Significant Behavioral Changes Research Articles

Agropreneurship Training Evaluation Model for Sustainable B 40 Rural Community in Malaysia

Entrepreneurial training is one of the key elements that address poverty among the B40 (i.e., the lower-income group) in Malaysia. However, the results of accomplishing the introduced training program have not been proven empirically. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of agropreneur training in sustainable agropreneurship involvement in Malaysia. The four-level Kirkpatrick model and the self-regulation theory have been adopted in this study. A total of 200 respondents participated in a survey a year after the implementation of the program. The respondents perceived that the training program has been a success. The results showed a strong relationship between certain measures of reaction and learning regarding the respondents’ behaviour. More importantly, training has led to significant behavioural changes, which contributed to people’s continuous involvement in agropreneurship. The results have also shown that effective entrepreneurship training has created a significant, positive impact on rural agropreneur sustainability among the participants.

Strengthening emotional intelligence intervention on behavior changes of mothers in stunting prevention

This study aimed to determine the effect of applying Emotional intelligence reinforcement to changes in stunting prevention behavior at the Kedung 2 Health Center, Jepara. This study employed a cross-sectional approach and data from participants at the Kedung 2 Public Health Center in Jepara. Public Health Center, Jepara. Participants were taken by purposive sampling according to predetermined maternal criteria, and 82 participants were obtained. Quasi-experimental research methods with two groups of emotional intelligence strengthening design, pre-intervention and post-intervention. Data collection used a questionnaire to measure the emotional intelligence of respondents and stunting prevention behavior. The data were then analyzed using the SPSS program. The correlation value shows that there is a strong relationship between the strengthening of emotional intelligence interventions and changes in maternal stunting prevention behavior, with a correlation value of 0.905 and a significance value of less than 0.001. The results of the T-test also showed significant behavioral changes in stunting prevention behavior before and after the application of strengthening emotional intelligence, with a significance value of 0.008. Strengthening emotional intelligence has a strong positive correlation with stunting prevention behavior, and the results of the T-test show that there is a significant effect on the results of stunting prevention behavior between before and after strengthening emotional intelligence. As a result, strengthening maternal emotional intelligence should be a priority to prevent stunting.

Template assisted fabrication of nanoporous titanium dioxide coating on 316 L stainless steel for orthopaedic applications

BackgroundSurface modified metallic implants with nanoporous morphology finds extensive application as functional implant material as it mimics the biological conditions as well as matches the mechanical characteristics of the bone. The current study involves synthesis of nano-titania coating by the employment of PMMA as a templating agent and compared with widely used PEG 400. MethodThe titania coatings were synthesized by sol-gel methodology and deposited on 316 L SS by dip coating method. The coating morphology was characterized by Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy - energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX) and Atomic force microscopy (AFM). The bioactive nature of the coatings were evaluated by in vitro bioactivity study in simulated body fluid (SBF). The toxicity and cell adhesion of the coatings were analyzed by MTT assay. The ability of the coatings to resist corrosion was studied with potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Significant findingsThe changes in the cell adhesion behavior are observed for the different coatings. The TiO2 coatings exhibited excellent corrosion resistance. Besides, the nanoporous coating developed with PMMA as the templating agent revealed excellent bioactivity as well as higher corrosion resistance.

Transportation Simulation Modeling and Location-Based Services Data Completion Based on a Data and Model Dual-Driven Approach

The evolving economic and technological landscape has brought about significant changes in travel behaviors and traffic patterns. These changes have led to the emergence of complex, multi-modal travel demands that interact with transportation networks, posing new challenges in transportation analysis and control. The primary objective of this study is to address these challenges by improving transportation modeling and data completeness using advanced modeling tools and transportation big data. We propose a dual-driven simulation model that integrates transportation simulation and big data. The approach begins by utilizing initial Location-Based Services (LBS) data to establish a mesoscopic multi-modal simulation model, which is then calibrated. This calibrated model is then employed to complete the missing trajectories of the LBS data. The innovative aspect of this dual-driven simulation model lies in its novel approach to constructing transportation models and completing LBS data, thereby enhancing both the simulation accuracy and the results of missing path completion. We conduct tests using the urban area of Hangzhou as an example, and the results show that the Normalized Root Mean Square Error (NRMSE) between the average link speeds in the simulation model and in real world observation is reduced to 24.1%. In the LBS data completion process, our proposed method achieves a travel mode identification accuracy of 95.3% for private car travel. Compared to the two baseline methods, the average accuracy of completed trajectories increases by 6.31% and 2.46%, respectively.

