Regular Relationship Research Articles

Morphologic Manifestations of Gene-Specific Molecular Alterations (“Genetic Addictions”) in Mouse Models of Disease

Neoplasia in both animals and humans results in part from lasting activation of tumor-promoting genes ("oncogenes") or diminished function of genes responsible for preventing neoplastic induction ("tumor suppressor genes"). The concept of "genetic addiction" has emerged to indicate that neoplastic cells cannot maintain a malignant phenotype without sustained genotypic abnormalities related to aberrant activity of oncogene(s) and/or inactivity of tumor suppressor gene(s). Interestingly, some genetic abnormalities reliably produce distinct morphologic patterns that can be used as structural signatures indicating the presence of a specific molecular alteration. Examples of such consistent genetic/microanatomic pairings have been identified for mutated oncogenes, such as rising mucin-producing capacity with RAS overexpression, and mutated tumor suppressor genes-including PTEN eliciting cell hypertrophy, RB1 dictating neuroendocrine differentiation, and TRP53 encouraging sarcomatous transformation. Familiarity with the concept of genetic addiction, as well as the ability to recognize such regular genomic-phenotypic relationships, are of paramount importance for comparative pathologists who are engaged in phenotyping genetically engineered mice to help unravel genomic intricacies in both health and disease.

Australian Gay Men Who Have Taken Nonoccupational Postexposure Prophylaxis for HIV Are in Need of Effective HIV Prevention Methods

Gay men who request nonoccupational postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) may seek preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) should this become available. We explored trends and predictors of PEP use among Australian gay men to inform future biomedical prevention programs. We used 2001-2010 data from Gay Community Periodic Surveys in 3 Eastern Australian states and assessed PEP awareness and use in the 6 months before each survey, and among HIV-uninfected men in all surveys predictors of PEP use. Analytical methods included chi-square test for trend and multivariate log-binomial estimation of associations. The awareness of PEP significantly increased from 23% in 2001 to 64% in 2010. PEP use also increased from 2.3% to 3.9%, respectively. PEP use was significantly associated with being in a regular relationship with an HIV-serodiscordant partner, higher number of sex partners, engaging in anal intercourse with casual partners, and regularly testing for HIV/sexually transmitted infections. However, fewer than 8% of men who engaged in these practices reported PEP use. Our findings highlight the profiles of current PEP users: men in HIV-serodiscordant relationships, and men having high numbers of casual partners and unprotected anal intercourse with them. These men are in need of effective HIV prevention strategies and may be receptive to preexposure prophylaxis in the future. Presently, targeted HIV education to improve risk assessment skills may prevent some seroconversions through the appropriate use of PEP.

Erkek İnfertilitesinin Sitogenetiği

Infertility by definition, is not to get pregnant within one year of regular sexual relationship without protection, affects 15-20% of reproductive age couples. Approximately 30% of infertility cases are male originated. Male infertility is caused by endocrine-related genetic defects affecting urogenital system function. These defects adversely affect subsequent spermatogenesis, sexual function, fertility, early embryonic stage of sexual maturation. Autosomal and gonosomal, numerical and structural chromosome abnormalities and related syndromes rank at the top causes of male infertility. Similar chromosome abnormalities are detected in male infertility and as the rate of these abnormalities increase, it was found to reduce sperm count especially in azospermic and oligozoospermic men.

Biodegradation of Polyethylene Composites Based on Starch and Ultra-Disperse Metal Particles

This paper presents a modification of biodegradable polymers with highly-disperse metals, for example Fe/FeO or Fe2O3 (Z), with nano-sized particles. During the course of the work, biodegradable polyethylene composites with the composition PE-276 + Z + starch (Z = 0.1% by wt, starch from 2.5 to 10% by wt) were produced. Studies were made of the rheological and deformation/strength characteristics of the composites produced. A regular relationship was identified between the rate and extent of biodegradation and the percentage starch content in the composites.

Biodegradation of Polyethylene Composites Based on Starch and Ultra-Disperse Metal Particles

This paper presents a modification of biodegradable polymers with highly-disperse metals, for example Fe/FeO or Fe2O3 (Z), with nano-sized particles. During the course of the work, biodegradable polyethylene composites with the composition PE-276 + Z + starch (Z = 0.1% by wt, starch from 2.5 to 10% by wt) were produced. Studies were made of the rheological and deformation/strength characteristics of the composites produced. A regular relationship was identified between the rate and extent of biodegradation and the percentage starch content in the composites.

