Comparison Of Levels Research Articles

The Influences from Comparison Level and Comparison Level for Alternatives on the Dating Relationship Stability, and Mediating Effects from the Commitment among the College Students: An Application of the Interdependence Theory

This study investigates factors that impact dating relationship stability(DRS) among college students by applying two key concepts from the Interdependence Theory suggested by Kelly & Thibaut (1978; Thibaut & Kelly, 1959), the comparison level(CL) and comparison level for alternatives(CLalt). This study also examined mediating effects of commitment on the relationship between CL and DRS and CLalt and DRS. The research used a survey data set drawn from 327 college students currently involved in a dating relationship. The collected data set was then analyzed using SPSS software ver. 23.0 and AMOS software ver. 25.0, to produce the descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlations, and path analysis with bootstrapping. First, both CL and CLalt had a significant direct impact on DRS. In terms of effect size, CL’s effect size was comparatively larger than CLalt’s. The mediating effects from the commitment were evidenced. In the model, the commitment partially mediated the relationships between CL and DRS, and CLalt and DRS. The findings suggest that commitment still plays a key role in dating relationships among college students who currently have a romantic partner. The findings of this study show the possibilities in applying the concepts and theory of interdependence to explain current dating relationships among young adults.

AMELIORATIVE EFFECT OF SODIUM VALPROATE IN COMBINATION WITH JUGLANS REGIA FRUIT EXTRACT AGAINST PENTYLENETETRAZOLE INDUCED CONVULSIONS IN MICE

Epilepsy is a complex neurological disorder characterized by hypersecretion of excitatory neurotransmitters in the brain. Level ofantioxidant enzymes in the brain changes during seizure. There are many herbal supplements that posses antioxidant potential and might help inprevention and recovery of seizures when used as an adjunct with modern antiepileptic drugs. Objective: The present work was undertaken toevaluate the Ameliorative effect of Sodium valproate in combination with Juglans regia extract against Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) inducedconvulsions in mice. Materials and Methods: Juglans regia ethanolic extract (JREE) were administered at doses of (200mg/kg and 400 mg/kgp.o) and Sodium Valproate (500mg/kg p.o.) one hour before the administration of PTZ (80mg/kg i.p.). Brain tissues were screened for MDA,Catalase, GSH and protein estimation. Result and Discussion: Administration of JREE in the low and high dose prolongs the onset of myoclonicjerks dose-dependently and also showed protection against PTZ-induced convulsions. PTZ induced seizures caused a significant increase in MDAlevels and a significant decrease in GSH and catalase levels in PTZ group as compared to the vehicle control group. Juglans regia pre-treatmentprevented the oxidative stress as indicated by significant decrease in MDA levels and significant increase in GSH and catalse levels incomparison to PTZ group. Conclusion: The present study showed ameliorative effect of combination of Sodium Valproate in anticonvulsantactivity of ethanolic extract of Juglans regia fruit against PTZ induced seizures and also its protective effect against seizure induced oxidativestress.

Levels of antibodies 2F5directed against conserved epitopes in gp41 association with progression in HIV-1-infectedindividuals in China

：Objective To study thelevels of 2F5-like antibody recognized gp41 conserved epitope of HIV-1-infectedindividuals in China,explore the influence of 2F5-like antibody on disease progression ofHIV-1 infected individuals.Methods Direct ELISA was developed for the specific comparisonof levels of antibodies against gp41 and 4 (ELDKWA)-C peptides sera from HIV-1-infectedindividuals.Peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) were isolated from HIV-seronegativedonors.Multi-round PBMC neutralization assays were performed with HIV-1 isolate SF33.Thesupernatant p24-Ag of HIV was analyzed.Results Levels of 2F5-like antibodies in the slowprogressor (SP) plasma were significantly higher than those in typical progressor(TP)(P<0.05).There was significant correlation with the levels of 2F5 neutralizingantibody and gp41 antibodies(r=0.406,P<0.05).Conclusion The levels of 2F5-likeantibodies may influence on disease progression of HIV-infected individuals.The highlevels of neutralizing antibodies may arrest disease from progressing.