Mesoporous Pdx-Nix aerogels for electrocatalytic evaluation of urea-assisted electrolysis

This work presents the synthesis and evaluation of Pd-Ni aerogels toward the urea oxidation reaction (UOR). The incorporation of Ni led to a 0.13 V reduction in the energy required for the oxidation and reduction of PdO compared to monometallic Pd, both in alkaline medium with and without urea. Varying the Ni ratios in Pd (Pd-Ni 4:1, Pd-Ni 1:1, and Pd-Ni 1:4) led to significant changes in the electrochemical behaviour. In alkaline medium without urea, PdNi 4:1 showed the formation of NiOOH at 1.35 V, which promoted oxygen diffusion on the electrode surface and increased the current density, confirming the increase in the active sites of NiOOH and NiPdOOH and enabling urea-based electrolysis at these sites. While palladium aerogels alone are ineffective for UOR, the presence of nickel plays a key role in enhancing the UOR efficiency. On the other hand, physicochemical characterisation revealed that PdNi 4:1 has a crystal size of 4.37 nm and a larger shift in the 2θ positions of the (111) and (200) planes, which favours electronic changes that were investigated by XPS. These changes affected the electrocatalytic activity, which is primarily related to electronic effects. The results of SEM and TEM studies and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm confirmed that the aerogels are highly porous and have an effective surface area and abundant active sites for reactions that allow efficient mass transfer and low diffusion resistance. TEM observations revealed interconnected nanochains indicating optimal electrocatalytic activity for both ORR and UOR due to high mass transfer. These interconnected networks are crucial for improving electrocatalytic activity in the urea oxidation reaction.

Effects of social housing on alcohol intake in mice depend on the non-social environment.

Excessive alcohol consumption leads to serious health problems. Mechanisms regulating the consumption of alcohol are insufficiently understood. Previous preclinical studies suggested that non-social environmental and social environmental complexities can regulate alcohol consumption in opposite directions. However, previous studies did not include all conditions and/or did not include female rodents. Therefore, in this study, we examined the effects of social versus single housing in standard versus non-standard housing conditions in male and female mice. Adult C57BL/6 J mice were housed in either standard shoebox cages or in automated Herdsman 2 (HM2) cages and exposed to a two-bottle choice procedure with 3% or 6% ethanol versus water for 5 days. The HM2 cages use radiotracking devices to measure the fluid consumption of individual mice in an undisturbed and automated manner. In both housing conditions, mice were housed either at one or at four per cage. In standard cages, group housing of animals decreased alcohol consumption and water consumption. In HM2 cages, group housing significantly increased ethanol preference and decreased water intake. There were no significant differences in these effects between male and female animals. These observations were similar for 3 and 6% ethanol solutions but were more pronounced for the latter. The effects of social environment on ethanol preference in HM2 cages were accompanied by an increase in the number of approaches to the ethanol solution and a decrease in the number of approaches to water. The differences in ethanol intake could not be explained by differences in locomotor or exploratory activity as socially housed mice showed fewer non-consummatory visits to the ethanol solutions than single-housed animals. In addition, we observed that significant changes in behaviors measuring the approach to the fluid were not always accompanied by significant changes in fluid consumption, and vice versa, suggesting that it is important to assess both measures of motivation to consume alcohol. Our results indicate that the direction of the effects of social environment on alcohol intake in mice depends on the non-social housing environment. Understanding mechanisms by which social and non-social housing conditions modulate alcohol intake could suggest approaches to counteract environmental factors enhancing hazardous alcohol consumption.

Inferring diet, disease and antibiotic resistance from ancient human oral microbiomes.