Biodiversity conservation, loss of natural capital and interest rates

It is argued that there is neither regular relationship between changes in the level of the market rate of interest and variations in the rate of biodiversity loss nor does such a regular relationship occur between alterations in the market rate of interest and changes in the rate of natural resource extraction. However, some texts suggest otherwise. Microeconomic examples are given in which a rise in the market rate of interest results in increased biodiversity loss and others in which it does not. It is also posited that the rate of biodiversity loss (as well as the rate of natural resource extraction) tends to rise with the level of aggregate investment and aggregate economic activity. It is demonstrated, using macroeconomic models, that the market rate of interest can increase or decrease with a rise in aggregate investment and also with an increase in the level of aggregate economic activity. Therefore, changes in biodiversity loss (and in the rate of natural resource extraction) are independent of variations in the market rate of interest in macroeconomic models.

Rates of condom and non-condom-based anal intercourse practices among homosexually active men in Australia: deliberate HIV risk reduction?

ObjectiveThree decades into the HIV epidemic and with the advancement of HIV treatments, condom and non-condom-based anal intercourse among gay men in resource-rich countries needs to be re-assessed.MethodsThe proportions of...

Synthesis of thermally stable polyamides with pendant 1,3,4-oxadiazole units via direct polycondensation in ionic liquids

The synthesis of high molecular weight polyamides by using 1-methyl-3-alkyl imidazolium bromides (alkyl = C3–C8) as reaction media has been reported. Polymers were prepared from the reaction of 2-(5-(3,5-diaminophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-yl)pyridine, POBD, and aromatic/aliphatic dicarboxylic acids in ionic liquids in the presence of triphenyl phosphite as a condensing agent without requiring any extra components such as CaCl2 or pyridine. The number average molecular weight of the polymers was measured by vapor pressure osmometry. The effects of various reaction parameters such as alkyl chain length of ionic liquids, reaction temperature, and reaction time on the molecular weight were investigated. No regular relationship between inherent viscosity or molecular weight with the alkyl chain length in the ionic liquid was observed; however, the highest molecular weight was observed in 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium bromide. The thermal properties of the prepared polymers were also studied with DSC and TGA methods. Removal of Co2+ from aqueous solutions was performed using polymer (7).

Negotiation of risk in sexual relationships and reproductive decision-making amongst HIV sero-different couples

The paper focuses on the ways in which medical discourses of HIV transmission risk, personal bodily meanings and reproductive decision-making are re-negotiated within the context of sero-different relationships, in which one partner is known to be HIV-positive. Eighteen in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 individuals in Northern Ireland during 2008–2009. Drawing on an embodied sociological approach, the findings show that physical pleasure, love, commitment, a desire to conceive without medical interventions and a dislike of condoms within regular ongoing relationships, shaped individuals' sense of biological risk. In addition, the subjective logic that a partner had not previously become infected through unprotected sex prior to knowledge of HIV status and the added security of an undetectable viral load significantly impacted upon women's and, especially, men's decisions to have unprotected sex in order to conceive. The findings speak to the importance of reframing public health campaigns and clinical counselling discourses on HIV risk transmission to acknowledge how couples negotiate this risk, alongside pleasure and commitment within ongoing relationships.

Ein-Euro-Jobs und reguläre Beschäftigung / One-Euro-Jobs and Regular Employment

Summary The most widespread active labour market program in Germany is the so-called ‘One-Euro- Job’. Participants carry out social activities like caring for the elderly, city cleaning or environmental activities. The principal objective is to improve or maintain the employability of hard-to-place unemployed. However, there is a certain risk of within-firm substitution of regular employees by One-Euro-Job participants. The aim of the study is to identify such substitution effects in participating establishments. For this purpose I present some descriptive results from the survey ‘Experience with One-Euro-Jobs’. In a further step I use data from the IAB Establishment Panel 2004 to 2007 to identify substitution effects. To account for selectivity, I apply a difference-in-difference approach and propensity score matching. The empirical results indicate that regular employment relationships are not substituted by One-Euro-Jobs. This holds for West as well as for East Germany. However, the identification of within-firm substitution in the matching procedure requires that the program has no employment effect on the control group. Otherwise, substitution effects cannot be identified. For this reason, I provide evidence for potential displacement effects in the control group using a fixed-effects panel model. The results indicate that the control group is not affected by the program.

