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Research on international relationships is plentiful but research on the roles of social contacts in international relationships has not been forthcoming. Additionally, recent research on companionate marriages suggests that couples who have relationships that mimic companionate marriages have weak ties to their community. This research uses participant narratives to understand the social network of internationally married couples and divorced individuals in an effort to understand the roles that social contacts may play in international marriages. The research findings challenge pre-existing arguments about the companionate model of marriage and suggest that simplistic marriage models are inadequate frameworks used to understand complex marriages.

Ohmic nanoswitches have been recently regarded to complement transistors in applications where electrical current leakage is becoming a problem. Although the solid state metal oxide silicon field effect transistor (MOSFET) has fueled a global technology revolution, it is now reaching its performance limits because of device leakage. To avoid electric field-induced damage in MOSFETs, operating voltage and hence threshold voltage must be reduced as linewidth is reduced. However, below a limit, the current cannot be turned off. The ohmic switch approach solves this problem because an air gap that separates the electrical contacts provides excellent electrical isolation when the relay is open. Some applications require these relays to perform billions to trillions of cycles, yet typical devices that are exposed to ambient environment degrade electrically after just a few thousand cycles. A critical challenge here is that trace amounts of volatile hydrocarbons in air adsorb on the electrical contact surfaces for a large variety of coating materials, causing an insulating deposit to form that prevents signal transmission during switch closure. We address this challenge by exploring the interactions of hydrocarbon contaminants with contact materials and operating environment on device lifetime. Our materials of choice are Pt, a common contact material in switch applications due to its resistance to wear, and RuO2, which is believed to be somewhat resistant to hydrocarbon adsorption. We test our devices in N2 and O2 background environments with controlled hydrocarbon contaminant concentrations. We illustrate that the insulating hydrocarbon deposit can be electrically broken down and its resistance lowered. We show how electrical contacts that have degraded electrically due to contamination can have their performance restored to the original level by actuating them in clean N2-O2 environment. It is then shown how this process creates a highly conductive carbonaceous deposit that protects the contact from wear. It is also v demonstrated that RuO2 does not exhibit contaminant-induced degradation even at very high hydrocarbon presence, as long as O2 is also present. These results show that even though the contaminant is ubiquitous in the environment, there are many ways to reduce its effect on ohmic switches.

Epithelial mesenchymal/-myofibroblast transition (EMT/EMyT) has emerged as one of the central mechanisms in wound healing and tissue fibrosis. The main feature of EMyT is the activation of a myogenic program, leading to the induction of the α-smooth-muscle actin (SMA) gene in the transitioning epithelium. Recent research suggests that intercellular contacts are not merely passive targets, but are active contributors to EMT/EMyT. Indeed, our group showed previously that contact uncoupling or injury is necessary for TGFβ to induce EMyT (two-hit paradigm). Further, our previous work also revealed that Smad3, the main TGFβ-regulated transcription factor, binds to the Myocardin Related Transcription Factor (MRTF), the prime driver of SMA promoter, and inhibits MRTF’s transcriptional activity. During EMyT, Smad3 eventually degrades, which liberates the MRTF-driven myogenic program. However the mechanisms whereby cell contacts regulate the fate of Smad3 and MRTF during EMyT are poorly understood. Accordingly, the central aim of my studies was to explore the role of intercellular contacts, in particular that of Adherens Junction (AJs) in the induction of the myogenic reprogramming of the injured epithelium. This thesis describes two novel molecular mechanisms through which AJs impact EMyT. In the first part, we show β-catenin, an AJs component and transcriptional co-activator counteracts the inhibitory action of Smad3 on MRTF. Moreover we reveal that β-catenin is necessary to maintain MRTF stability via protecting MRTF from proteasomal degradation. Thus, β-catenin is an indispensable permissive factor for SMA expression. In the second part, we demonstrate that contact injury and TGFβ suppress the expression of the phosphatase PTEN. EMyT-related reduction or absence of PTEN potentiates Smad3 degradation. EMyT is associated with enhanced phosphorylation of the T179 residue in Smad3 linker region, and this event is necessary for Smad3 degradation. PTEN silencing increases the stimulatory effect of contact uncoupling and TGFβ on SMA promoter activity and SMA protein expression. Thus, the integrity of intercellular contacts regulates the level of PTEN, which in turn controls Smad3 stability through impacting on T179 phosphorylation. This new knowledge holds promises for targeted therapies and more effective prevention of the currently incurable fibroproliferative and fibrocontractile diseases.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2004. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xii, 106 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 85-92).

