Presence Of Self Research Articles

Health Behaviors and Attitudes Toward HIV Clinic Among Young Men who Have Sex with Men Living with HIV in Chiang Mai, Thailand: A Mixed Methods Study.

Today, many young men who have sex with men (YMSM) with a new HIV infection were diagnosed and successfully linked to HIV services. Studies on their health behaviors while living with HIV and their attitude toward the HIV clinic are scarce. We characterized common health behaviors of YMSM and assessed their perspective towards the existing HIV services. We collected data from a self-administered questionnaire and in-depth interviews (IDI) using a mixed-method cross-sectional study design. A hundred YMSM, aged 18-24, who attended the HIV clinic were enrolled. Their median age was 23 years (interquartile range, IQR 21-24). Eighty-four (84%) were gay men. Their common health behaviors included 15 (15%) being current smokers and 30 (30%) using alcohol regularly. Sixty-four (64%) reported > 95% antiretroviral treatment adherence, while 32 (32%) self-reported adherence at 80-95%. Fifty-three (53%) reported 100% condom use, while 30 (30%) reported using a condom in > 80% of their sexual activities. From the questionnaire respondents, individual characteristics of providers were the most critical factor affecting participants' willingness to attend HIV services. From the IDI, social disclosure of HIV status was their primary concern, with the presence of self- and anticipating HIV-related stigma issues. In summary, YMSM living with HIV who regularly attended the HIV clinic had a low frequency of health risk behaviors. Most did not socially disclose their serostatus but could manage their health. They were generally satisfied with patient-friendly services while calling to protect their confidentiality and privacy.

Impact of episodes of lucidity on people living with dementia and their caregivers: A qualitative study

AbstractBackgroundEpisodes of lucidity (EL) are generally characterized by a spontaneous and unexpected return of abilities previously believed to be lost in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease related dementias (AD/ADRD). Among the myriad implications of lucidity are the impact these episodes have on the person living with ADRD and their family caregivers. Family caregivers provide the majority of support for persons with AD/ADRD and frequently experience complex grief associated with identity and relationship changes over the course of the disease. Consequentially, a transient return of abilities and connection in the person with AD/ADRD may have a substantial impact on their conceptualization of consciousness in the care recipient living with AD/ADRD, approach to care, and emotional wellbeing. It is also not understood how persons living with AD/ADRD may respond to EL.MethodsThis study utilized a descriptive qualitative method employing semi‐structured interviews with family caregivers (N = 22) of persons living with AD/ADRD. Interviews elicited information about participant’s experiences with EL, interpretation of these events, and appraisal of the impact of the event on themselves and the person experiencing it. Interview data were analyzed using a modified, two‐phase thematic analysis approach.ResultsEL were commonly conceptualized by caregivers as illustrative of the ongoing presence of self and consciousness in the person living with AD/ADRD that they posit is at other times concealed due to cognitive impairment. Caregivers overwhelmingly reported that these episodes were valued moments that offered meaningful connection to their loved ones, also at times facilitating acts of saying goodbye or making hard decisions. Caregivers perceived EL as having variable impact on the person living with AD/ADRD. In some situations, EL were perceived as providing the person living with AD/ADRD greater capacity to engage. Sometimes, EL were described as being accompanied by insight regarding deficits and perceived as upsetting to the person living with AD/ADRD.ConclusionWe found that EL can have both positive and negative impacts on caregivers and people living with AD/ADRD. Future research is needed to address ethical considerations surrounding EL and to support caregivers in how to anticipate and respond to these events.

Nonlinear optical properties of gold nanoparticles containing borate glasses at spectral region of surface plasmon resonance

Herein, we subjected the sodium borate glass activated with gold nanoparticles (NPs) to thermal treatment at 500 °C for different holding time to improve their nonlinear optical (NLO) characteristics in visible spectral region. The linear optical density and microscopic measurements confirmed the presence gold NPs in the glass. The outcomes also divulged the growth of Au NPs with an annealing schedule. The NLO attributes were ascertained through the Z–scan method, in which the samples were pumped at 532 nm utilizing nanosecond laser pulses fired at a rate of 1 kHz. Open aperture Z–scan measurements disclosed the existence of two–photon absorption nonlinearity, whereas closed aperture Z–scan experiments revealed the presence of self–defocusing nonlinear refraction in the studied glasses. The measurements unveiled the enhance trend of two–photon absorption and nonlinear refraction coefficients of glass host with thermal holding time owing to the growth of NPs. It was identified that the titled glass embedded with gold NPs annealed for 7 h at 500 °C owes maximum NLO features. Therefore, NBAu–7 glass examined in the current sturdy is beneficial for bio–imaging, optical limiting and NLO nanophotonic applications.

