scholarly journals Network Evolution of a Large Online MSM Dating Community: 2005–2018

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (22) ◽  
pp. 4322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuchu Liu ◽  
Xin Lu
Keyword(s):  
Policy Making ◽  
Online Community ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Online Dating ◽  
Network Evolution ◽  
Clustering Coefficient ◽  
Multiple Sexual Partners ◽  
Degree Correlation ◽  
Related Individuals ◽  
Sex With Men

Due to multiple sexual partners and low rates of condom use, the HIV infection rate among MSM (men who have sex with men) is much higher than that of the general population. In order to analyze the characteristics of online activities of MSM, and to understand the evolution of their social networks, in this study we collect a comprehensive dataset, covering the period from January 2005 to June 2018, from the largest Chinese online community, Baidu Tieba. We build an online dating network for MSM-related individuals in the gay-bar community, and analyze the network from static and dynamic aspects. It is found that there is a strong homophily regarding the cities where users reside when developing interactions with others, and that most network measurements tend to be stable at the later stages of evolution, while the size of the largest community fluctuates. This is an indication that the network is formed of rapidly flexible interactions which changes quickly. In comparison with studies on heterosexual networks, we find that the MSM dating network shows differences in many aspects, such as the positive degree-degree correlation and high clustering coefficient, suggesting different thinking and measures should be taken in the policy making of public health management towards the MSM population.

scholarly journals Unpacking Changing Multi-Actor and Multi-Level Actor Ties in Transformative Spaces: Insights from a Degraded Landscape, Machubeni, South Africa

Land ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 227
Author(s):  
Menelisi Falayi ◽  
James Gambiza ◽  
Michael Schoon
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Collective Action ◽  
Land Degradation ◽  
Network Evolution ◽  
Clustering Coefficient ◽  
Edge Density ◽  
Policy Outcomes ◽  
Local Municipality ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
Over Time

The loss of ecosystem services through land degradation continues to be a significant concern for policymakers and land users around the world. Facilitating collective action among various actors is regarded as imperative in halting land degradation. Despite extensive research on collective action, there have been few studies that continuously map social ties and detect network evolution as a way of enabling longitudinal analysis of transformative spaces. This paper seeks to examine the changing dynamics of multi-actor and multi-level actor ties over a period of two years in Machubeni, South Africa. To do this, we used social network analysis to detect continuities and/or discontinuities of multi-actor and multi-level actor ties over time. Overall, edge density, clustering coefficient, and reciprocity scores steadily increased over the two years despite a decline in the number of active organisations within the network. Our results demonstrate that the proportion of strong ties gradually increased over time across three governance networks. However, multi-level linkages between the local municipality and the local organisations remained weak due to a lack of trust and collaborative fatigue. While the transformative space has succeeded in enhancing collaboration and knowledge sharing between local organisations and researchers, further long-term engagement with government agencies might be necessary for promoting institutional transformations and policy outcomes, and building network resilience in complex polycentric governance systems.

scholarly journals Sexually transmitted infections and sexual behaviors of men who have sex with men in an American Deep South PrEP clinic

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronnie M Gravett ◽  
Andrew O Westfall ◽  
Edgar T Overton ◽  
Kachina Kudroff ◽  
Christina A Muzny ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽  
Incidence Rate ◽  
Sexual Behaviors ◽  
The United States ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
Deep South ◽  
Multiple Sexual Partners ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Sex With Men

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) effectively prevents HIV acquisition among men who have sex with men (MSM), but PrEP uptake has been associated with sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The effect of PrEP on STIs in MSM in the Deep South of the United States is unknown. We performed a retrospective analysis of adult MSM at an American Deep South PrEP clinic to calculate the prevalence and incidence rate of bacterial STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis) and identify associated risk factors by linking incident STI to patient-reported outcomes; 139 MSM accessed the clinic between 2014 and 2018 with baseline bacterial STI prevalence of 11%. Twenty-six of 81 eligible MSM on PrEP had incident STIs with an incidence rate of 33.1 cases per 100 person-years. Significantly higher proportions of high PrEP adherence, multiple sexual partners, and inconsistent condom use were seen in those with incident STI, and we identified MSM with both high PrEP adherence and multiple sexual partners as being at especially high risk for bacterial STIs (hazard ratio: 7.57, 95% confidence interval: 1.75–32.74). Bacterial STIs are common after initiating PrEP in this clinic, and MSM reporting high PrEP adherence and multiple sexual partners have a significant risk for incident STI. High-risk sexual behaviors persisted after starting PrEP, highlighting the importance of ongoing, intensive sexual health screening and interventions.

scholarly journals A Comprehensive Evaluation Method of Sensor Selection for PHM Based on Grey Clustering

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1710 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fei Guan ◽  
Wei-Wei Cui ◽  
Lian-Feng Li ◽  
Jie Wu
Keyword(s):  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Sensor Selection ◽  
Clustering Coefficient ◽  
Prognostics And Health Management ◽  
Dependency Matrix ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation Method ◽  
Grey Clustering ◽  
Selection For