굵은 골재 최대치수 및 시멘트 종류에 따른 압축강도와 전단파 속도의 상관관계에 대한 실험적 연구

콘크리트에서 강도는 콘크리트의 물리적 특성을 평가할 수 있는 중요한 인자 중 하나이며 콘크리트에 가장 많은 부피를 차지하는 것이 골재이다. 또한 시멘트는 콘크리트 만드는 결합재로서 이 역시 강도와 매우 밀접한 관계가 있다. 이러한 골재와 시멘트의 특성이 콘크리트 압축강도와 전단파 속도의 상관관계에 미치는 영향을 파악하고자 굵은 골재 최대치수와 시멘트 종류별로 실험을 실시하였다. 시멘트는 1종 시멘트와 초속경 시멘트를 사용했고, 골재는 서로 다른 지역의 3가지 골재를 사용하였다. 골재의 입도는 굵은 골재 최대치수 19mm와 13mm의 단입도 골재를 사용하여 동일 배합시 압축강도와 전단파 속도의 상관관계를 살펴보았다. 또한 골재의 특성을 정량화 하고자 LA마모시험을 실시하였다. 그 결과 압축강도와 전단파 속도의 상관관계는 시멘트 종류에 따라 달랐으나, 골재의 종류, 입도 및 마모감량에 관계없이 일정한 상관성을 보이는 것으로 나타났다. Strength is one of the very important factors to evaluate the physical properties of concrete. Aggregate forms the most parts in concrete. Cement as a binder in concrete is also closely related to strength. This experiment was tested to understand the effect of the characteristics of aggregate and cement on the relationship between concrete compressive strength and Shear Wave velocity. It was experimented by the different types of cement and maximum coarse aggregate sizes. Type I cement and rapid setting cement was used. Aggregates from three different regions were used. Aggregate of 19mm and 13mm maximum coarse aggregate sizes was used for grading. The relationship between compressive strength and Shear Wave velocity was tested under the condition of same mixture. LA wear test was used to quantify the characteristics of aggregate. As a result, the relationship between concrete compressive strength and Shear Wave velocity was affected by the types of cement, but regular relationship was appeared regardless of types of aggregate, grading and abrasion ratio.

Living serodiscordantly in Papua New Guinea: sexual practices of HIV-positive people on ART by serostatus of regular heterosexual partner

This paper examines condom use in intimate relationships amongst Papua New Guineans on antiretroviral therapy (ART). These findings are from a mixed-method study in six provinces throughout Papua New Guinea (PNG). A total of 374 HIV-positive adult Papua New Guineans, over the age of 16 and on ART for more than two weeks were recruited using a non-probability, convenience sampling methodology. Participants were recruited through ART prescribing sites, People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) drop-in clinics and support groups. A small number (36) also participated in in-depth interviews. Of the sample 226 (60.4%) were women and 148 (39.6%) were men. The majority of the sample was aged below 40 years, with a median age of 30 years. Of the sample who were in a regular relationship 64.7% identified themselves as being in a relationship where both they and their partner were HIV-positive (seroconcordant). Smaller proportions (21.0%) reported being in a relationship with a HIV-negative partner (serodiscordant), or in a relationship where they were not aware of their partner's HIV status (14.3%). The majority of participants who reported having a regular partner also reported having disclosed their HIV serostatus to their partner (91.8%). A significantly greater proportion of participants who reported being in relationships where they did not know the status of their partner, also reported living in the Southern Region of PNG (52.9%), while the majority of those in seroconcordant relationships lived in the Highlands Region (71.2%). There did not appear to be any differences in sexual practice of using condoms between the three groups. Knowledge of serostatus is important for “positive prevention”.