The interaction between a host and its microbiome is an area of intense study. For the human host, it is known that the various body-site-associated microbiomes impact heavily on health and disease states. For instance, the oral microbiome is a source of various pathogens and potential antibiotic resistance gene pools. The effect of historical changes to the human host and environment to the associated microbiome, however, has been less well explored. In this review, we characterize several historical and prehistoric events which are considered to have impacted the oral environment and therefore the bacterial communities residing within it. The link between evolutionary changes to the oral microbiota and the significant societal and behavioural changes occurring during the pre-Neolithic, Agricultural Revolution, Industrial Revolution and Antibiotic Era is outlined. While previous studies suggest the functional profile of these communities may have shifted over the centuries, there is currently a gap in knowledge that needs to be filled. Biomolecular archaeological evidence of innate antimicrobial resistance within the oral microbiome shows an increase in the abundance of antimicrobial resistance genes since the advent and widespread use of antibiotics in the modern era. Nevertheless, a lack of research into the prevalence and evolution of antimicrobial resistance within the oral microbiome throughout history hinders our ability to combat antimicrobial resistance in the modern era.

Understanding land take by low-density residential areas: An institutionalist perspective on local planning authorities, developers and households

Using a case study design, the study focuses on identifying the institutional configuration that determines land take by low-density residential areas. Methodologically, it combines geospatial approaches and new institutionalism to capture and understand residential development, taking into account the interests, constraints and agency of local planning authorities, developers and households. The geospatial analysis shows that land take in the case study regions is primarily the result of low-density residential areas. We find that the combination of rural housing ideals, municipal policy objectives, municipalities' disengagement from spatial development and private sector interests are the main drivers for this kind of residential development. As the interests and constraints apply to all case study regions, the identified institutional configuration has high power in explaining low-density residential development. Our study thus uncovers a close link between the interests and constraints of actors, which on the one hand explains the limited impact of existing and new planning instruments on reducing land take, and on the other hand fosters path dependency in the development of low-density residential areas. Although there is some potential for change, breaking path dependency requires significant behavioural change among local planning authorities, developers and households.

Multi-dimensional impact of COVID-19 on active mobility in urban China: a scoping review of empirical knowledge.

Active mobility, such as cycling and walking, is assuming a growing significance in the daily lives of urban residents in China due to its positive impact on health and the environment. The impact of the COVID-19 epidemic has elicited significant changes in behaviors, perceptions, and intellectual viewpoints in this domain, potentially altering residents' physical activities in the long-term. This scoping review seeks to delve into the multi-dimensional influence of the epidemic on active mobility in urban China. A thorough investigation of English and Chinese studies up to January 2024 was conducted, drawing from articles in Web of Science and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure. Only empirical studies providing knowledge into this subject were selected in the review, which comprised 20 studies in total. This review indicates that the influence of COVID-19 on active urban mobility in China has exhibited contradictory outcomes in terms of behavior. Besides, the experiences during the epidemic have significantly shaped citizens' attitudes and understanding of active mobility. The repercussions of the epidemic and the ensuing restrictions exacerbate the existing challenges faced by women, particularly those who are married, the older adult, and individuals with low incomes. The results exhibit both resemblances and idiosyncrasies when juxtaposed with prior research conducted in different nations. This analysis also offers valuable insights for improving active mobility across individual, organizational, and socio-political realms. The current state of empirical understanding in this field underscores the need for further research endeavors employing diverse methodological approaches and increased emphasis on the transformations anticipated in the post-epidemic era.

Effect of Animated Video Media on Smoking Behavior Students in Junior High School Muhammadiyah 1 Purbolinggo Kabupaten Lampung Timur

Based on data from Purbolinggo Health Center, there was an increase in smoking among teenagers by 75.5%, At Junior High School Muhammadiyah 1 Purbolinggo, 60% of students were actively smoking. The purpose of this research is to determine the effect of animated video media on smoking behavior among students at Junior High School Muhammadiyah 1 Purbolinggo. The research design used is pre-experimental, with an approach of pretest-postest. The sample for research is 25 students. The analysis used was univariate, and bivariate analysis used a t-dependent statistical test (paired t-test). The results of the statistical test of the dependent t-test (paired t-test) obtained a P value of 0.00 < 0.05, which means that there is a significant change in behavior, knowledge, and attitude. Animation video media has a significant influence on changes in behavior, knowledge, and attitudes. Therefore, animated video media is quite effective as a medium for health promotion about the dangers of smoking in students.