Sensor selection plays an essential and fundamental role in prognostics and health management technology, and it is closely related to fault diagnosis, life prediction, and health assessment. The existing methods of sensor selection do not have an evaluation standard, which leads to different selection results. It is not helpful for the selection and layout of sensors. This paper proposes a comprehensive evaluation method of sensor selection for prognostics and health management (PHM) based on grey clustering. The described approach divides sensors into three grey classes, and defines and quantifies three grey indexes based on a dependency matrix. After a brief introduction to the whitening weight function, we propose a combination weight considering the objective data and subjective tendency to improve the effectiveness of the selection result. Finally, the clustering result of sensors is obtained by analyzing the clustering coefficient, which is calculated based on the grey clustering theory. The proposed approach is illustrated by an electronic control system, in which the effectiveness of different methods of sensor selection is compared. The result shows that the technique can give a convincing analysis result by evaluating the selection results of different methods, and is also very helpful for adjusting sensors to provide a more precise result. This approach can be utilized in sensor selection and evaluation for prognostics and health management.

Online ‘barebacking’ community and the creation of ‘sex pig’ identities: Exploring affordances of a Web forum in celebrating sexual excess

First Monday ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emerich Daroya
Keyword(s):  
Online Community ◽  
Discussion Boards ◽  
Risk Minimization ◽  
Anal Sex ◽  
Virtual Spaces ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Reduction Strategies ◽  
Biomedical Technologies ◽  
Web Forum ◽  
Sex With Men

The Internet and HIV biomedical technologies are considered as significant technological advances underpinning “barebacking”, or condom-less anal sex among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM). Online chatrooms, discussion boards, and geosocial networking applications (“apps”) are regarded as having facilitated new opportunities to meet and connect with other barebackers. Virtual spaces enabled the proliferation of online discourses specific to barebacking, such as “bugchasing” and “giftgiving” to refer to the intentional spreading of HIV. While previous research focus on the metaphors used by bugchasers and giftgivers online, such studies lack analyses of other barebacking practices and identities beyond intentional seroconversion. This paper seeks to fill this gap by examining the affordances of a barebacking online community I call “Pigpen” in offering space for MSM to discuss various topics apart from intentional seroconversion: in particular, the emergence of “sex pigging”. Analyzing online forum discussions, I argue that Pigpen opens possibilities for reimagining sex pigging desires, identities, and practices that are intertwined and constituted by HIV prevention discourses and biomedical technologies. While sex pigging is associated with sexual excess, I demonstrate that limitless sex is practiced in a variety of ways: ranging from the eroticization of HIV and other STIs, to avoiding transmission by adapting some harm reduction strategies. Some sex pigs reappropriate the association of pigs with revulsion and taboo by reframing sexual excess as pleasurable and productive of feelings of freedom. By contrast, other sex pigs renegotiate risk and safety by incorporating risk minimization, giving rise to the possibility of “safer sex pigs”. Thus, sex pigging desires, identities, and practices are more complex than previously thought because they do not neatly fall into the category of irrationality and irresponsibility.

Co-Occurring Psychosocial Problems and Multiple Sexual Partners among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Shanghai, China: A Syndemic Approach

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (7) ◽  
pp. 892-901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zezhou Wang ◽  
Xu Zhao ◽  
Zhan Zhang ◽  
Mengyun Luo ◽  
Qiuming Shen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychosocial Problems ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
Multiple Sexual Partners ◽  
Sex With Men

scholarly journals Sero-epidemiology of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Plateau State, Nigeria

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. 860-869 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nenfort Edward Gomwalk ◽  
Lohya Nimzing ◽  
John Danjuma Mawak ◽  
Nimzing G. Ladep ◽  
Stephen B. Dapiap ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Previous History ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Multiple Sexual Partners ◽  
Men 2 ◽  
History Of ◽  
Plateau State ◽  
Sex With Men

Introduction: Previous sentinel surveys of HIV in Nigeria studied pregnant women attending antenatal care, thereby omitting other important high-risk groups. We therefore investigated the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in low- and high-risk populations in the state of Plateau, Nigeria. Methodology: Blood samples were collected by venepuncture from 5,021 adults aged ≥15 years between August and October 2008. At least one major town and one rural community were selected in each Local Government Area (LGA). Samples were initially screened with a rapid HIV testing kit; reactive samples were further tested using Stat Pak.  Discordant samples were confirmed using Genie-II. Results: Of 5,021 subjects screened, 245 (4.88%) were seropositive. Local Government prevalence ranged from 0.68% in Bassa to 16.07% in Jos North. On average, LGAs in the Southern Senatorial Zone had higher rates. Most (over 80%) positive cases were younger than 40 years. Females had a significantly higher (6.85%) prevalence than males (2.72%). Age-specific prevalence was higher among females aged 25 to 29 years (2.09%). Risk factors identified  for acquisition of HIV infection were previous history of STDs (6, 16.28%); men having sex with men (2, 11.76%); having multiple sexual partners (97; 10.49%); intravenous drug use (10, 7.58%); sharing of sharp objects (20, 4.82%); and history of blood transfusion (21, 3.65%). Conclusion: The seemingly higher prevalence recorded in this survey could be attributed to the  inclusion of high- and low-risk groups in the general population, unlike previous reports which studied only antenatal care attendees. This survey provides useful baseline information for further studies.