Sexual and Relationship Satisfaction Among Heterosexual Men and Women: The Importance of Desired Frequency of Sex

Little is known of the extent to which heterosexual couples are satisfied with their current frequency of sex and the degree to which this predicts overall sexual and relationship satisfaction. A population-based survey of 4,290 men and 4,366 women was conducted among Australians aged 16 to 64 years from a range of sociodemographic backgrounds, of whom 3,240 men and 3,304 women were in regular heterosexual relationships. Only 46% of men and 58% of women were satisfied with their current frequency of sex. Dissatisfied men were overwhelmingly likely to desire sex more frequently; among dissatisfied women, only two thirds wanted sex more frequently. Age was a significant factor but only for men, with those aged 35–44 years tending to be least satisfied. Men and women who were dissatisfied with their frequency of sex were also more likely to express overall lower sexual and relationship satisfaction. The authors’ findings not only highlight desired frequency of sex as a major factor in satisfaction, but also reveal important gender and other sociodemographic differences that need to be taken into account by researchers and therapists seeking to understand and improve sexual and relationship satisfaction among heterosexual couples. Other issues such as length of time spent having sex and practices engaged in may also be relevant, particularly for women.

Application of Sphygmography to Detection of Dyspepsia and the Rhinitis

Diagnosis by radial arterial pulse is very important in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of detection time and position on the parameters of time- and frequency-domain of radial pulse wave and to differentiate between Dyspepsia and Rhinitis by the statistical analysis of two signal types. A sphygmograph was developed to record radial pressure pulse for spectral analysis. The measurements were expressed as the pressure wave and its frequency. In this study, 135 subjects including the controls, Dyspepsias and Rhinitis were enrolled in this study. The signals were taken from three diagnosis positions of both wrists. Seven parameters of pressure wave and two parameters of spectrum analysis were evaluated by ANOVA test and Tukey's test. The results showed that the effects of detection time and position on the parameters taken from pulse wave were inconsistent. No regular rules or relationship could be established. The power spectra of 10-50 Hz and 13-50 Hz from sphygmography revealed a significant effect of health status, position and their interaction. There was a significant difference in the power spectra of 13-50 Hz between the control and Rhinitis, as well as between the control and Dyspepsia at right Guan position. The results of this study strongly suggest that the spectrum of sphygmogram might be more helpful than the pressure wave signals for detection of Dyspepsia and Rhinitis.

Electrodeposition and Characterization of Nanocrystalline Ni-Fe Alloys

Nanocrystalline Ni-Fe deposits with different composition and grain sizes were fabricated by electrodeposition. Deposits with iron contents in the range from 7 to 31% were obtained by changing the Ni2+/Fe2+mass ratio in the electrolyte. The deposits were found to be nanocrystalline with average grain size in the range 20–30 nm. The surface morphology was found to be dependent on Ni2+/Fe2+mass ratio as well as electroplating time. The grains size decreased with increasing the iron content, especially in case of short time electroplating. Increasing the electroplating time had no significant effect on grain size. The microhardness of the materials followed the regular Hall-Petch relationship with a maximum value (762 Hv) when applying Ni2+/Fe2+mass ratio equal to 9.8.

Characterization of the Hydrogeological Conditions of Some Portions of the Neoproterozoic Voltaian Supergroup in Northern Ghana

Spatial variations in the essential aquifer parameters obtained through regular aquifer tests were evaluated for some aquifers of the Neoproterozoic sedimentary aquifers of the Voltaian Basin. Ordinary least squares regression models have also been developed to relate aquifer transmissivity and specific capacity, and well yield and transmissivity. These analyses suggest that in the northern parts of the Voltaian, aquifer transmissivity exists in a non-linear relationship with specific capacity and yield. This is in keeping with the findings of previous research in the southern part of the Voltaian, and deviates from the regular Dupuit-Thiem relationship between the two major aquifer parameters. Lithology specific models have been developed in this study. The exponent of the non-linear models appears to be related to the lithology, and tends to approach unity in the mudstone and siltstone aquifers, whilst manifesting obvious departures from nonlinearity amongst the sandstone aquifers. This study finds that the sandstone aquifers are the most prolific and offer themselves as the best lithologies for drilling successful wells in the area. Linear prediction maps suggest that the most prolific aquifers are located in the northern parts of the study area, where aquifer transmissivity, specific capacity, and well yield values are quite high due to enhanced secondary permeabilities. There has been no obvious relationship between the major aquifer parameters and static water levels, which are quite high in the middle and western sections of the study area. The hydrogeological properties of rocks within the Voltaian appear to be based on discrete structural entities which manifest high variability in the study area. Even within the same lithology, standard deviations are quite high in the data for all the aquifer parameters examined in this study.