University students' experience of online space while engaging in synchronous learning via videoconferencing amidst the pandemic.

The high infectivity and fatality of COVID-19 has changed the mode of higher education from onsite to online. Although many studies investigated the effectiveness and satisfaction of online education, little is known regarding university students' lived experience of online space during synchronous learning via videoconferencing. The present study explored how university students experienced online space when engaging in synchronous learning via videoconferencing platforms during the outbreak of the pandemic. The phenomenological approach was chosen to primarily explore students' experience of online space as well as their experience of embodiment and relations to self and others. Interviews were conducted with nine university students who voluntarily participated to share their experience of online space. Three core themes were generated from the descriptions of experiences provided by the participants. For each core theme, two sub-themes were emerged and described. The analysis of the themes demonstrated that online space was experienced as being separate from home but also inseparable because it was an extension of the comforts of home. This inseparableness is also reflected in the virtual classroom where the rectangular screen presented on the monitor is always shared with everyone in the class. Moreover, online space was perceived as having no transitional space in which spontaneity and new encounters occur. Finally, the presence of self and others was experienced differently in online space due to the participants' choices of being seen or heard using their microphones and cameras. This led to a different sense of togetherness in online space. The insights gained from the study were discussed in relation to considerations for online learning in the post-pandemic era. Based on the emerged themes from the results, the current study concluded that the online space created by technologies cannot be a complete substitute for traditional face-to-face classrooms and suggested possible implications for designing and using online space in university education.

The Fluid Dynamics of Viscous Identities: Sedimentations of Time in Five Late-Ottoman Refugee Towns in Bosnia since 1863

This article develops Reinhart Koselleck's concept of 'sediments of time' processually, as sedimentation and erosion of the social and physical indicators of the presence of Self- and Other-identifying communities through time. We expand the concept of the 'fluidity' of ethnic or national identities to include viscosity, the resistance of a liquid to flowing freely. Group identities may be viscous, changing slowly and maintaining much continuity through time. Fluidity thus becomes a variable quality, not simply a binary opposite of 'fixed'. Using this model we analyse developments in five towns newly founded by the Ottoman empire in 1862–63 on the northern border of Bosnia, to house Muslims expelled from Serbia and reinforce the border with the Habsburgs in places where few Muslims were then living. Throughout, the populations of the towns were largely self-distinguishing between Muslims (Bosniaks), Roman Catholics (Croats), and Orthodox Christians (Serbs). By 2013, only one settlement was still majority Muslim (now Bosniak), one was majority Croat, two majority Serb, and one nearly equal in Serb and Bosniak populations; though other balances had obtained in earlier periods. To explain the flow of social interactions through time in these towns we develop a model drawn from fluid dynamics, of the differences between the laminar flows of liquids that seem smooth but are composed of layers of differing composition that do not much intermix, and turbulence, when such laminar flows meet an obstruction. Interactions between members of ethnoreligious communities may also flow with apparent smoothness, yet in a laminar fashion. When events occur that disrupt this flow, by newly created borders or the transformation of jurisdictional boundaries into barriers, the resulting turbulence, often violent, may lead to the separation of some of the layers, possibly into new forms of laminar flow. By paying attention to the varying ways in which physical and social indictors of such communities have developed through time in five contrasting locations, we gain a better understanding of wider historical processes that continue to be in play.