Abstract PO5-25-02: Microenvironment based co-culture dependence of breast cancer and immune cell interactions on functional outcomes

Abstract The tumour microenvironment (TME) includes physical forces from interstitial fluid flow and cell-cell interactions that modulate cancer development and progression through activation of multiple oncogenic pathways leading to tumor growth and metastatic spreading. We previously reported on the role of physical forces on epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and S100 gene family expression and cell to cell adhesion properties with implications to normal breast development and cancer. Signals from the tumor exit the local tumor environment through interstitial fluid transport and cell migration where they can be found in the blood stream. We developed a whole blood RNA gene expression biomarker panel coupled with proprietary software capable of identifying the presence of an active breast cancer signature at early stages of disease with clinical study results previously reported. Here we report on results from transcriptomic and function studies with cell interaction models. Cancer cells can influence immune cells through direct contact or via secreted molecules causing the immune cells to undergo functional changes. To investigate mechanisms involved in the induction of these alterations in a model system, we performed co-culture studies with human monocytic cells and breast cancer cells. Interaction of human monocytic cells with the breast cancer cells caused significant changes in both behavior and transcriptomes. Moreover, using RNAseq and pathway analysis we demonstrated that the changes induced through the exposure to the more aggressive triple negative (TNBC) phenotype were distinct from the alterations triggered upon contact with an ER+ breast cancer cell line. We also show that cancer-immune crosstalk triggers EMT as well as activation of multiple oncogenic pathways associated with cell migration and invasion, cell chemotaxis and cell-to-cell interactions. As the interplay between cancer and immune cells plays an important role in cancer progression, these findings provide important insight into key mechanisms controlling these outcomes. Citation Format: Karen Norek, Jacob Kennard, Kenneth Fuh, Robert Shepherd, Kristina Rinker, Olesya Kharenko. Microenvironment based co-culture dependence of breast cancer and immune cell interactions on functional outcomes [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO5-25-02.

Translation of paclitaxel-induced peripheral neurotoxicity from mice to patients: the importance of model selection.

Paclitaxel-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (PIPN) is a potentially dose-limiting side effect in anticancer chemotherapy. Several animal models of PIPN exist, but their results are sometimes difficult to be translated into the clinical setting. We compared 2 widely used PIPN models characterized by marked differences in their methodologies. Female C57BL/6JOlaHsd mice were used, and they received only paclitaxel vehicle (n = 38) or paclitaxel via intravenous injection (n = 19, 70 mg/kg) once a week for 4 weeks (Study 1) or intraperitoneally (n = 19, 10 mg/kg) every 2 days for 7 times (Study 2). At the end of treatment and in the follow-up, mice underwent behavioral and neurophysiological assessments of PIPN. At the same time points, some mice were killed and dorsal root ganglia, skin, and sciatic and caudal nerve samples underwent pathological examination. Serum neurofilament light levels were also measured. The differences in the neurotoxicity parameters were analyzed using a nonparametric Mann-Whitney test, with significance level set at P < 0.05. Study 1 showed significant and consistent behavioral, neurophysiological, pathological, and serological changes induced by paclitaxel administration at the end of treatment, and most of these changes were still evident in the follow-up period. By contrast, study 2 evidenced only a transient small fiber neuropathy, associated with neuropathic pain. Our comparative study clearly distinguished a PIPN model recapitulating all the clinical features of the human condition and a model showing only small fiber neuropathy with neuropathic pain induced by paclitaxel.

