The transition to parenthood for Australian heterosexual couples: expectations, experiences and the partner relationship

BACKGROUND:The perinatal period precipitates significant intra- and inter- personal changes. How heterosexual couples understand and account for such changes, however, has received relatively little attention. METHODS:Semi-structured individual interviews were undertaken as part of a longitudinal study on planned first-time parenthood. This article reports on an inductive thematic analysis of a data corpus focused on six interview questions (three from interviews conducted during pregnancy, and three from interviews conducted six months after the birth of the child), derived from interviews with eight individuals (4 women and 4 men) comprising four couples. RESULTS:In antenatal interviews, the theme of intrapersonal changes differentiated participants by two sub-themes that were then linked to postpartum experiences. Those who 'prepared for the worst' reported positive experiences after the arrival of a child, whilst participants who during pregnancy viewed life after the arrival of a child as 'an unknown' experienced challenges. Similarly in terms of the theme of interpersonal change, antenatal interviews were linked to postpartum experiences by two sub-themes, such that participants who approached the impending arrival of a child as a team effort reported that the arrival of a child cemented their relationship, whilst participants who expected that the couple relationship would buffer child-related stressors experienced challenges. CONCLUSIONS:Findings highlight the importance of a focus in antenatal education on the psychological effects of new parenthood, and support for the couple relationship during the perinatal period.Damien W. Riggs, Anna Worth and Clare Bartholomaeu

Hazards of food contact material: nanotechnologies and nanomaterials

The manipulation of molecules at the nanoscale (nanotechnologies) is not really a new technology in food production, but it is causing concern because of parallels drawn by some between the potential health effects of nanoparticles (NPs) and the known health effects of inhaled ultrafine air pollutants and pathogenic fibers (e.g., asbestos). From a food perspective, assessment of the health risks associated with NPs will depend on a better understanding of their pharmacokinetics (factors that determine their extent of absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, their distribution to tissues, and their clearance). Current regulatory practices in most jurisdictions should be capable of managing these potential risks, provided the issue of potentially novel functionality is recognized

Veli Tatio Iuridica De Utilissima Et Frequentissima Emtionis-Venditionis Materia

Quam ... Consensu & adprobatione ... in illustri Legum nutrice Salana ICtorum ordinis: Praesidente Bartholomaeo Hutteno Gubena-Lusat. Excutiendam praefigit Antonius a Wedell Eq. Pomer. Ad diem Ianuar. Anno 1619Vorlageform des Erscheinungsvermerks: Jenae Typis Tobiae Steinmanni

Inhibition of rat liver cytosolic glutathione s-transferase by silybin

1. The naturally occurring hepatoprotective compound silybin is a potent inhibitor of glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, and 4-4, displaying a high degree of isoenzyme selectivity. 2. Using CDNB at a fixed concentration of 1 mM and varying the GSH concentration, silybin exhibited competitive inhibition of isoenzyme 2-2 with a K of 32μM, non-competitive and predominantly non-competitive inhibition of isoenzymes 1-1 and 4-4 with Ks of 20 and 1·2 μM, respectively, and uncompetitive inhibition of isoenzyme 3-3 with a K of 0·2 μM. 3. With CDNB as the variable concentration substrate silybin exhibited competitive inhibition of isoenzyme 1-1 with a K of 8 μM, non-competitive inhibition of isoenzyme 2-2 with a K of 41 μM, and non-competitive inhibition of isoenzymes 3-3 and 4-4 with Ks of 0·8 and 0·5 μM, respectively