Nonequilibrium thermodynamics of glycolytic traveling wave: Benjamin-Feir instability

Evolution of the nonequilibrium thermodynamic entities corresponding to dynamics of the Hopf instabilities and traveling waves at a nonequilibrium steady state of a spatially extended glycolysis model is assessed here by implementing an analytically tractable scheme incorporating a complex Ginzburg-Landau equation (CGLE). In the presence of self and cross diffusion, a more general amplitude equation exploiting the multiscale Krylov-Bogoliubov averaging method serves as an essential tool to reveal the various dynamical instability criteria, especially Benjamin-Feir (BF) instability, to estimate the corresponding nonlinear dispersion relation of the traveling wave pattern. The critical control parameter, wave-number selection criteria, and magnitude of the complex amplitude for traveling waves are modified by self- and cross-diffusion coefficients within the oscillatory regime, and their variabilities are exhibited against the amplitude equation. Unlike the traveling waves, a low-amplitude broad region appears for the Hopf instability in the concentration dynamics as the system phase passes through minima during its variation with the control parameter. The total entropy production rate of the uniform Hopf oscillation and glycolysis wave not only qualitatively reflects the global dynamics of concentrations of intermediate species but almost quantitatively. Despite the crucial role of diffusion in generating and shaping the traveling waves, the diffusive part of the entropy production rate has a negligible contribution to the system's total entropy production rate. The Hopf instability shows a more complex and colossal change in the energy profile of the open nonlinear system than in the traveling waves. A detailed analysis of BF instability shows a contrary nature of the semigrand Gibbs free energy with discrete and continuous wave numbers for the traveling wave. We hope the Hopf and traveling wave pattern around the BF instability in terms of energetics and dissipation will open up new applications of such dynamical phenomena.

Рефлексия и виртуальная реальность: от этимологического анализа понятий к пониманию сущностных отношений

The study of virtual reality in psychology and pedagogy requires an understanding of the essential connections and relationships of VR with various mental phenomena, and above all - reflection.The urgency of considering this problem is due to the search of VR developers and those who use virtual technologies in practice, including VR didactics, practical psychology, for a solution to the issue of self-management of systems with VR.Can VR exercise the reflective function of the mind represented in the processes of self-development, self-determination, self-management of the individual? The first step in solving this issue is to identify and describe the essential relations of reflection and virtual reality.For this, an etymological analysis of the concepts of reflection and virtual reality was carried out.The paper highlights the intersections in the semantic meanings of these concepts.Our analysis allowed us to employ the functional model of reflection (Anikina V.G.), within which VR can be considered as a ‘chronotope’ of reflection — the space-time continuum of the presence of Self ‘outside’ the situation, in relation to which the reflective process is meaningfully carried out.The paper outlines the possible ways of using VR in the development and formation of reflection and universal reflective actions in the educational process.

The prevalence, causes, and management strategies for stress among health-care professionals of Delhi-National Capital Region

Background: Stress at workplace has an adverse impact not only on the employees in terms of health, well being, and job dissatisfaction, but also affects the organization in terms of quality of output, absenteeism, and attrition which ultimately has detrimental financial implications. Health care professionals comprise of an important group that are majorly affected by workplace stress because of the nature of their work environment. Methods: The current study was undertaken to ascertain the presence of self perceived stress among healthcare workers in multispecialty hospitals of the National Capital Region of Delhi and to find the expected remedial measures that could be implemented to mitigate stress. In a questionnaire based study, a self administered questionnaire was used to assess stress and related factors using convenience-sampling technique. The response data were extracted and analyzed using Microsoft Excel, which was used for data analysis, tabulation, and graphical presentation. Results: Total 110 responses were received. Three quarter of the respondents identified significant stress in their life, with the highest stress reported by nursing staff at 98%, doctors at 67%, and administrative staff at 56%. The study shows a significant association of self reported stress with age of the respondents (P

Technology Adoption, Household Uncertainty and Wealth Inequality

This article examines the portfolio choice of workers that face differential exposure to technology-driven displacement. Using an exogenous policy shock that incentivized the firms to invest in technology, we show that the routine workers respond to heightened displacement risk by reducing the share of liquid wealth invested in equities. This effect is independent of the well-documented wealth effect and is weaker in presence of self or government-sponsored insurance. We show that the conservative portfolio choice of routine households lowers their return on liquid wealth and our simulations show that, ceteris paribus, the reported changes in portfolio composition can lead to a return-on-wealth differential of 30% over a 10-year period.