Abstract PO3-09-07: When We Tri(al): Reaching, Motivating, &amp; Effectively Engaging Black Women In Breast Cancer Clinical Trial Research

Abstract According to the American Cancer Society, Black women in the United States are 41% more likely to die from breast cancer than non-Hispanic white women. A systematic review of participation in clinical trials found that Black patients comprised less than 4% of all patients enrolled in clinical trials for emerging immune-based cancer treatments. The physiology of Black women has not been a significant consideration in clinical trial research. Clinical trial education, recruiting, and participation are not commensurate with the burden of disease. TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance (TOUCHBBCA) launched the When We Tri(al) Movement (WWT) in January 2022 with robust multi-media support and nationwide community event activations to educate and empower Black women with culturally-agile messaging from the trusted voices of Black Breast Cancer survivor/thrivers. WWT provides an innovative and engaging learning platform that clearly depicts how clinical trials work, explains standard of care, dispels historical myths, establishes trust, and empowers self-advocacy. To date, whenwetrial.org has garnered over 108,000 visits and sent nearly 11,000 Black women to clinical trial portals. One-third of unique website visitors have gone into clinical trial search portals. Over a sixteen day period in late June and early July of 2023, TOUCHBBCA conducted research among Black women who joined the When We Tri(al) movement using a pre-experimental, retrospective pre-then-post test (RPTP) survey design to assess growth in knowledge and behavior change among Black women exposed to the Movement. This survey received 113 respondents who self-identified as Black and assigned female at birth. Following exposure to WWT, 34.5% of respondents reported an increase in their understanding of how breast cancer clinical trials work, 31.9% reported an increase in their understanding of standard of care in breast cancer clinical trials, and 40.7% reported an increased understanding of why clinical trials are important for Black women. 32.7% of survey respondents were more likely to consider participating in a clinical trial after interacting with the WWT movement. After interacting with the movement, 31% of respondents took active steps to participate in a clinical trial—specified as searching for clinical trials in a portal, asking about clinical trial options, talking to a doctor about clinical trials, etc. Another 17.7% of respondents reported supporting a loved one in taking steps to participate in a clinical trial only after interacting with WWT. The majority of respondents reported first hearing about WWT through social media (59.2%), followed by “Other” (the majority of write-in responses named Google or a friend) (19.5%). Respondents reported that the most convincing WWT messages were delivered via social media (26.6%) and in-person conversations (20.4%). Not only is When We Tri(al) educating and equipping Black women with critical clinical trial knowledge, but the movement is driving significant behavior change by Black women around clinical trial participation. Citation Format: Ricki Fairley, Emily Powers, Hayley Brown. When We Tri(al): Reaching, Motivating, &amp; Effectively Engaging Black Women In Breast Cancer Clinical Trial Research [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO3-09-07.

Domestic Water Consumption Behaviour Before and During COVID-19 Pandemic in Karang Pawitan District

Corona virus was out breaking globally in 2020. It leads governments to impose a lockdown that restricted people contact outside their home, so everyone works, study and more activity at home. It may increase in spending food and freshwater. Lockdown has been made significant changes in behaviour and attitudes of domestic water consumption. The main objective of this research is to identify the impact of COVID-19 lockdown and health protocol on domestic water consumption behaviour during pandemic by comparing it before pandemic. The research conducted by survey, interview and statistical analysis. Survey done by asks online questionnaire that consist a set questions of water consumption behaviour. Data are analysed by using likert scale. The behaviour of water consumption will be described by performance level and importance level. The results of the Likert scale analysis are plotted in a Cartesian Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) diagram. Research shows that respondents consume water efficiently in many domestic activities. The average score of the performance level is greater than the importance level, both in pre and during the pandemic. Respondents consume water more often during this pandemic than before, such as 2.76 for performance level during pandemic and 2.59 for performance level before pandemic.

The Impact of Covid-19 on the Change of Customer Buying Behaviour

Background: The retail sector is rapidly developing over the past years. Retailers are investing more efforts and resources to provide a seamless experience through multiple channels. These developments led to significant changes in customer behaviour. Customers buying activities and way of selecting the products and retailers faced different changes and developments. The online retailing sector is entitled to continuous development. The latest development was due to the Covid-19 global pandemic that came without any previous notice. The customer behaviour starts adopting the digital online channels in most of their needs and wants. The appearance of new customer behaviour patterns due to Covid-19 lead to the emergence of new customer behaviour. Purpose: This study is of an exploratory and constructive nature. It is concerned with deepening the knowledge about the change in customer buying behaviour brought by Covid-19 on the retailing sector. The aim of the study is to identify and test new behavioural patterns that would influence the Swedish millennials’ in selecting between online and offline stores for shopping and buying fashion products. Method: An abductive approach was followed in this paper. Mixed methods of both qualitative and quantitative were used to fulfil the purpose of this exploratory research. The research followed a sequential exploratory design of two data collection phases. The ii empirical data was conducted from focus groups sessions with a total number of interviewee, and relevant responses from a web-based survey. Conclusion: The study has revealed two significant findings and contributed to propose a conceptual model. The fruitful results of this study are: (1) there is a vast customers’ migration towards online stores. (2) there are new behavioural patterns related to Covid 19 that are influencing the customer buying behaviour. (3) A proposed conceptual model which is concerned with the factors influencing the customer buying behaviour in selecting between online and offline fashion stores.

