Decision making for people living with HIV/AIDS using the theory of innovation diffusion model at the Western Provident Association Turen Foundation.

OBJECTIVES: To describe how people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) make decisions using the diffusion of innovation theory model. Decisions occur when individual decision makers engage in activities that guide choices to adopt or reject a particular innovation. METHODS: This is a descriptive analysis research using a survey method. Data collection was carried out using a decision making questionnaire. The subjects in this research were HIV/AIDS sufferers (PLWHA) who lived in Turen, Indonesia. The number of research subjects was 36 respondents obtained using the purposive sampling technique on January 2023. RESULTS: The research design used the correlation method with a cross sectional approach and the Spearman correlation coefficient statistical test. The research results show significance (2-tailed) of 0.934 (p>0.05). The correlation coefficient results are negative. Where the direction of the correlation produces showed a very weak relationship with a value of 0.014 and the results of the analysis between variables are not the same. This is because the persuasion stage was not tested in the analysis. Research shows that 8 (22.2%) patients rejected the decision making of PLWHA using the diffusion of innovation theory model at the Western Provident Association Turen Foundation, Turen, Indonesia, while 28 (77.7%) patients accepted it. It can be concluded that the majority of decisions made by HIV/AIDS patients at the ADIS Turen Peduli Warga Foundation are accepted. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of HIV/AIDS sufferers is at a good level, their decision making is mostly accepted and there is a meaningful relationship between knowledge and decision making in using a chatbot innovation. The suggestion from the research is that this chatbot innovation can be a source of further research and help provide education for PLWHA patients in everyday life.

Specific exercise patterns generate an epigenetic molecular memory window that drives long-term memory formation and identifies ACVR1C as a bidirectional regulator of memory in mice.

Exercise has beneficial effects on cognition throughout the lifespan. Here, we demonstrate that specific exercise patterns transform insufficient, subthreshold training into long-term memory in mice. Our findings reveal a potential molecular memory window such that subthreshold training within this window enables long-term memory formation. We performed RNA-seq on dorsal hippocampus and identify genes whose expression correlate with conditions in which exercise enables long-term memory formation. Among these genes we found Acvr1c, a member of the TGF ß family. We find that exercise, in any amount, alleviates epigenetic repression at the Acvr1c promoter during consolidation. Additionally, we find that ACVR1C can bidirectionally regulate synaptic plasticity and long-term memory in mice. Furthermore, Acvr1c expression is impaired in the aging human and mouse brain, as well as in the 5xFAD mouse model, and over-expression of Acvr1c enables learning and facilitates plasticity in mice. These data suggest that promoting ACVR1C may protect against cognitive impairment.

Ventral hippocampal interneurons govern extinction and relapse of contextual associations.

Contextual associations are critical for survival but must be extinguished when new conditions render them nonproductive. By most accounts, extinction forms a new memory that competes with the original association for control over behavior, but the mechanisms underlying this competition remain largely enigmatic. Here we find the retrieval of contextual fear conditioning and extinction yield contrasting patterns of activity in prefrontal cortex and ventral hippocampus. Within ventral CA1, activation of somatostatin-expressing interneurons (SST-INs) occurs preferentially during extinction retrieval and correlates with differences in input synaptic transmission. Optogenetic manipulation of these cells but not parvalbumin interneurons (PV-INs) elicits bidirectional changes in fear expression following extinction, and the ability of SST-INs to gate fear is specific to the context in which extinction was acquired. A similar pattern of results was obtained following reward-based extinction. These data show that ventral hippocampal SST-INs are critical for extinguishing prior associations and thereby gate relapse of both aversive and appetitive responses.

The Effects of Bond-Slip Laws on the Debonding Failure and Behavior of Flexural Strengthened RC Slabs in Hybrid FRP Retrofit Systems.