scholarly journals Modeling Network Evolution by Colored Petri Nets

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-61
Author(s):  
Suwimon VONGSINGTHONG ◽  
Sirapat BOONKRONG ◽  
Herwig UNGER
Keyword(s):  
Petri Nets ◽  
Network Structure ◽  
Information Diffusion ◽  
User Behavior ◽  
Network Evolution ◽  
Clustering Coefficient ◽  
Colored Petri Nets ◽  
Traffic Patterns ◽  
Underlying Network ◽  
Flow Of Information

Discovering how information was distributed was essential for tracking, optimizing, and controlling networks. In this paper, a premier approach to analyze the reciprocity of user behavior, content, network structure, and interaction rules to the interplay between information diffusion and network evolution was proposed. Parameterization and insight diffusion patterns were characterized based on the community structure of the underlying network using diffusion related behavior data, collected by a developed questionnaire. The user roles in creating the flow of information were stochastically modeled and simulated by Colored Petri Nets, where the growth and evolution of the network structure was substantiated through the formation of the clustering coefficient, the average path length, and the degree distribution. This analytical model could be used for various tasks, including predicting future user activities, monitoring traffic patterns of networks, and forecasting the distribution of content.

scholarly journals Mobile App Strategy to Facilitate Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men: Pilot Intervention Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly B Fontenot ◽  
Bradley Patrick White ◽  
Joshua G Rosenberger ◽  
Hailee Lacasse ◽  
Chokdee Rutirasiri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Papillomavirus ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Design Thinking ◽  
Online Dating ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Hpv Vaccination ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Young Msm ◽  
Sex With Men

BACKGROUND Mobile app-based interventions have been identified as potential facilitators for vaccination among young men who have sex with men (MSM). OBJECTIVE This pilot study aimed to test the feasibility of a theoretically informed mobile health (mHealth) tool designed to reduce health disparities and facilitate human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among a sample of young MSM. METHODS The development of the mHealth tool was guided by previous research, implementation intention theory, and design thinking. We recruited MSM aged 18-26 years through a popular online dating app and linked participants to our mHealth tool, which provided HPV vaccine information and fostered access to care. RESULTS A total of 42 young MSM participated in this pilot study in Boston, Massachusetts. Participants reported variable HPV knowledge (ie, high knowledge of HPV risk factors and low knowledge of HPV-related cancer risks for men) and positive vaccine beliefs and attitudes. Of those who were either unvaccinated, not up to date, or did not report vaccine status, 23% (8/35) utilized the mHealth tool to obtain HPV vaccination. Participants primarily utilized the tool’s (1) educational components and (2) capabilities facilitating concrete vaccine action plans. CONCLUSIONS We recruited an underserved at-risk population of youth via an online dating app for our mHealth intervention that resulted in in-person health care delivery. This study was limited by enrollment challenges, including low willingness to download the mHealth tool to mobile devices.

scholarly journals Factors Associated with Having Multiple Sexual Partners among Men Who Have Sex with Men University Students in Northern Thailand

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 371-379
Author(s):  
Eakasit Chaipin ◽  
Penprapa Siviroj ◽  
Thaworn Lorga ◽  
Natthapol Kosashunhanan ◽  
Kriengkrai Srithanaviboonchai
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Northern Thailand ◽  
Multiple Sexual Partners ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Number Of Sexual Partners ◽  
Sex With Men

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) university students were more likely to be infected with HIV than the general population due to various reasons, including having multiple sexual partners, having anal sex without a condom, and using alcohol and drugs. The objective of this study was to investigate the factors associated with multiple sexual partners among MSM university students in northern Thailand. Methods: The participants of this study were 139 MSM university students. The number of sexual partners in the last 12 months was used as the main outcome variable. Information was collected using an online self-administered questionnaire. The number of sexual partners for categories of participants was described as median and interquartile range. Factors that were independently associated with multiple sexual partners were identified using binary logistic regression analysis. Results: Findings showed that seeking sexual partners online (AOR = 1.72; 95% CI 3.10 - 44.29), drinking alcohol within the last 12 months (AOR=9.73; 95% CI 1.38 - 68.47), and having a self-perception of HIV risk (AOR=3.63; 95% CI 1.15 - 11.50) were independently associated with having multiple sexual partners. Conclusion: Health agencies and universities should develop strategies to promote life skills related to sexual responsibility, appropriate use of online media, and reduction of alcohol consumption among MSM university students.

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