An important element in dealing with HIV/AIDS is to disclose of its status to others. One of the problems faced by HIV/AIDS sufferers in disclosing their status is finding people they can trust, who can keep information about their HIV/AIDS status and not divulge it to other parties without their permission. Not many people can accept them without prejudice and stigma. This article discusses the communication efforts carried out by female AIDS activists in the community as co-owners who receive information from people with HIV/AIDS and subsequently become confidants and assist them in medical and psychological and social aspects. This study used a qualitative method. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with 9 Community AIDS activist women from 7 regions. The results of the study reveal the process of housewives transforming into community AIDS activists, how they get personal information about the status of HIV/AIDS and eventually become co-owners of information who eventually become confidants, have responsibilities and help people with HIV/AIDS in health, psychological and social aspects.

The cross wire projection welding of wires (Al 5182, = 4 mm) performed using the conventional (i.e. pneumatic) electrode force system was subjected to thorough numerical analysis. Calculations were performed until one of adopted boundary conditions, i.e., maximum welding time, maximum penetration of wires, the occurrence of expulsion or the exceeding of the temperature limit in the contact between the electrode and the welded material was obtained. It was observed that the ring weld was formed within the entire range of welding parameters. The process of welding was subjected to optimisation through the application of a new electromechanical electrode force system and the use of a special hybrid algorithm of electrode force and/or displacement control. Comparative numerical calculations were performed (using SORPAS software) for both electrode force systems. Technological welding tests were performed using inverter welding machines (1 kHz) provided with various electrode force systems. The research also involved the performance of metallographic and strength (peeling) tests as well as measurements of welding process characteristic parameters (welding current and voltage).
The welding process optimisation involving the use of the electromechanical force system and the application of the hybrid algorithm of force control resulted in i) more favourable space distribution of welding power, ii) energy concentration in the central zone of the weld, iii) favourable (desired) melting of the material within the entire weld transcrystallisation zone and iv) obtainment of a full weld nugget.

Consumers, particularly women, pursue beauty and health in order to uphold their image within society, which has contributed to consistent demand for cosmetics. The cosmetics market, driven by globalization and cultural exchange, sees Thai cosmetics gaining popularity among Chinese women. There has been a significant rise in the popularity of Thai cosmetics, known for their natural ingredients and innovative formulations. With a growing interest in cross-cultural consumer behaviour, particularly in the context of skincare and make-up products, understanding how different age groups perceive and choose Thai cosmetics is crucial for effective marketing strategies. The main issue is the development of consumer preferences over time among Chinese women who have only recently been given the opportunity to choose among many brands. This qualitative study explores the intergenerational differences in Chinese female consumers’ preferences for Thai cosmetics, aiming to uncover rich insights into their perceptions, attitudes, and behaviours. The target population is female Chinese who have visited Thailand and purchased or used Thai-branded cosmetics. Key themes emerge regarding the perception of product efficacy, the cultural authenticity and the role of digital media and trends in influencing product choices. Findings highlight nuanced generational preferences, with older cohorts emphasizing trust and familiarity with established brands, while younger cohorts prioritize innovation, sustainability, and personalized beauty experiences. These insights provide valuable implications for marketers seeking to tailor strategies and product offerings to engage effectively diverse generational segments within the competitive cosmetics market.

This paper presents the state of displacement of a multilayered composite laminate subjected to transverse static load with varying balance, symmetric and anti-symmetric angle-ply and cross-ply staking sequences. Higher-order shear deformation theory (HSDT) is considered in the finite element formulation of nine-noded isoparametric element with seven degrees of freedom at each node. The finite element formulation is transformed into computer codes. A convergence study is carried out first to obtain the optimal mesh size for minimizing the computational time. The maximum deflection at the center of plate for both fixed and simply supported edges is verified with reported literature and a good conformity is found. An attempt has been made to observe the minimum value of maximum deflection in the laminate for attaining the maximum strength of laminate with a suitable combination of stacking sequences with a constant volume of material.

This paper aims to explore the impact of V-Girls APP on the improvement of female college students' Health literacy and its mechanism. Using a questionnaire survey method, the survey subjects were female students from a certain university. The results showed that using the V-Girls app can significantly improve the health knowledge level, health behavior habits, and mental health status of female college students. Further analysis reveals that the impact mechanisms of V-Girls APP mainly include cognitive mechanisms, social support mechanisms, and behavioral guidance mechanisms. The results of this study provide new ways and ideas for improving female college students' Health literacy.

This study examines factors associated with an increasingly poor perception of the novel coronavirus in Africa using a designed electronic questionnaire to collect perception-based information from participants across Africa from twenty-one African countries (and from all five regions of Africa) between 1 and 25 February 2022. The study received 66.7% of responses from West Africa, 12.7% from Central Africa, 4.6% from Southern Africa, 15% from East Africa, and 1% from North Africa. The majority of the participants are Nigerians (56%), 14.1% are Cameroonians, 8.7% are Ghanaians, 9.3% are Kenyans, 2% are South Africans, 2.1% are DR-Congolese, 1.6% are Tanzanians, 1.2% are Rwandans, 0.4% are Burundians, and others are Botswana’s, Chadians, Comoros, Congolese, Gambians, Malawians, South Sudanese, Sierra Leoneans, Ugandans, Zambians, and Zimbabweans. All responses were coded on a five-point Likert scale. The study adopts descriptive statistics, principal component analysis, and binary logistic regression analysis for the data analysis. The descriptive analysis of the study shows that the level of ignorance or poor “perception” of COVID-19 in Africa is very high (87% of individuals sampled). It leads to skepticism towards complying with preventive measures as advised by the WHO and directed by the national government across Africa. We adopted logistic regression analysis to identify the factors associated with a poor perception of the virus in Africa. The study finds that religion (belief or faith) and media misinformation are the two leading significant causes of ignorance or poor “perception” of COVID-19 in Africa, with log odd of 0.4775 (resulting in 1.6120 odd ratios) and 1.3155 (resulting in 3.7265 odd ratios), respectively. The study concludes that if the poor attitude or perception towards complying with the preventive measures continues, COVID-19 cases in Africa may increase beyond the current spread.