The hybrid retrofit system using FRP and concrete overlay applied on the top of slabs has proven effective in strengthening and overcoming logistical constraints, compared with conventional strengthening techniques using externally bonded composite materials to the underside of the slabs. Nevertheless, the performance of retrofitted slabs is governed by debonding failure due to the low bond strength between CFRP and concrete overlay. Thus, this study investigates the behavior of flexural strengthened slabs with FRP retrofit systems and the effect of bond-slip laws on debonding failure. Firstly, two full-scale RC slabs with and without a retrofit system were tested in a four-point bending setup as the control specimens. Then, the same retrofitted slab was simulated by utilizing the commercial program ABAQUS. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to consider the influence of bond-slip laws to predict the failure mechanism of the retrofitted slabs based on load-deflection relationships. The results showed that the strengthened slab enhanced the load-carrying capacity by 59%, stiffness by 111%, and toughness by 29%. The initial stiffness of 0.1K0 and maximum shear stress of 0.13τmax, compared with the corresponding values of Neubauer's and Rostasy's bond-slip law, can be used to simulate the global response of the retrofitted slab validated by experiment results.

Incorporation of Silica Particles Attached to Nylon 66 Electrospun Nanofibers with Cement.

In this study, a modified version of electrospun nylon 66 nanofibers by silica particles were blended into ordinary Portland cement to investigate the microstructure and some mechanical properties of cementitious material. The addition of silica into the nanofibers improved the tensile and compressive properties of the hardened cement pastes. The observations from the mechanical strength tests showed an increase of 41%, 33% and 65% in tensile strength, compressive strength, and toughness, respectively, when modifying the cement pastes with the proposed nanofibers. The observations from scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy showed the morphology and microstructure of the fibers as well as their behaviors inside the cement matrix. Additionally, X-ray diffraction and thermal gravimetric analysis clarified the occurrence of the extra pozzolanic reaction, as well as the calcium hydroxide consumption by the attached silica inside the cement matrix. Finally, the observations from this study showed the successful fabrication of the modified nanofibers and the feasibility of improving the tensile and compressive behaviors of cement pastes using the proposed electrospun nanofibers.

Control of fear by discrete prefrontal GABAergic populations encoding valence-specific information.

Neurons activated by learning have been ascribed the unique potential to encode memory, but the functional contribution of discrete cell types remains poorly understood. In particular, it is unclear whether learning engages specific GABAergic interneurons and, if so, whether they differ functionally from interneurons recruited by other experiences. Here, we show that fear conditioning activates a heterogeneous neuronal population in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) that is largely comprised of somatostatin-expressing interneurons (SST-INs). Using intersectional genetic approaches, we demonstrate that fear-learning-activated SST-INs exhibit distinct circuit properties and are selectively reactivated to mediate cue-evoked memory expression. In contrast, an orthogonal population of SST-INs activated by morphine experience exerts opposing control over fear and supports reward-like motivational effects. These results outline an important role for discrete subsets of GABAergic cells in emotional learning and point to an unappreciated capacity for functional specialization among SST-INs.

The Efficacy of Fetoscopic Laser Surgery in Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome: A Preliminary Vietnamese Study.

Background: Twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is a severe prenatal complication of monochorionic diamniotic twins (MCDA). If left untreated, TTTS is associated with a high risk of neonatal death and neurological complications. Various treatment methods for TTTS have been proposed, but fetoscopic laser surgery (FLS) is currently the primary treatment for TTTS in global fetal medicine centers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the outcome of TTTS following FLS treatment at Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital (HOGH), a new fetal medicine center in Vietnam. Methods: A prospective study of a series of 33 consecutive TTTS cases prior to 26 weeks of gestation subjected to FLS at HOGH in Vie-tnam between September 2019 to July 2021. Neonates were monitored for at least six months after birth. Results: The survival rate of at least one fetus reached 84.85%. No short-term neurological complications have been reported upon follow-up of the newborn up to six months after birth. There were three stillbirth cases (9.09%), one case of preterm ruptured membra-nes (PROM) (3.03%) after seven days of surgery and three cases of recurrent TTTS after surgery using the Solomon technique (25%). No maternal complications were observed. The mean gestational age at birth was 33.76 ± 4.52 weeks, with a mean interval of 12.24 ± 6.67 weeks between intervention and delivery. Nine cases (30%) were born prematurely before 32 weeks. Additionally, 60% of recipients and nearly 90% of donors weighed less than 2500 grams. Conclusions: FLS leads to high survival rates for fetuses with TTTS. FLS seems to be an effective therapeutic option for TTTS before 26 weeks of gestation.