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 72 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 66-72).

Thesis (Ph.D)--Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2010. / Committee Chair: Streator, Jeffrey; Committee Member: Blanchet, Thierry; Committee Member: Cowan, Richard; Committee Member: Danyluk, Steven; Committee Member: Neu, Richard; Committee Member: Thadhani, Naresh. Part of the SMARTech Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Collection.

O objetivo desta investigação foi identificar, descrever e analisar a percepção dos comunicantes intradomiciliares de doentes de hanseníase sobre a doença, o convívio com o doente e o controle realizado pelo serviço de saúde. Optou-se pela abordagem de natureza qualitativa. A população do estudo constitui-se de 19 comunicantes intradomiciliares cadastrados na unidade de saúde onde são desenvolvidas ações do Programa de Eliminação da Hanseníase no município de Fernandópolis/SP. Os instrumentos utilizados para coleta de dados foram: o prontuário do doente, o formulário e a entrevista semi-estruturada, com três questões norteadoras. Para a análise dos dados qualitativos utilizou-se a técnica de Análise de Conteúdo, modalidade Temática. Três unidades temáticas foram conformadas a partir dos núcleos de sentido: 1ª) A doença hanseníase - a percepção dos comunicantes intradomiciliares (a relação da hanseníase com a lepra e hanseníase: de doença desconhecida ao conhecimento da classificação, aspectos clínicos, epidemiológicos e terapêuticos sobre a doença); 2ª) O convívio com o doente - a percepção dos comunicantes intradomiciliares (a convivência com o doente: normalidade, dificuldades e contradições; as atitudes dos comunicantes no convívio com o doente; a percepção dos sofrimentos durante o convívio e o estigma e o preconceito); e 3ª) O controle realizado pelo serviço de saúde - a percepção dos comunicantes intradomiciliares (as ações do programa de controle de eliminação da hanseníase desenvolvidas pela unidade de saúde e a atenção recebida pelo serviço de saúde). Os resultados apontam que os comunicantes intradomiciliares de doentes de hanseníase participam do processo de adoecimento, incorporando conhecimentos sobre a doença, atribuindo-lhe significados de acordo com seus valores, atitudes e crenças; compartilham dos problemas dos doentes e procuram ajudá-los em suas necessidades e, ainda, percebem o controle que o serviço de saúde realiza sobre eles e os doentes dentro de um quadro de referência pautado pela satisfação no atendimento. Constatou-se também a necessidade da valorização da vigilância dos contatos em outras perspectivas, além da epidemiológica, de forma a contemplar outras dimensões da vida desses sujeitos. / The aim of this investigation was to identify, describe and analyze the perception of the household contacts of the Hansen Disease patients about the disease itself, the living together with the patient and the control made by the health care service. The qualitative research was chosen and the study population was constituted by nineteen household contacts registered in the health care unit where the Program of Hansen Disease Elimination Actions are developed in the Fernandópolis municipality in the State of São Paulo. The utilized tools to get the database were the patient\'s file, paper form and semi-structured interview with three oriented questions. For the qualitative data treatment The Content Analysis Technique was used, the Theme mode. By means of sense nuclei three theme units have emerged: 1) The Hansen disease, the perception of the household contacts was conformed from two sense nuclei: the relationship with the Hansen Disease with Leprosy and the Hansen Disease from an unknown disease to the classification knowledge, clinical, epidemiological and therapeutic aspects about the disease; 2) The living with the patient, the perception of the household contacts, (the living with the patient: normality, difficulties and contradictions; the contact\'s attitudes in the living together with the patient; the perception of the suffering during the living together, the stigma and the prejudice); 3) The control made by the health care service - the household contact\'s perception (the actions of the elimination control program of Hansen disease made by the health care unit and the attention gotten through it). The results show that the household contacts of Hansen disease patients take part in the sickening process incorporating knowledge about the disease giving to it significance according to its values, attitudes and creeds. They share the patients\' problems and seek to help them in their needs and still note the control that the health care performs about them and the patients within a reference framework based upon the satisfaction onto the waiting on procedure. The results also demonstrate the necessity for an enhancement to watching over the contacts in order to contemplate other dimensions in those contacts\' lives.