Construction, Preservation, and the Presence of Self in Observer Memory

Observer memories involve a representation of the self in the memory image, which is presented from a detached or external point of view. That such an image is an obvious departure from how one initially experienced the event seems relatively straightforward. However, in my book on this type of imagery, I suggested that such memories can in fact, at least in some cases, accurately represent one’s past experience of an event. During these past events there is a sense in which we adopt an external perspective on ourselves. In the present paper, I respond to a critical notice of my book by Marina Trakas. Trakas argues that my account of observer memory unfolded against the background of a problematic preservationist account of episodic memory, and that I failed to adequately account for the presence of self in observer memory. I respond these worries here, and I try to clarify key points that were underdeveloped in the book.

PREPARATION OF MESOSCOPIC STRUCTURE POLY METHYL METHACRYLATE THIN FILMS FOR AFM DATA STORAGE DEVICES.

Poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) thin films were prepared by dip coating method. Benzene was used as a solvent to prepare PMMA thin films for the time periods ranging from 1 min. to 1 h. The thickness of the films deposited was measured by using an electronic thickness measuring instrument (Tesatronic-TTD-20). Fourier Transform Infrared spectrum was used to identify the above said films. X-ray diffraction spectra indicated the predominantly amorphous nature of the films. Surface morphology of the coated films studied by using scanning electron microscope (SEM) indicated the absence of any pits, cracks and pin holes in the surface. Both as grown and annealed films showed smooth and amorphous structures. The closer SEM inspection revealed the presence of self assembled mesoscopic cells. The mesoscopic structure PMMA thin films could be used as an AFM-based data storage which is promising alternative to conventional magnetic data storage because it offers great potential for considerable storage density improvements.

The Absence of Self: An Existential Phenomenological View of The Anatman Experience

This paper focuses on the Anatman experience as described by Guatma(6th century BCE). Many Buddhist philosophers consider the absence of self as a foundational experience of Buddhism. This paper elaborates the Buddhist Absence of Self from the View of Existential Phenomenology. The paper articulates the phenomenological difference between the Ontic-Ontological absence of Self in early Buddhism and the Ontic-Ontological presence of Self in Contemporary Existential Phenomenology. Throughout the paper there is an Existential Phenomenological focus on the intertwining of our Sense of Self and our Sense of Being. The sense of self in early Buddhism is being-less, baseless and empty. Empty of What? Empty of Being! There is no presence of Being and no Being of presence. There is no experience of Being. There is no source of Being. There is no source of Being for our mind. The mind is absent of Being. There is no source of Being for us as person. In early Buddhism the absence of self is the absence of Being-ness.

Visual Perspectives in Episodic Memory and the Sense of Self.

The connection between memory and self-consciousness has been a central topic in philosophy of memory. When remembering an event we experienced in the past, not only do we experience being the subject of the conscious episode, but we also experience being the protagonist in the memory scene. This is the “phenomenal presence of self.” To explore this special sense of self in memory, this paper focuses on the issue of how one identifies oneself in episodic simulation at the retrieval of memory and draws attention to the field and observer perspectives in episodic memory. Metzinger (2013a,b, 2017) recently introduced the concept of the phenomenal unit of identification (UI) to characterize the phenomenal property that gives rise to the conscious experience of “I am this.” This paper shows how observer-perspective remembering provides an interesting opportunity for studying the sense of self. It is argued that observer-perspective remembering is a stable state of consciousness that is distinct from autoscopic phenomena with respect to the dimensions of minimal phenomenal self (MPS). Together, the notion of UI and the particular style of remembering offer a way of understanding the phenomenal presence of self, and three possible ways in which phenomenal properties constitute UI in memory are raised. The study of perspectives in episodic simulation may prompt new empirical and conceptual issues concerning both the sense of identity and the relationship between MPS and extended self.