A Design Method to Induce Ductile Failure of Flexural Strengthened One-Way RC Slabs.

Strengthening existing reinforced concrete (RC) slabs using externally bonded materials is increasingly popular due to its adaptability and versatility. Nevertheless, ductility reduction of the rehabilitated flexural members with these materials can lead to brittle shear failure. Therefore, a new approach for strengthening is necessary. This paper presents a methodology to induce ductile failure of flexural strengthened one-way RC slabs. Ultimate failure loads can be considered to develop the proposed design methodology. Different failure modes corresponding to ultimate failure loads for RC slabs are addressed. Flexural and shear failure regions of RC slabs can be established by considering the failure modes. The end span of the concrete slab is shown for a case study, and numerical examples are solved to prove the essentiality of this methodology.

Strength and Toughness of Waste Fishing Net Fiber-Reinforced Concrete.

In this study, we estimate the potential efficiency of waste fishing net (WFN) fibers as concrete reinforcements. Three WFN fiber concentrations (1, 2, and 3% by volume) were mixed with concrete. Compressive strength, toughness, splitting tensile strength, and biaxial flexural tests were conducted. Compressive strength decreased but other properties increased as a function of fiber proportions. According to the mechanical strength observations and the ductility number, WFN fibers yielded benefits in crack arresting that improved the postcracking behavior and transformed concrete from a brittle into a quasi-brittle material. It is inferred that WFN fiber is a recycled and eco-friendly material that can be utilized as potential concrete reinforcement.

Energy Absorption Capacity of SBR Latex-Modified Ordinary Portland Cement by Charpy Impact Test.

The present study deals with tests on the energy absorption capacity and compressive strength of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) latex-modified cementitious materials. Different polymer-cement ratios (P/C) of 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20% were carried out with the Charpy impact test at 7, 14, and 28 days of curing. The observations showed an increase in the energy absorption capacity of the SBR latex-modified cement paste in correspondence with the increase in curing times, as well as the increase in the P/C ratios. The P/C ratio of 10% was the optimal ratio for observing the highest energy absorption capacity of the SBR latex-modified cement paste, with a 43% increase observed. In addition, a linear relationship between compressive strength and the energy absorption capacity at 28 days was proposed. Based on that, the energy absorption capacity of SBR latex-modified cement paste can be analyzed or predicted by the compressive strength results, regardless of the P/C ratios. Finally, the two-parameter Weibull distribution was proved to fit by the observation data from the Charpy impact test.

Epidemiology and risk factors of Strongyloides stercoralis infection in Papua, Indonesia: a molecular diagnostic study.

Strongyloides stercoralis is a parasitic worm that is of considerable clinical relevance. Indeed, it may persist asymptomatically for many years, but can lead to potentially fatal dissemination when the host's immune status is impaired. As commonly employed stool microscopy techniques (e.g. Kato-Katz thick smear) fail to detect S. stercoralis, the epidemiology is poorly understood. In 2013, we conducted a cross-sectional household survey in the district of Mimika in Papua, Indonesia. A total of 331 individuals, aged 1 month to 44 years, had a single stool sample subjected to real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for S. stercoralis diagnosis. The prevalence of S. stercoralis infection was 32.0% (106/331 individuals); higher than any of the three main soil-transmitted helminths (Ascaris lumbricoides, 23.9%; Trichuris trichiura, 18.4%; and hookworm, 17.2%). Amongst the S. stercoralis-infected individuals, 73.6% were concurrently infected with another helminth, with hookworm being the most frequent co-infection (27.4%). Fourteen percent of the S. stercoralis infections had low cycle threshold values on real-time PCR, which may indicate a higher infection intensity. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age ≥5 years (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 5.8, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.1-10.8) was significantly associated with S. stercoralis infection. There is a need for in-depth clinical and diagnostic studies to elucidate the public health impact of S. stercoralis infection in Indonesia.

Aging mice show impaired memory updating in the novel OUL updating paradigm.