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2016-10-14T13:03:49Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) DANIELLE_MEDEIROS_MARQUES_TESE_BC_UFPE_2016[1] 18ago.pdf: 1939643 bytes, checksum: e745bb62b8c1fd6f324e774f998313d0 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-14T13:03:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) DANIELLE_MEDEIROS_MARQUES_TESE_BC_UFPE_2016[1] 18ago.pdf: 1939643 bytes, checksum: e745bb62b8c1fd6f324e774f998313d0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-29 / CNPq / A hanseníase ainda representa um grave problema de Saúde Pública no Brasil, com número absoluto de casos novos atingindo em torno de 30.000/ano. O Programa Nacional de Controle da Hanseníase (PNCH), no sentido de aumentar a detecção e tratamento precoce da doença, preconiza a avaliação dermatoneurológica e a vacinação BCG em contatos intradomiciliares de hanseníase. Além desta avaliação clínica, estudos sorológicos utilizando antígenos específicos do M. leprae vêm demonstrando alta especificidade, sendo relatada a relação entre a positividade sorológica nos contatos e o maior risco de adoecimento. O presente estudo teve como objetivos estimar a soroprevalência anti-NDO-LID-1 em contatos de casos novos de hanseníase e avaliar a adesão dos mesmos ao PNCH, através de um estudo transversal e um estudo caso-controle, respectivamente. Metodologia: a população estudada foram os contatos de casos novos de hanseníase residentes na cidade de João Pessoa, Paraíba nos anos de 2012 e 2013 (na etapa transversal) e no ano de 2013 (na etapa caso-controle). Utilizou-se o teste sorológico rápido NDOLID- 1 para aferir a soroprevalência e a adesão ao PNCH foi aferida através da resposta a um questionário padronizado. Toda a coleta de dados foi domiciliar. Resultados da etapa transversal: foram identificados 135 casos novos de hanseníase, com 405 contatos estudados. A soroprevalência foi de 23% (93/405), sendo maior no sexo feminino (25,9%-58/224), com tempo médio de convívio entre cinco e 10 anos (44%- 22/50) e naqueles que dormiam no mesmo cômodo e na mesma cama (26,3%-31/118) do caso índice. Em menores de quinze anos, a soroprevalência alcançou 27,7% de positividade. Não houve associação da com variáveis biossociais (faixa etária e sexo), passado de tratamento pra hanseníase, vacinação BCG e variáveis relacionadas ao caso índice (grau de parentesco, frequência de contato e tempo de convívio). Resultados da etapa caso-controle: dentre os 231 contatos, apenas 31 (13,4%) haviam aderido ao PNCH, através da realização do exame dermatoneurológico. Não foi observada associação significativa da baixa adesão com as variáveis do contato como sexo, cor da pele, faixa etária, escolaridade, estado civil, renda familiar, tabagismo, etilismo, uso de drogas ilícitas e distância do posto de saúde. Observou-se maior adesão ao PNCH dos contatos de casos de hanseníase com maior idade média e naqueles relacionados às formas dimorfa e virchowiana. A maioria dos contatos que não aderiram ao Programa 8 Nacional de Controle da Hanseníase relataram como justificativa a desinformação sobre a necessidade de fazê-lo, fator este determinante para a não adesão ao programa (OR=0,04, p-valor=0,001). Conclusões: a população de contatos estudada apresentou uma elevada taxa de soroprevalência e uma baixa adesão ao exame dermatoneurológico, denotando haver um alta carga bacilar do M. leprae circulante e uma vigilância sobre os contatos ainda negligenciada. / Leprosy is a serious health public problem in Brazil, with new absolute cases ranging around 30,000 / year. The National Program of Leprosy Control (NPLC) recommends skin and nerves examination and BCG vaccination in all households leprosy contacts (HHC). Besides, serological studies using specific antigens of M. leprae had demonstrated correlation between seropositivity in contacts and increased risk of illness. This study aimed to assess positivity to anti- NDO-LID-1 test and to evaluate the adherence to NPLC among contacts of newly leprosy cases at João Pessoa, Paraíba, 2012 and 2013, using a cross-sectional and a case-control study. Methodology: the study population were contacts of new leprosy cases residents at João Pessoa, Paraíba in 2012 and 2013 (cross-sectional study) and 2013 (casecontrol study). The serological test used to assess seroprevalence was anti-NDOLID- 1 rapid test and the adherence to PNCH was measured by response to a standard questionnaire. All data collection was did at home.Cross-sectional results: there were identified 135 new cases of leprosy, with 405 contacts studied. Serological positivity to anti-NDO-LID-1 was 23% (93/405), higher in females (25.9% -58 / 224), with average living time between five and 10 years (44% - 22/50) and those who slept in the same room and the same bed (26.3% -31 / 118) of the index case. The seroprevalence among contacts under fifteen years reached 27.7% positivity. There was no association with biossocial variables (age and gender), past treatment for leprosy, BCG vaccination and variables related to the index case (degree of relationship, frequency of contact and interaction time). Case-control results: 13.4% (31/231) of the contacts had accomplished the skin and nerves examination, as recommended. There was no significant association with gender, age, ethnicity, instruction degree, marital status, family income, smoking, alcohol use, illicit drugs use and distance from the health center. There was better adherence in contacts of elderly index cases and from borderline and lepromatous forms. Misinformation about the need of doing the dermatologic exam was a determinant factor for non-adherence to the program (OR=0.04, p-value= 0.001). Conclusions: the seropositivity in leprosy contacts was high and adherence to NPLC was low, showing that surveillance needs to be improved.