Experiences of using Authentic Assessment with English Language Young Learners

This paper brings about the discussion on findings from an interview with young learners about school-based assessment that takes place in their English language classroom. Their ideas, comments and feelings were recorded and analysed. Literature has pointed out that including learners’ views in learning as well as in assessment will yield better learning outcomes. The discussion will be touching on what the young learners’ think about the ‘new’ assessment that takes place in the classroom and how they want it to be carried out. The results of the study show that there are five emerging themes: a) lack of young learners’ involvement in assessment, b) lack of support from the school administration, c) overwhelming documentation d) need for inclusion of parental involvement, and e) presence of self and peer assessments. Insights from the findings can be an eye-opener for the teachers to carry out improved authentic assessment practices in their classrooms in tandem with the ministry’s aspiration to provide formative feedback that places student learning at centre.

Comparative study of floral biology using detergent and confirm selfincompatibility system in protogynous lines of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea)

Seven genotypes of mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj and Coss.], protogynous lines (F3-5 generation), cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) line and different concentrations (3, 5 and 8% (w/v)) of detergent (synthetic detergent powder was used in present investigation. There is effect of detergent which induces more prominent male sterility expression in Pusa Bold followed by Ashirwad genotypes and more vigorous during floral bud initiation, resist to scorching effect and delayed in flowering. Furthermore, the floral attributes, viz. anther length (mm), no. of pollen grains/bagged flower, pollen fertility, stylar length (mm), stigma receptivity, no. of ovules and seed set (%) were highly significant and which induced 100 % male sterility. Similarly, the pollen-ovule ratio was found to be nonsignificant and the yield0/plant significantly declined with increase in detergent concentration. The PG line showed more prominent stigma exertion, extended protogynous interval (9-10 days) and stigma receptivity (3-4 days) from its protrusion compared to induced male sterile line. The expression of male sterility in PG and CMS lines showed the partial sterility (30-50%) and absolute (100%) respectively. Further, the PG line had low seed set on selfing even it produces normal pollen (pollen viability test) but it was high seed setting occurs with out-crossing hence, it was confirmed presence of self- incompatibility system in the protogynous plants.

Blocking mutation independent p53 aggregation by emodin modulates autophagic cell death pathway in lung cancer.

Loss of p53 function via mutation is a very common cause of human cancers. Recent studies have provided evidence on presence of self aggregated p53 in cancer cells leading to its altered functions towards cause of cancer. The general notion has been that mutated p53 exposes adhesive sites that promote self aggregation, however a complete mechanistic understanding to this has been lacking. We embarked on the present study towards exploring the differential aggregation pattern in cells expressing mutated TP53 (HaCaT keratinocytes) vs those expressing the wild type copy of the p53 protein (A549 lung cancer cell line). The studies led us to interesting observation that formation of p53 protein aggregates is not always associated with TP53 mutation. The A549 lung cancer cells, having wild type TP53, showed the appearance of p53 protein aggregates, while no protein aggregates were observed in normal HaCaT keratinocytes carrying mutant TP53. We went on to study the effect of blocking protein aggregation by emodin (1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methyl-anthraquinone) and figured that inhibiting p53 protein aggregation can elevate the level of autophagy in A549 lung cancer cell line while there is no significant effect on autophagy in normal non-cancerous HaCaT cells. Moreover, ATG5 was found to be coaggregated with p53 aggregates which dissociated after emodin treatment, indicating further induction of autophagy in A549 cells only. From these observations, we conclude that the increased level of autophagy might be the mechanism for the removal of p53 protein aggregates which restores p53 function in A549 cells after emodin treatment .This encourages further studies towards deciphering related mechanistic aspects vis-à-vis potential therapeutic strategies against cancer.

Spectral Studies of Nanosecond Laser Interaction with Aluminum-Based Alloy Containing Traces of Magnesium in Air

Parametric study of optical emission Characterization of the plasma-assisted laser ablation of aluminium-based alloy that contains small traces of magnesium is presented. The emission of lines from the plasma of the target in the wavelength range 200-900nm has been carefully investigated at the same experimental conditions. It was found that all the emission intensities of the ionic and neutral magnesium lines are subjected to self-absorption, whereas the aluminium ionic lines were free from self-absorption. The results assure that, in case of the presence of self- absorption effect, the temperature varies from (1.7952 - 1.1433 eV) as the delay time is varied from 0 to 5 μs. Whereas, in the case of repairing against the effect, it varies from (1.3240 - 0.9447 eV) for the same delay time variation. At the same time, according to the McWhirter criterion, the electron density was high enough to establish plasma in local thermodynamic equilibrium.