Memories do not persist in a permanent, static state but instead must be dynamically modified in response to new information. Although new memory formation is typically studied in a laboratory setting, most real-world associations are modifications to existing memories, particularly in the aging, experienced brain. To date, the field has lacked a simple behavioral paradigm that can measure whether original and updated information is remembered in a single test session. To address this gap, we have developed a novel memory updating paradigm, called the Objects in Updated Locations (OUL) task that is capable of assessing memory updating in a non-stressful task that is appropriate for both young and old rodents. We first show that young mice successfully remember both the original memory and the updated information in OUL. Next, we demonstrate that intrahippocampal infusion of the protein synthesis inhibitor anisomycin disrupts both the updated information and the original memory at test, suggesting that memory updating in OUL engages the original memory. To verify this, we used the Arc CatFISH technique to show that the OUL update session reactivates a largely overlapping set of neurons as the original memory. Finally, using OUL, we show that memory updating is impaired in aging, 18-m.o. mice. Together, these results demonstrate that hippocampal memory updating is impaired with aging and establish that the OUL paradigm is an effective, sensitive method of assessing memory updating in rodents.

CuO and CeO2-doped catalytic material synthesized from red mud and rice husk ash for p-xylene deep oxidation.

CuO-CeO2 catalysts supported on material synthesized from red mud and rice husk ash (CuO-CeO2/ZRM) were prepared by co-impregnation method. The role of CeO2 additive in the improvement of physicochemical properties and catalytic activity of CuO-CeO2/ZRM catalysts were emphasized. Several techniques, including Brunauer-Emmett-Teller Nitrogen physisorption measurements, X-ray powder diffraction, hydrogen temperature programed reduction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to investigate the properties of catalysts. Crystallite size calculated by Scherrer' equation was 17.4 - 21.8 nm. Modification of 5 wt% CuO/ZRM catalyst with CeO2 had reduced the size of the nanoparticles leading to a significant enhancement of the catalytic activity in p-xylene deep oxidation at temperature range of 275 - 400 °C. The 5 wt% CuO/ZRM sample promoted by 3 wt% of nanoparticle CeO2 with the average size of 17.5 nm and BET surface area of 31.3 m2 g-1 exhibited the best activity for p-xylene deep oxidation. In this sample, the conversion of p-xylene reaches to 90% at 350 °C.

Acute undifferentiated fever in Asia: a review of the literature.

Acute undifferentiated fever (AUF) is a temporary febrile illness accompanied by non-specific symptoms. Previous studies in Asia have primarily focused on delineating specific agent(s) causing AUF. None were designed to assess the frequency of undiagnosed cases. This study aimed to review the case definition, laboratory investigations, etiologies and proportion of undiagnosed episodes of AUF. We reviewed nine studies, each employing different case definitions and diagnostic tools. Malaria, dengue, leptospirosis and rickettsial illnesses were frequently identified as the etiologies of AUF and the frequencies of undiagnosed cases ranged from 8% to 80%. An international consensus definition is required to compare the occurrence of AUF in different geographical sites, particularly if this condition were to be used as an indicator for the emergence or re-emergence of infectious agents. Use of general diagnostic tools for infectious diseases might reduce the proportion of undiagnosed AUF cases.

Comparison of outcomes of a community-based education programme executed with and without active community involvement.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of a previously designed set of generic objectives for community-based education (CBE) emphasising community involvement. METHODS: The study was designed as a non-blinded, randomised trial. Experimental and conventional groups of students following CBE programmes either closely or weakly matching the set of generic objectives were compared. Student groups were subjected to passive participatory observation. Students evaluated their programmes through questionnaires. The impact of student interventions was assessed by community compliance. Community perception of the programmes was evaluated through structured interviews with community representatives. RESULTS: Students in experimental groups appreciated their programme more than students in conventional groups. High compliance and appreciation were recorded in communities hosting the modified programme. Most students in conventional groups judged their posting negatively, largely because of the high number of households to be visited. Health interventions performed by conventional groups lacked co-operation between students and the community. Communities hosting conventional groups felt their health needs were scarcely discussed and addressed. CONCLUSIONS: The modification of an existing CBE programme to better match a set of generic CBE objectives emphasising community involvement had a positive effect on programme outcomes and levels of appreciation by both students and hosting communities. However, some confounding variables could not be controlled. Colleagues planning comparable studies may take advantage of the lessons we learned while performing this study.

Access to dental care among older adults in the United States.

