Affleck-Dine Baryogenesis, Split Supersymmetry, and Inflation

It is shown that, in the context of split supersymmetry, a simple model with a single complex scalar field can produce chaotic inflation and generate the observed amount of baryon asymmetry via the Affleck-Dine mechanism. While the inflaton quantum fluctuations give rise to curvature perturbation, we show that quantum fluctuations of the phase of the scalar field can produce baryonic isocurvature perturbation. Combining with constraints from WMAP data, all parameters in the model can be determined to within a narrow range.Comment: version accepted for publication in PR

Understanding violence against Chinese women in Hong Kong: An analysis of risk factors with a special emphasis on the role of in-law conflict

This study examines risk factors of intimate partner violence against women in a cohort of Chinese women drawn from a large representative sample in Hong Kong. Data from a cross-section of 1,870 women are analyzed. Prevalence rates of women's self-reports of violence by their intimate partners and conflict with in-laws are computed and compared in terms of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. The results show that in-law conflict was the characteristic most significantly associated with women's reports of violent victimization. This suggests that in-law conflict should be included in the screening and assessment of risk for intimate partner violence. © 2008 Sage Publications.postprin

The encapsulation and controlled release of proteins from “meltable” chemically cross-linked hydrogels

\ua9 2024 The Authors. Journal of Applied Polymer Science published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.Chemically crosslinked hydrogels can be used for the controlled delivery of therapeutic proteins, however, cargo loading can be challenging. A common approach involves performing the hydrogel crosslinking step in the presence of the cargo proteins, however, this can require the utilization of selective chemistries to ensure the cargos do not chemically react with the forming hydrogel network. We demonstrate that chemically crosslinked hydrogels based upon the protein polymer Capsular antigen fragment 1 (Caf1) can be used to encapsulate proteins within a chemically crosslinked hydrogel network. This encapsulation exploits the “meltable” feature of Caf1 hydrogels, where upon heating the Caf1 protein unfolds with concomitant depolymerization of the hydrogel network. Protein cargos can be loaded into the “molten” form of the hydrogel which cools with protein refolding and concomitant reformation of the hydrogel network to entrap the cargos, ensuring a more homogenous dispersion of the cargo. Analysis of release profiles indicated lower burst release in comparison to release from identical hydrogels loaded by an absorption method. This work is significant because it suggest that the “meltable” feature of Caf1 hydrogels may present an improved method of loading protein cargos into crosslinked hydrogel networks whilst avoiding the need for crosslinking chemistries

Correlates of in-law conflict and intimate partner violence against chinese pregnant women in Hong Kong

This study examines correlates of in-law conflict with intimate partner violence (IPV) against pregnant women in a cohort of Chinese pregnant women who visited antenatal clinics in Hong Kong. This was a territory-wide, cross-sectional study of 3,245 pregnant women recruited from seven hospitals in Hong Kong. Participants were invited to complete the Chinese Abuse Assessment Screen and a demographic questionnaire. About 9% of the pregnant women reported having been abused by their partners in the preceding year. In-law conflict was the characteristic most significantly associated with preceding-year abuse against pregnant women, after controlling for covariates. Findings underscore the need to obtain information on in-law conflict as a risk factor for IPV. In-law conflict should be included in the assessment of risk for IPV. For the prevention of IPV, family-based intervention is needed to work with victims as well as in-laws. © 2009 Sage Publications.postprin

Violence against pregnant women can increase the risk of child abuse: A longitudinal study

Objective: To assess the impact of intimate partner violence (IPV) against pregnant women on subsequent perpetration of child abuse and neglect (CAN) by parents; and to test the mediation effect of recent IPV on the link between IPV during pregnancy and subsequent CAN. Methods: This study was a longitudinal follow-up of a population-based study on pregnancy IPV conducted in antenatal clinics in 7 public hospitals in Hong Kong in 2005. Of all participants in the 2005 study, we recruited 487 women (with 184 having reported pregnancy IPV in the 2005 study) with newborn babies for a follow-up telephone interview in 2008. Participants responded to the Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS), the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale, and some questions assessing demographic information. Results: The most common form of physical violence was corporal punishment, with a prevalence rate of 75.1% in the preceding year and 75.4% over their lifetime. Physical maltreatment was less likely to be reported, accounting for 4.7% in the preceding year and 4.9% over their lifetime. The preceding-year and lifetime prevalence rates of neglect were 11.3% and 11.5%, respectively. Findings from logistic regression analyses showed that IPV experienced by participants during pregnancy was associated with greater odds of both lifetime (aOR. =. 1.74) and preceding-year child physical maltreatment (aOR. =. 1.78). Results of the regression analyses also provided supportive evidence for the mediation effect of recent IPV victimization on the relationship between IPV during pregnancy and recent CAN against children. Conclusion: IPV against women during pregnancy predicted subsequent CAN on newborns in Chinese populations. This underscores the importance of screening pregnant women for IPV in order to prevent CAN at an early stage. Home visitations are suggested to break the cycle of violence within a nuclear family. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.postprin