Periodicities in solar coronal mass ejections

ABSTRACT Mid-term quasi-periodicities in solar coronal mass ejections (CMEs) during the mostrecent solar maximum cycle 23 are reported here for the first time using the four-year data (February 5, 1999 to February 10, 2003) of the Large Angle SpectrometricCoronagraph (LASCO) onboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). Inparallel, mid-term quasi-periodicities in solar X-ray flares (class >M5.0) from theGeosynchronous Operational Environment Satellites (GOES) and in daily averages ofAp index for geomagnetic disturbances from the World Data Center (WDC) at theInternationalAssociation for Geomagnetism andAeronomy (IAGA)are alsoexaminedfor the same four-year time span. By Fourier power spectral analyses, the CME dataappears to contain significant power peaks at periods of ∼ 358 ± 38, ∼ 272 ± 26,∼ 196±13 days and so forth, while except for the ∼ 259±24-day period, X-ray solarflares of class >∼ M5.0 show the familiar Rieger-type quasi-periods at ∼ 157 ± 11,∼ 122± 5, ∼ 98±3 days and shorter ones until ∼ 34±0.5 days. In the data of dailyaverages of Ap index, the two significant peaks at periods ∼ 273±26 and ∼ 187±12days (the latter is most prominent) could imply that CMEs (periods at ∼ 272±26and∼ 196 ± 13 days) may be proportionally correlated with quasi-periodic geomagneticstorm disturbances; at the speculative level, the ∼ 138 ± 6-day period might implythat X-ray flares of class >∼ M5.0 (period at ∼ 157±11 days) may drive certain typesof geomagnetic disturbances; and the ∼ 28±0.2-day periodicity is most likely causedby recurrent high-speed solar winds at the Earth’s magnetosphere. For the same threedata sets, we further perform Morlet wavelet analysis to derive period-time contoursand identify wavelet power peaks and timescales at the 99 percent confidence level forcomparisons. Several conceptual aspects of possible equatorially trapped Rossby-typewaves at and beneath the solar photosphere are discussed.Key words: oscillations — space weather — Sun: activities — corona — coronalmass ejections — magnetic fields

The Relative Influences of Primary and Secondary Particulates to Urban Air Quality in the United Kingdom

This study uses a combination of data from U.K. monitoringstations and from modelling undertaken with the U.K.Meteorological Office's NAME Model to investigate therelative influences of primary and secondary particulateson total PM10 levels at sites in the United Kingdom. Co-located PM10 and sulphate aerosol measurementsindicate that sulphate has a disproportionately largeinfluence on the variation of PM10 levels incomparison to its contribution to their total mass.Comparisons of measured PM10 at urban centre, roadsideand rural sites suggest that local primary sources havevery little influence on daily mean levels. NAME has beenused to model both primary particles and sulphate aerosolfrom sources across the whole of Europe. The discrepanciesbetween modelled and observed PM10 suggest that coarseparticles, such as windblown dust and resuspended roaddust,may comprise a very large, if not dominant, proportion ofobserved PM10 levels. The apparently minor role ofprimary particles (especially locally-sourced ones) raisesa number of issues regarding the suitability of current U.K.and European legislation to addressing the particle problem.

Gonadal and hormonal phenology in free-living male rufous whistlers, Pachycephala rufiventris (Passeriformes : Pachycephalidae)

The hormonal and gonadal profiles of the few Australian old endemic passerine species studied to date have exhibited less annual variation in gonad size, reduced amplitude in testosterone (T) and luteinising hormone (LH) levels in comparison with those exhibited by many predominantly migratory species from the north temperate zone. Because none of the Australian endemics studied to date were migratory species, we studied a migratory population of rufous whistlers in central western New South Wales to determine whether differences in life history might be associated with different gonadal and hormonal profiles. Breeding stages were classified into five functional categories: territory/pair establishment, nest building, incubation, feeding nestlings/fledglings and post-breeding. We captured adult males at all breeding stages, examined their gonadal status through unilateral laparotomy, collected a blood sample and assessed this for plasma T and LH content using radioimmunoassay. Both hormones peaked early in the breeding season: LH levels during territory/pair establishment at 2.8 ng/mL 1.7 (s.d.) and T levels during nest building at 1.8 ng/mL 1.6 (s.d.). Following incubation LH and T (in particular) levels decreased substantially with the onset of parental duties – whilst feeding nestlings/fledglings T was 0.1 ng/mL 0.1 (s.d.), and LH was 1.6 ng/mL 1.2 (s.d.). This temporal variation in hormone secretion and an observed synchronous peak in gonad size at nest-building is reminiscent of migratory species from the north temperate zone displaying biparental care. Peak concentrations of both plasma T and LH in whistlers were intermediate between those reported for passerines from the north temperate zone with a similar life history and sedentary Australian old endemic passerines examined to date. This possibly reflects differences in life-history traits, the functional use of T in this species and/or possible phyletic effects.