Survey on the Patterns of Feeding Difficulties and Behaviors in Filipino Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Seen in a Philippine Tertiary Hospital and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

To describe patterns of feeding difficulties and behaviors of Filipino children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). An electronic mealtime survey was administered to caregivers of 3- to 9-year-old children diagnosed with ASD in a Philippine tertiary government hospital. Descriptive statistics and correlation analyses between feeding difficulties measured as Mealtime Survey Score, sociodemographic data, and early feeding history were performed. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to these was analyzed through a binomial test. All of the 115 study subjects reported at least one problematic feeding behavior, with picky eating being the most frequent (61.74%). Significantly, more feeding difficulties were observed among the children with reported early feeding difficulties during their 2nd and 3rd year of life. There were no documented statistically significant changes in feeding behaviors during the past six months of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a high prevalence of feeding difficulties and problematic feeding behavior among Filipino children with ASD, however no significant changes to these during the past six months of the COVID-19 pandemic were documented. Present feeding difficulties and behaviors were associated with history of early feeding difficulties, highlighting the need to include feeding difficulties in screening tools, and early training programs and interventions for children with ASD.

Implementation of coaching methods to decrease the parenting stress levels among teenage mothers in Indonesia: A quasi-experimental study.

The high rate of early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and teenage mothers increases the prevalence of emotional and mental disorders, depression, parenting stress, and child stunting. Parenting coaching is among the effective ways to overcome parenting stress and improve parents' knowledge, skills, and behaviors, thereby avoiding child stunting. However, studies on parenting coaching are not widely conducted, particularly in Indonesia. This study aimed to present the current status of parenting stress among teenage mothers and assess whether parenting coaching effectively reduces parenting stress among teenage mothers. A quasi-experimental design was used. The participants were randomly selected into two groups: the intervention group receiving parenting coaching intervention and the control group receiving standard education using a leaflet. Data were collected in June 2021 in Takalar Regency, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Statistical Program for Social Science version 21 (Armonk, NY, USA) was employed for all statistical analyses. The parenting coaching intervention had a significant effect on parenting stress (p <0.001), with significant positive changes in knowledge, attitude (p <0.001), behavior (p <0.001), self-efficacy (p <0.001), and maternal function (p <0.001). Additionally, a significant difference in the achievement of z-score values was observed between the intervention and control groups based on Body Weight/Age (BW/A) (p <0.001) and Body Length/Age (BL/A) (p <0.001). However, Body Weight/Body Length (BW/BL) did not show a significant difference in the achievement of z-score (p = 0.34) in the third month. Parenting coaching can reduce parenting stress among teenage mothers and improve their knowledge, attitudes, behavior, self-efficacy, and maternal function; hence, this intervention can be used as a reference in the nursing process to reduce parenting stress and prevent child stunting.

Long-Term Effectiveness of Off-Label Risperidone Treatment in Children and Adolescents: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Discontinuation Study.

