of 1 GS/s, with an area of 0.62 mm2.

O disclosure de escândalos socioambientais e a reputação corporativa

ABSTRACT This research aimed to investigate the use of neutralization of disclosure of socio-environmental scandals and its relationship with corporate reputation. No studies were found observing the strategies and motivations of socio-environmental disclosure from a theoretical lens like the literature on neutralization techniques. This study sought its relevance by investigating the disclosure and reputation maintenance strategies used by companies involved in national socio-environmental scandals, identifying various paths for information neutralization, guided by the origin of each case and business motivations, in addition to highlighting empirical findings that stimulate the advance in research on neutralization techniques in corporate reports. The aim is to assist students and researchers by providing new evidence for corporate processes that involve socio-environmental disclosure strategies and reputational management. As well as contribute to ensuring that stakeholders see voluntary socio-environmental information better and in a well-founded manner, seeking to qualify decision-making. Corporations involved in the main national socio-environmental scandals between 2014 and 2021 were analyzed. This is an exploratory and quali-quantitative study, with content analysis and statistical tests to investigate socio-environmental scandals. Neutralization techniques were identified in information from voluntary corporate reports by companies involved in socio-environmental scandals. In addition to finding a positive correlation between neutralized disclosure and the reputation of these companies in the year the scandal took place and in the year after, there was also an increased use of techniques after the event. We hope to contribute to the literature by proposing the insertion of neutralization techniques in the investigation of strategies involving voluntary disclosure and corporate reputation. With a practical approach, we seek to build a rather critical view regarding voluntary reports and business mechanisms that may disqualify the information contained in them.