Sexual satisfaction in long‐term heterosexual relationships: The interpersonal exchange model of sexual satisfaction

AbstractThis study examined the validity of the Interpersonal Exchange Model of Sexual Satisfaction (IEMSS) in long‐term, heterosexual sexual relationships. The IEMSS proposes that sexual satisfaction depends on one's levels of rewards and costs in the sexual relationship, one's comparison levels (CL) for rewards/costs, and one's perceptions of the dyadic equality (EQ) of these rewards/costs. Sexual satisfaction is expected to be greater to the extent that, over time, levels of rewards (REW) exceed levels of costs (CST), relative reward levels (CLREW) exceed relative cost levels (CLcst), and interpersonal equality of rewards (EQrew) and of costs (EQCST) is perceived to exist. Married/cohabiting community volunteers and university alumni/staff completed two questionnaires, 3 months apart. The results obtained from this well‐educated, relationally satisfied sample (N= 143) provided excellent support for the IEMSS. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that each component of the model (REW ‐ CST, CLrew ‐ CLcst, and EQrew, EQcst) added to the prediction of sexual satisfaction as expected, accounting for 75% of the variance. Repeated measurement of the IEMSS components offered a better prediction of sexual satisfaction than a one‐time measure alone. Neither gender nor relationship satisfaction interacted with the IEMSS components. However, including relationship satisfaction (but not gender) in the model significantly improved the prediction of sexual satisfaction. It was concluded that the model should be revised to include relationship satisfaction. Both the exchange components of the IEMSS and sexual satisfaction uniquely predicted relationship satisfaction. The IEMSS offers a promising approach for understanding sexual satisfaction and its relationship to relationship satisfaction, as well as for reconciling inconsistent findings in the literature.

Motivational bases in mixed-motive interactions: The effects of comparison levels

The relationship between reward level and the basic motives which underlie strategic choices (competitive and noncompetitive) in a mixed-motive game was examined from two theoretical perspectives. The “regret” interpretation proposed by McClintock and McNeel was compared to an approach based upon Thibout and Kelley's concept of comparison level (CL). Two independent variables, CL and Reward, were manipulated by varying the payoff rates in two playing series of the MDG. Initially, 50 iterations were played for high (4¢ per point) or low ( 1 5¢ per point) incentive to provide subjects with outcomes upon which to base their CL's. The Reward manipulation was introduced in 150 subsequent trials of the game with subjects playing for 8¢ or 1¢ per point. The results show that the absolute magnitude of reward did not influence the extent of cooperative or competitive behavior. On the other hand, the magnitude of reward relative to CL was significantly associated with the degree of cooperative behavior—supra-CL outcomes yielding a higher frequency of cooperative behavior than infra-CL outcomes.

Factors affecting the magnitude of subjective utility parameters in a tacit bargaining game

Eighty male and female high school students played a modified version of the Siegel and Fouraker (1960) bilateral monopoly game, designed to assess the effects of two variables upon the development of aspiration level (AL), comparison level (CL), and comparison level for alternatives (CL nlt), and the interrelationships among these three subjective-utility parameters. Magnitude of: (a) the offers made by a programmed bargaining opponent (high vs low), and (b) the alternative to the bargaining relationship (high vs low) was varied in a 2 × 2 design. Subjects receiving high offers bargained tougher, rated themselves as more satisfied with their outcomes and, in support of the hypothesis, set their AL, CL, and CL alt estimates higher than those receiving low offers. Contrary to expectation, however, AL, CL, and CL alt were set highest by subjects in the “high offer-low alternative” condition. When subjects' three subjective-utility estimates were considered in relation to one another, all condition differences disappeared. These latter findings were interpreted using notions drawn from Upshaw's (1969) variable perspective theory of judgment.