Oral health is essential to an older adult's general health and well-being. Yet, many older adults are not regular users of dental services and may experience significant barriers to receiving necessary dental care. This literature review summarizes national trends in access to dental care and dental service utilization by older adults in the United States. Issues related to geriatric dentistry and concerns about access to dental care include the increasing diversity of the older adult population, concerns about the degree to which the dental workforce is prepared to meet the oral health needs of older patients, and the adequacy of the future workforce, including concern about training opportunities in gerontology and geriatrics for dental and allied dental practitioners.

Development of electrical field-flow fractionation

Electrical field-flow fractionation (ElFFF) results for a series of polystyrene latex beads are presented. To first approximation, retention behavior can be related to conventional FFF theory, modified to account for a particle-wall repulsion effect. Size selectivity and column efficiency were exceptionally high, again approaching the upper limit predicted by theory. For the channel described in the present study, application of small voltages (typically less than 2 V) across the thin (131 microm) separation space defined by a Teflon spacer generates nominal field strengths of 10(4) V m(-1). However, electrode polarization reduces the effective field across the bulk of the channel to approximately 3% of the nominal value in the system studied. The magnitude of the applied field was calibrated by using standard latex beads of known size and mobility. Perturbations to retention behavior, such as overloading, were investigated. It was found that ideal separations occur at very dilute concentrations of the sample plug and that working in systems of very low ionic strength, the double-layer thickness adds significantly to the effective size of a particle. Steric inversion was observed at a particle size of approximately 0.4 microm under the conditions employed.

[Acute cholecystitis in periarteritis nodosa. 8 cases]. / Les cholécystites aiguës de la périartérite noueuse. Huit observations.

OBJECTIVES: Analyze clinical manifestations and laboratory findings in patients with periarteritis nodosa who developed acute cholecystitis in order to determine their value for prognosis and management. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report 8 cases of acute cholecystitis which revealed or occurred as a complication of periarteritis nodosa. These were 4 men and 4 women, mean age 50 years. Periarteritis nodosa was diagnosed on the basis of histological evidence and/or clinical expression. Complimentary explorations included: sonography of the biliary tree, cholecystogram or cholangiogram in addition to diagnostic work-up for periarteritis nodosa. RESULTS: The clinical or sonographic presentation was similar to common cases of cholecystitis. However, no stone were observed in 2/8 cases. Histologically, the gall bladder showed characteristic vascular lesions suggestive of periarteritis nodosa in 7 out of 8 cases (no operation in 1 case). Cholecystitis was the inaugural sign in 2 cases. Surgery was performed for lithiasic forms. Medical management with methylprednisolone i.v. was used successfully in the alithiasic forms. In the 2 cases with inaugural solitary acute cholecystitis. lithiasis was found in the surgical specimen in 1 case; the pathology examination gave the etiological diagnosis. There was no lithiasis in one case with inaugural cholecystitis. CONCLUSIONS: The development of acute cholecystitis in patients with periarteritis nodosa is uncommon but should be treated surgically in case of lithiasis or when the cholecystitis is the inaugural sign. Unlike digestive tract involvement, periarteritis nodosa does not aggravate the clinical course. Alithiasic forms may be treated medically with corticosteroids. In our opinion, therapeutic abstention, sometimes proposed in patients with necrotizing angiitis of the gall bladder, is not always indicated as some patients can benefit from medical treatment of the underlying periarteritis nodosa.

[Vasculitis of viral origin. Pathogenesis and therapeutic implications]. / Vascularites d'origine virale. Etiopathogénie et implications thérapeutiques.

Some viruses are unquestionably the cause of vasculitis, by different mechanisms: circulating immune complexes, cryoglobulinemia and/or direct infection of the blood vessel. The main viruses responsible for vasculitis are hepatitis B & C viruses, cytomegalovirus, parvovirus B19 and human immunodeficiency virus. Viral vasculitis are clinically protean, most of the time similar to idiopathic vasculitis. The manifestations due to the virus itself are sometimes hidden and vasculitis may reveal the viral infection. In some cases of viral vasculitis, particularly in hepatitis virus-induced vasculitis, antiviral therapy may help in controlling the disease. A viral etiology must be considered during atypical vasculitis.