Objectives: Risperidone is commonly prescribed off-label in children and adolescents to manage disruptive behavior. This study aimed to investigate continued benefits of risperidone after at least 1 year of treatment and effects of discontinuation on physical health. Methods: Thirty-five youths (aged 6-18 years, intelligence quotient [IQ] >70) who were treated with risperidone for at least 1 year in regular clinical practice receiving outpatient care were randomly assigned to double-blind continuation of risperidone during 16 weeks or continuation for 2 weeks, gradual dose lowering over 6 weeks, and placebo for 8 weeks. Primary outcome was the total Disruptive Behavior (D-total) score of the parent-reported Nisonger Child Behavior Rating Form-Typical IQ (NCBRF-TIQ). Secondary outcome measures were the clinician-rated Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement scale (CGI-I), the parent, child, and teacher-rated Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), the parent-rated Retrospective Modified Overt Aggression Scale (R-MOAS), and several health parameters (Udvalg for Kliniske Undersøgelser Side Effect Rating Scale [UKU-SERS], dyskinesia, akathisia, parkinsonism, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and laboratory outcomes). Mixed models for repeated measures were conducted for continuous outcomes and a chi-square test for the CGI-I. Results: Discontinuation of risperidone, as compared with continuation, was not associated with significant changes in parent-reported disruptive behaviors. However, discontinuation was related to significant deterioration in parent-rated verbal aggression, teacher-rated behavioral functioning, clinician-rated general functioning, and significant improvements in weight, BMI, waist circumference, and glucose, insulin, and prolactin levels. Although 56% of participants in the discontinuation group experienced relapse, causing premature withdrawal from the study, 44% was able to successfully discontinue risperidone. Conclusion: Discontinuation of risperidone was associated with deterioration on some, but not all behavioral measures according to this explorative study. Discontinuation was associated with important health gains. Despite long-term benefits of risperidone, attempts to withdraw risperidone should be undertaken in individual children. This is a crucial step in preventing harm and fostering health.

Effects of Unilateral High Frequency Stimulation of the Subthalamic Nucleus on Risk-avoidant Behavior in a Partial 6-hydroxydopamine Model of Parkinson's Disease.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is a well-established treatment for the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). While PD is primarily characterized by motor symptoms such as tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia, it also involves a range of non-motor symptoms, and anxiety is one of the most common. The relationship between PD and anxiety is complex and can be a result of both pathological neural changes and the psychological and emotional impacts of living with a chronic progressive condition. Managing anxiety in PD is critical for improving the patients' quality of life. However, patients undergoing STN DBS can occasionally experience increased anxiety. This study investigates changes in risk-avoidant behavior following STN DBS in a pre-motor animal model of PD under chronic and acute unilateral high frequency stimulation. No significant changes in risk-avoidant behaviors were observed in rats who underwent STN DBS compared with sham stimulation controls. Chronic stimulation prevented sensitization in the elevated zero maze. These results suggest that unilateral stimulation of the STN may have minimal effects on risk-avoidant behaviors in PD. However, additional research is required to fully understand the mechanisms responsible for changes in anxiety during STN DBS for PD.

Effects of an Animation-Based Comprehensive Sexuality Education Package: A 2-Year Repeated Intervention Study.

Preadolescents, who are in a transitional phase of development, may experience higher exposure to heterosexual interactions while facing higher risks regarding misinformation in sexual knowledge and unsafe engagement in sexual activities. There is a deficiency in the availability of qualified educators and age-appropriate teaching materials for sexuality education in China. We implemented an animation-based comprehensive sexuality education package among preadolescents aged 9 to 12 years from eight schools in Anhui, China. The first round of intervention included 1,835 participants, lasting 2 months from September to November 2020. A total of 374 participants, accounting for 52% of the intervention group, received a second round of intervention in September 2021. Participants completed immediate follow-up assessment and 1-year follow-up assessment to assess changes in their sexual knowledge, attitudes, and other outcomes. Propensity score matching and difference-in-difference analysis were performed to determine the short- and long-term impacts. Significant improvements were observed for both sexual knowledge and sexual attitudes in the immediate follow-up. There was no significant effect on pornography-seeking behavior or awareness of experiencing sexual abuse. After 1 year, the effect was sustained for sexual knowledge, but slightly declined for sexual attitudes. The second intervention significantly improved sexual knowledge; however, no significant change in sexual attitudes, pornography-seeking behavior, or awareness of experiencing sexual abuse was observed. Our comprehensive sexuality education package was effective in improving sexual knowledge both immediately and 1 year after the intervention. Repeated intervention can be an effective strategy for promoting preadolescent health development regarding comprehensive sexuality education.