La sollicitation de fretting apparait comme un processus de dégradation très pénalisant dans les multiples systèmes industriels (aéronautique, industrie automobile, industriels du nucléaire, transports ferroviaires etc. …). Ce processus d’usure engendre dans la plupart des cas soit une réparation (rechargement) des surfaces soit le remplacement des composants (situation la plus souvent observée). La sollicitation de fretting est associée à des micro-déplacements alternés entre deux surfaces en contact. On observe généralement ce type de sollicitation dans tous les contacts soumis à des vibrations ou à des cycles thermiques. La sollicitation de fretting usure dans les contacts électriques est particulièrement pénalisante. Outre l’endommagement des surfaces, ce processus induit une augmentation significative de la résistance électrique des contacts et une perte de fonctionnalité du connecteur en particulier dans les connecteurs basses tensions très sensibles aux fluctuations de la résistance électrique. Pour palier ce problème les industriels de la connectique et leurs clients (industriels de l’automobile) cherchent à mettre en place de nouveaux dépôts palliatifs pour résoudre ces problèmes tout en limitant les surcouts liés à l’utilisation de dépôts nobles tels que l’or.Le sujet de cette thèse porte sur cette problématique avec pour objectif de mettre en place une méthodologie de choix des dépôts pour optimiser la durée de vie des connecteurs. L’étude aborde essentiellement l’influence des conditions de chargements mécaniques et plus particulièrement l’amplitude de débattement / The degradation by fretting appears as a very troublesome process in many industrial systems (spatial, automotive, nuclear industry, railway systems etc. …). This wear process makes it necessary to repair or to replace the destroyed component. The process of degradation by fretting is associated with the micro-displacement between two surfaces in contact. This type of degradation is observed in all types of contacts subjected to the vibrations or thermal variations. The degradation by fretting in electrical contact is particularly dangerous. The wear of the contacting surfaces causes a significant increase of the electrical resistance of the contact and the decay of the functional properties of the connector. This situation concerns especially the low tension connectors very sensible to the fluctuations of the electrical resistance. In order to avoid this situation the automotive industry and its suppliers, the manufacturers of the electrical connectors, are looking for new materials and coatings.The objective of this thesis consists to develop the methodology of choice of the coating materials in order to optimise the lifetime of the electrical contact. The study focuses mainly on the influence of the mechanical conditions, the displacement amplitude in particular, on the performance of the electrical connector.