Self-tolerance and autoimmunity in a minimal model of the idiotypic network

We consider self-tolerance and its failure—autoimmunity—in a minimal mathematical model of the idiotypic network. A node in the network represents a clone of B-lymphocytes and its antibodies of the same idiotype which is encoded by a bitstring. The links between nodes represent possible interactions between clones of almost complementary idiotype. A clone survives only if the number of populated neighbored nodes is neither too small nor too large. The dynamics is driven by the influx of lymphocytes with randomly generated idiotype from the bone marrow. Previous work has revealed that the network evolves toward a highly organized modular architecture, characterized by groups of nodes which share statistical properties. The structural properties of the architecture can be described analytically, the statistical properties determined from simulations are confirmed by a modular mean-field theory. To model the presence of self we permanently occupy one or several nodes. These nodes influence their linked neighbors, the autoreactive clones, but are themselves not affected by idiotypic interactions. The architecture is very similar to the case without self, but organized such that the neighbors of self are only weakly occupied, thus providing self-tolerance. This supports the perspective that self-reactive clones, which regularly occur in healthy organisms, are controlled by anti-idiotypic clones. We discuss how perturbations, like an infection with foreign antigen, a change in the influx of new idiotypes, or the random removal of idiotypes, may lead to autoreactivity and devise protocols which cause a reconstitution of the self-tolerant state. The results could be helpful to understand network and probabilistic aspects of autoimmune disorders.

Effect of self- and cross-phase modulation on photon pairs generated by spontaneous four-wave mixing in integrated optical waveguides

A novel time-domain approach using the momentum operator is used to model spontaneous four-wave mixing in a lossless nonlinear waveguide. The effects of self- and cross-phase modulation on the photon-pair production rate and heralded photon purity are investigated. We show that in the special case where only one half of the photon-pair state is filtered that the generation rate and purity of the heralded photons are unmodified by the presence of self- and cross-phase modulation. The significance of this special case arises when we consider heralded single-photon sources, where future schemes are likely to only filter the herald photon to ensure a high heralding efficiency is maintained.

Feasibility and outcomes of a national memory screening day at a community senior mental health clinic

Early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementias is advantageous for treatment planning and preparation for future decision-making. Easily accessible community memory screening is one method for early AD detection; however, the feasibility and community desire for such screening is not well established. We present development, feasibility, and outcomes from a free clinic-based cognitive screening as part of National Memory Screening Day. Free memory screens were advertised via the local newspaper, word-of-mouth, and at regional events and organizations serving older adults. Screening occurred at a community senior mental health clinic. Assessments for the memory screening were chosen to favor test sensitivity over specificity in order to maximize detection of possible cognitive impairment. Tests were also selected to cover multiple domains of cognition including memory, processing and psychomotor speed, language, and global cognition within a 20-minute battery. Sensitivity and specificity estimates were used to derive likelihood ratios, which were subsequently combined to provide an estimate of risk of cognitive impairment based on an estimated base rate of 25%. Presence of self- and informant-reported memory concerns factored into the risk calculation. A total of 18 older adults ranging in age from 57 to 87 (M = 70.22, SD = 8.69) participated. The sample was highly educated (M = 16.28 years of education) and included equal numbers of male and female participants. Sixteen participants (89%) reported concerns about their own memory, while six participants (33%) reported that others had expressed concerns about their memory. Mean Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score was 25.05 (SD = 3.47), and recommendations for neuropsychological follow-up were made for four participants (22% of the sample). This screening yielded clinically relevant information regarding potential risk for cognitive impairment using a brief, easily administered battery. The service identified just over one fifth of the sample as high risk of cognitive impairment, potentially increasing the likelihood of early detection of AD or other dementias for individuals whose risk may otherwise have gone unidentified until later in the disease course. Such a memory screening day represents a valuable public health outreach for older adults at risk of dementia.