SEDIMENT HAZARD ANALYSIS BASED ON ANTECEDENT RECIPITATION INDEX AND REGIONAL DATA IN TOKYO

We have evaluated relationship between sediment hazard, regional geomorphic properties and heavy rainfall in Tokyo. It tried to clarify regional characteristic of the sediment hazard by using spatial numeric information. The antecedent precipitation index was used sediment analysis as heavy rainfall condition. The results obtained are as follows; 1) It was clarified that the sediment hazard have a greater tendency to long term rainfall than short term heavy rainfall. 2) It shows a regular relationship between relief energy and antecedent precipitation index in case of sediment hazard evaluation excepting the complex geo geological condition.

The relationship between the canonical ENSO and the phase transition of the Antarctic oscillation at the quasi-quadrennial timescale

A correlation analysis is performed to investigate the relationship between El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Antarctic oscillation (AAO) at the quasi-quadrennial (QQ) timescale. It is found that the cold tongue index (CTI) and the AAO index (AAOI) are negatively correlated with about a 7-month lead-time, while they are positively correlated with about a 15-month lag-time. To further explore this relationship, complex empirical orthogonal function analysis is employed in the QQ sea level pressure (SLP) anomalies from 1951 to 2002. The results indicate that, during the ENSO cycle, there exists one kind of global tropical wave of wavenumber 1 (GTW1) propagating eastward. With the traveling of GTW1, the tropical SLP anomaly tends to intrude into the southern mid-latitudes. Accordingly, three strong signals travel synchronously along the circum-South-Pacific path, and a relatively weak signal extends eastward and poleward over the South Ocean in the Atlantic-Indian Ocean sector. Following the propagation of these signals, the AAO phase tends to be reversed progressively. As a result, there exists an evident lead-lag correlation between CTI and AAOI. It can be concluded that ENSO plays a key role in the phase transition of AAO at the QQ timescale. It is also noticed that this regular relationship is only evident in the canonical ENSO events, for which sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies extend westward from the tropical eastern Pacific. On the other hand, the similar relationships are not found among those atypical ENSO events for which SST anomalies spread eastward from the central Pacific, such as the 1982–1983 ENSO event.

Electrical measurement of spin Hall current in mesoscopic ring: inhomogeneous Rashba effect

We investigate theoretically the spin Hall current in an inhomogeneous Rashba mesoscopic ring attached to four terminals. It is shown that a voltage drop can be tuned by adjusting the gate voltage due to the inhomogeneous Rashba effect, and provides us a tool to measure spin Hall current electrically. The spin Hall current and the ratio of the probe voltages can survive and keep their obvious relationship even in the presence of disorder. The regular relationship between the spin Hall conductance and the ratio of the probe voltages will be destroyed by the interference between different channels in multi-channel ring.

Is Sexual Contact a Major Mode of Hepatitis C Virus Transmission?

Medical opinion varies considerably regarding the transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) through sexual contact. Based on the study design, representativeness of the study population, and the methods used for case ascertainment, we analyzed 80 qualifying reports regarding the evidence for or against sexual transmission. Regarding heterosexual transmission, the weight of evidence is that there is no increased risk of sexual transmission of HCV among heterosexual couples in regular relationships. This risk increases among persons with multiple sexual partners (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.2-2.9), but this association may be confounded by increased likelihood of injection drug use with increased number of partners. There appears to be a real increased risk for women coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or other sexually transmitted infections (aOR 3.3-3.9) and especially for HIV-infected gay men who are having sex with one another compared with HIV-uninfected men (aOR 4.1-5.7). HIV-infected gay men increase their risk of such transmission in association with practices that lead to mucosal trauma (multiple sexual partners, fisting, use of sex toys) and the presence of genital ulcerative disease. This review should inform, and not distract from, recommendations to reduce the risk of HCV transmission. Health care providers need to pay special attention to sexual transmission of HCV among HIV-infected individuals.