Associating pregnancy with partner violence against Chinese women

The present study discusses if pregnancy is a risk factor for intimate partner violence using a large, representative sample containing detailed information on partner violence including physical and sexual abuse as well as perpetrator-related risk factors. Data from a representative sample of 2,225 men were analyzed. The self-reported prevalence of men's violence against their female partners was computed and compared in terms of demographic, behavioral, and relationship characteristics. The preceding-year prevalence of physical assault, sexual violence, and "any violence or injury" among the group whose partners were pregnant was 11.9%, 9.1%, and 18.8%, respectively. This is significantly higher than the nonpregnant group. Pregnancy was significantly associated with increased odds of violence, including physical assault, sexual violence, and "any violence or injury" (ORs = 2.42, 2.42, and 2.60, respectively). Having controlled for relationship characteristics including social desirability, social support, in-law conflict, dominance, and jealousy of male perpetrators, pregnancy was significantly associated with "any violence or injury." Demographic and behavioral variables accounted for pregnant women's significantly higher odds of having been abused in the year preceding the data collection. This study provides preliminary findings on the association between pregnancy and partner violence. Our findings underscore the need to screen for violence among pregnant women in clinical health care settings as well as in communities. Perpetrator-related risk factors should be included in the assessment of risk for partner violence against pregnant women. For the prevention of intimate partner violence, family-based intervention is needed to work with victims as well as perpetrators. © The Author(s) 2011.postprin

Psychological intimate partner abuse among Chinese women: What we know and what we still need to know

Although increasing attention has been given to psychological abuse in intimate partner relationships, relatively little is known about this complex problem among Chinese women. A better understanding of psychological abuse in Chinese intimate relationships is warranted because Chinese culture is shame-oriented. Women, therefore, may be more susceptible to shameful feelings induced by psychological abuse. This may explain why psychological abuse, in the absence of physical and/or sexual abuse, has such adverse mental health effects on Chinese women. In this paper, what is known about psychological abuse in Chinese intimate relationships and what still needs to be known are highlighted, together with the mental health impact. Implications for future research are also presented.published_or_final_versio

Life-course origins of social inequalities in adult immune cell markers of inflammation in a developing southern Chinese population: the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic position (SEP) throughout life is associated with cardiovascular disease, though the mechanisms linking these two are unclear. It is also unclear whether there are critical periods in the life course when exposure to better socioeconomic conditions confers advantages or whether SEP exposures accumulate across the whole life course. Inflammation may be a mechanism linking socioeconomic position (SEP) with cardiovascular disease. In a large sample of older residents of Guangzhou, in southern China, we examined the association of life course SEP with inflammation. METHODS: In baseline data on 9,981 adults (>/= 50 years old) from the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study (2006-08), we used multivariable linear regression and model fit to assess the associations of life course SEP at four stages (childhood, early adult, late adult and current) with white blood, granulocyte and lymphocyte cell counts. RESULTS: A model including SEP at all four life stages best explained the association of life course SEP with white blood and granulocyte cell count for men and women, with early adult SEP (education) making the largest contribution. A critical period model best explained the association of life course SEP with lymphocyte count, with sex-specific associations. Early adult SEP was negatively associated with lymphocytes for women. CONCLUSIONS: Low SEP throughout life may negatively impact late adult immune-inflammatory status. However, some aspects of immune-inflammatory status may be sensitive to earlier exposures, with sex-specific associations. The findings were compatible with the hypothesis that in a developing population, upregulation of the gonadotropic axis with economic development may obscure the normally protective effects of social advantage for men.published_or_final_versio

Assessing mucoadhesion in polymer gels : The effect of method type and instrument variables

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).The process of mucoadhesion has been widely studied using a wide variety of methods, which are influenced by instrumental variables and experiment design, making the comparison between the results of different studies difficult. The aim of this work was to standardize the conditions of the detachment test and the rheological methods of mucoadhesion assessment for semisolids, and introduce a texture profile analysis (TPA) method. A factorial design was developed to suggest standard conditions for performing the detachment force method. To evaluate the method, binary polymeric systems were prepared containing poloxamer 407 and Carbopol 971P®, Carbopol 974P®, or Noveon® Polycarbophil. The mucoadhesion of systems was evaluated, and the reproducibility of these measurements investigated. This detachment force method was demonstrated to be reproduceable, and gave different adhesion when mucin disk or ex vivo oral mucosa was used. The factorial design demonstrated that all evaluated parameters had an effect on measurements of mucoadhesive force, but the same was not observed for the work of adhesion. It was suggested that the work of adhesion is a more appropriate metric for evaluating mucoadhesion. Oscillatory rheology was more capable of investigating adhesive interactions than flow rheology. TPA method was demonstrated to be reproducible and can evaluate the adhesiveness interaction parameter. This investigation demonstrates the need for standardized methods to evaluate mucoadhesion and makes suggestions for a standard study design.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio